Joshua Altheimer

Joshua Altheimer (May 17, 1910 – November 18, 1940) was an American pianist who is remembered for accompanying Big Bill Broonzy, Lonnie Johnson, Sonny Boy Williamson and others on influential blues recordings made in Chicago in the 1930s. He was described by Broonzy as "the best blues piano player I ever heard", and by blues historian Hugues Panassié as "the greatest blues pianist on records".

Birth and Death Data: Born May 17, 1910 (Arkansas), Died November 18, 1940 (Chicago)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1936 - 1940

Roles Represented in DAHR: piano

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings

Company	Matrix No.	Size	First Recording Date	Title	Primary Performer	Description	Role
Victor	BS-034792	10-in.	5/15/1939	This time is my time	Washboard Sam	Male vocal solo, with washboard band	instrumentalist, piano
Victor	BS-034793	10-in.	5/15/1939	Booker T blues	Washboard Sam	Male vocal solo, with washboard band	instrumentalist, piano
Victor	BS-034794	10-in.	5/15/1939	Good old Easy Street	Washboard Sam	Male vocal solo, with washboard band	instrumentalist, piano
Victor	BS-034795	10-in.	5/15/1939	I believe I'll make a change	Washboard Sam	Male vocal solo, with washboard band	instrumentalist, piano
Victor	BS-034796	10-in.	5/15/1939	Wasn't he bad	Washboard Sam	Male vocal solo, with washboard band	instrumentalist, piano
Victor	BS-034797	10-in.	5/15/1939	Diggin' my potatoes	Washboard Sam	Male vocal solo, with washboard band	instrumentalist, piano
Victor	BS-034798	10-in.	5/15/1939	I love my baby	Washboard Sam	Male vocal solo, with washboard band	instrumentalist, piano
Victor	BS-034799	10-in.	5/15/1939	That will get it	Washboard Sam	Male vocal solo, with washboard band	instrumentalist, piano
Victor	BS-034810	10-in.	5/17/1939	Got to reap what you sow	Jazz Gillum ; Jazz Boys	Male vocal solo, with instrumental quartet	instrumentalist, piano
Victor	BS-034811	10-in.	5/17/1939	Big Katy Adam	Jazz Gillum ; Jazz Boys	Male vocal solo, with instrumental quartet	instrumentalist, piano
Victor	BS-034812	10-in.	5/17/1939	Against my will	Jazz Gillum ; Jazz Boys	Male vocal solo, with instrumental quartet	instrumentalist, piano
Victor	BS-034813	10-in.	5/17/1939	Talking to myself	Jazz Gillum ; Jazz Boys	Male vocal solo, with instrumental quartet	instrumentalist, piano
Victor	BS-034814	10-in.	5/17/1939	Hard drivin' woman	Jazz Gillum ; Jazz Boys	Male vocal solo, with instrumental quartet	instrumentalist, piano
Victor	BS-034815	10-in.	5/17/1939	Keyhole blues	Jazz Gillum ; Jazz Boys	Male vocal solo, with instrumental quartet	instrumentalist, piano
Victor	BS-034816	10-in.	5/17/1939	Somebody been talking to you	Jazz Gillum ; Jazz Boys	Male vocal solo, with instrumental quartet	instrumentalist, piano
Victor	BS-034817	10-in.	5/17/1939	One time blues	Jazz Gillum ; Jazz Boys	Male vocal solo, with instrumental quartet	instrumentalist, piano
Victor	BS-044045	10-in.	11/2/1939	Why women go wrong	Lonnie Johnson	Male vocal solo, with guitar and piano	instrumentalist, piano
Victor	BS-044046	10-in.	11/2/1939	She's only a woman	Lonnie Johnson	Male vocal solo, with guitar and piano	instrumentalist, piano
Victor	BS-044047	10-in.	11/2/1939	She's my Mary	Lonnie Johnson	Male vocal solo, with guitar and piano	instrumentalist, piano
Victor	BS-044048	10-in.	11/2/1939	Nothing but a rat	Lonnie Johnson	Male vocal solo, with guitar and piano	instrumentalist, piano
Victor	BS-044049	10-in.	11/2/1939	Trust your husband	Lonnie Johnson	Male vocal solo, with guitar and piano	instrumentalist, piano
Victor	BS-044050	10-in.	11/2/1939	Jersey belle blues	Lonnie Johnson	Male vocal solo, with guitar and piano	instrumentalist, piano
Victor	BS-044051	10-in.	11/2/1939	The loveless blues	Lonnie Johnson	Take 1: Male vocal solo, with guitar and pianoTake 2: Male vocal solo, with guitar	instrumentalist, piano
Victor	BS-044052	10-in.	11/2/1939	Four o three blues	Lonnie Johnson	Male vocal solo, with guitar and piano	instrumentalist, piano
