Georgia White

Georgia White (9 March 1903 – c.1980) was an American blues singer, most prolific in the 1930s and 1940s.

Little is known of her early life, but it has been suggested that she was born in Sandersville, Georgia. By the late 1920s she was singing in clubs in Chicago. She made her first recording, "When You're Smiling, the Whole World Smiles With You," with Jimmie Noone's orchestra in 1930. She returned to the studio in 1935, and over the next six years recorded over 100 tracks for Decca Records, usually accompanied by the pianist Richard M. Jones and also, in the late 1930s, by the guitarist Lonnie Johnson.

She also recorded under the name Georgia Lawson. Her tracks included "I'll Keep Sitting on It," "Take Me for a Buggy Ride," "Mama Knows What Papa Wants When Papa's Feeling Blue," and "Hot Nuts." Her best-known song was "You Done Lost Your Good Thing Now" (1935).

White formed an all-female band in the 1940s. She also performed with Bumble Bee Slim and Gassy Slaps. She joined Big Bill Broonzy's Laughing Trio in 1949 as pianist. "She was very easy to get along with," said Broonzy, "real friendly." She was a club singer in the 1950s, finally performing in 1959 in Chicago. She then resumed performing on weekends at the Blue Pub, a bar on Irving Park Road near the Kennedy Expressway, where she quickly won a loyal following. She sang many of her famous songs, including "Maybe I'm Wrong Again," a ballad from an early Bing Crosby movie.

One of her songs, "Alley Boogie" (recorded in 1937), was used as the theme music for the British romantic comedy drama series, Love Soup.

White's version of "Hot Nuts" was featured in the 2022 film, Jackass Forever.

Birth and Death Data: Born March 9, 1903 (Sandersville), Died 1980

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1930 - 1941

Roles Represented in DAHR: vocalist, 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 Audio
Brunswick C5754 10-in. 5/16/1930 When you’re smiling Jimmie Noone’s Apex Club Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo vocalist  
Decca 60346 10-in. 1/16/1936 Can't read, can't write Georgia White vocalist, instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 60347 10-in. 1/16/1936 Tell me baby Georgia White vocalist, instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 60352 10-in. 1/17/1936 There ain't gonna be no doggone afterwhile Georgia White vocalist, instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 60353 10-in. 1/17/1936 Someday sweetheart Georgia White vocalist, instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 60354 10-in. 1/17/1936 River blues Georgia White vocalist, instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 60374 10-in. 1/21/1936 If you can't get five, take two Georgia White vocalist, instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 60375 10-in. 1/21/1936 Rattlesnakin' Daddy Georgia White vocalist, instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 60401 10-in. 1/24/1936 Get 'em from the peanut man Georgia White vocalist, instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 60437 Feb. 1936 [Unknown title(s)] Georgia White vocalist, instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 62637 10-in. 10/5/1937 Georgia man Georgia White vocalist  
Decca 62638 10-in. 10/5/1937 All night blues Georgia White vocalist  
Decca 62639 10-in. 10/5/1937 Away all the time Georgia White vocalist  
Decca 62640 10-in. 10/5/1937 The stuff is here Georgia White vocalist  
Decca 62641 10-in. 10/5/1937 Strewin' your mess Georgia White vocalist  
Decca 62642 10-in. 10/5/1937 Fare Thee honey fare Thee well Georgia White vocalist  
Decca 63543 10-in. 4/1/1938 I'm blue and lonesome Georgia White vocalist  
Decca 63547 10-in. 4/1/1938 Almost afraid to love Georgia White vocalist, instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 63548 10-in. 4/1/1938 Too much trouble Georgia White vocalist, instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 63549 10-in. 4/1/1938 Crazy blues Georgia White vocalist, instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 63550 10-in. 4/1/1938 T'ain't nobody's business if I do Georgia White vocalist, instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 63551 10-in. 4/1/1938 Holding my own Georgia White vocalist, instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 65597 10-in. 5/18/1939 The way I'm feelin' Georgia White vocalist  
Decca 65598 10-in. 5/18/1939 Married woman blues Georgia White vocalist  
Decca 65599 10-in. 5/18/1939 How do you think I feel Georgia White vocalist  
Decca 65600 10-in. 5/18/1939 Fire in the mountain Georgia White vocalist  
Decca 65601 10-in. 5/18/1939 When the red sun turns to gray (I'll be back) Georgia White vocalist  
Decca 65652 10-in. 5/26/1939 Hydrant love Georgia White vocalist  
Decca 65653 10-in. 5/26/1939 Do it again Georgia White vocalist  
Decca 65654 10-in. 5/26/1939 Beggin' my Daddy Georgia White vocalist  
Decca 65655 10-in. 5/26/1939 What have you done to me Georgia White vocalist  
Decca 65656 10-in. 5/26/1939 Take me for a buggy ride Georgia White vocalist  
Decca 67563 10-in. 4/18/1940 Jazzin' babies blues Georgia White vocalist, instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 67564 10-in. 4/18/1940 Papa pleaser Georgia White vocalist, instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 67575 10-in. 4/18/1940 Sensation blues Georgia White vocalist, instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 67576 10-in. 4/18/1940 Late hour blues Georgia White vocalist, instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 67577 10-in. 4/18/1940 Panama limited blues Georgia White vocalist, instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 67578 10-in. 4/18/1940 You ought to be ashamed of yourself Georgia White vocalist, instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 90154 10-in. 7/15/1935 Honey dripper blues Georgia White vocalist  
Decca 90155 10-in. 7/15/1935 Freddie blues Georgia White vocalist  
Decca 90156 10-in. 7/15/1935 Easy rider blues Georgia White vocalist  
Decca 90157 10-in. 7/15/1935 Graveyard blues Georgia White vocalist  
Decca 90309 10-in. 9/7/1935 Your worries ain't like mine No.2 Georgia White vocalist, instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 90310 10-in. 9/7/1935 You done lost your good thing now No.2 Georgia White vocalist, instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 90715 10-in. 5/11/1936 New Dupree blues Georgia White vocalist  
Decca 90716 10-in. 5/11/1936 Daddy let me lay it on you Georgia White vocalist  
Decca 90717 10-in. 5/11/1936 New hot nuts Georgia White vocalist  
Decca 90718 10-in. 5/11/1936 It must be love Georgia White vocalist  
Decca 90719 10-in. 5/12/1936 I just want your stingaree Georgia White vocalist  
Decca 90720 10-in. 5/12/1936 Black rider Georgia White vocalist  
Decca 90721 10-in. 5/12/1936 I'll keep sittin' on it Georgia White vocalist  
Decca 90722 10-in. 5/12/1936 Pigmeat blues Georgia White vocalist  
Decca 90723 10-in. 5/12/1936 Trouble in mind Georgia White vocalist  
Decca 90854 10