Victor	BS-049196	10-in.	5/17/1940	I been dealing with the devil	Sonny Boy Williamson	Male vocal solo, with harmonica, piano, and drums	instrumentalist, piano
Victor	BS-049197	10-in.	5/17/1940	War time blues	Sonny Boy Williamson	Male vocal solo, with harmonica, piano, and drums	instrumentalist, piano
Victor	BS-049198	10-in.	5/17/1940	Train fare blues	Sonny Boy Williamson	Male vocal solo, with harmonica, piano, and drums	instrumentalist, piano
Victor	BS-049199	10-in.	5/17/1940	Decoration Day blues no. 2	Sonny Boy Williamson	Male vocal solo, with harmonica, piano, and drums	instrumentalist, piano
Victor	BS-049340	10-in.	7/29/1940	Why did you do that to me?	Washboard Band (Washboard Sam)	Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble	instrumentalist, piano
Victor	BS-049341	10-in.	7/29/1940	Digging my potatoes—no. 2	Washboard Band (Washboard Sam)	Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble	instrumentalist, piano
Victor	BS-049342	10-in.	7/29/1940	Chiselin' blues	Washboard Band (Washboard Sam)	Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble	instrumentalist, piano
Victor	BS-049343	10-in.	7/29/1940	Morning dove blues	Washboard Band (Washboard Sam)	Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble	instrumentalist, piano
Victor	BS-049344	10-in.	7/29/1940	Good time tonight	Washboard Band (Washboard Sam)	Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble	instrumentalist, piano
Victor	BS-049345	10-in.	7/29/1940	Dissatisfied blues	Washboard Band (Washboard Sam)	Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble	instrumentalist, piano
Victor	BS-053000	10-in.	5/17/1940	New "Early in the morning"	Sonny Boy Williamson	Male vocal solo, with harmonica, piano, and drums	instrumentalist, piano
Victor	BS-053001	10-in.	5/17/1940	Welfare store blues	Sonny Boy Williamson	Male vocal solo, with harmonica, piano, and drums	instrumentalist, piano
Victor	BS-053002	10-in.	5/17/1940	My little machine	Sonny Boy Williamson	Male vocal solo, with harmonica, piano, and drums	instrumentalist, piano
Victor	BS-053003	10-in.	5/17/1940	Jivin' the blues	Sonny Boy Williamson	Male vocal solo, with harmonica, piano, and drums	instrumentalist, piano
Decca	90980	10-in.	11/12/1936	New Vicksburg blues	Johnnie Temple		instrumentalist, piano
Decca	90981	10-in.	11/12/1936	Louise Louise blues	Johnnie Temple		instrumentalist, piano
Decca	91246	10-in.	5/14/1937	Snapping cat	Johnnie Temple		instrumentalist, piano
Decca	91247	10-in.	5/14/1937	So lonely and blue	Johnnie Temple		instrumentalist, piano
Decca	91248	10-in.	5/14/1937	New Louise Louise blues	Johnnie Temple		instrumentalist, piano
Decca	91249	10-in.	5/14/1937	Peepin' through the keyhole	Johnnie Temple		instrumentalist, piano
Decca	91250	10-in.	5/14/1937	Pimple blues	Johnnie Temple		instrumentalist, piano
Decca	91251	10-in.	5/14/1937	East St. Louis blues	Johnnie Temple		instrumentalist, piano
Decca	91519	10-in.	10/17/1938	When the breath bids your girl friend's body goodbye	Johnnie Temple		instrumentalist, piano
Decca	91520	10-in.	10/17/1938	Big leg woman	Johnnie Temple		instrumentalist, piano
Decca	91521	10-in.	10/17/1938	What a fool I've been	Johnnie Temple		instrumentalist, piano
Decca	91522	10-in.	10/17/1938	Grinding mill	Johnnie Temple		instrumentalist, piano
Decca	91523	10-in.	10/17/1938	Between midnight and dawn	Johnnie Temple		instrumentalist, piano
Decca	91524	10-in.	10/17/1938	Mississippi woman's blues (Walkin' blues)	Johnnie Temple		instrumentalist, piano

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Altheimer, Joshua," accessed April 18, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/108443.

Altheimer, Joshua. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved April 18, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/108443.

"Altheimer, Joshua." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 18 April 2024.

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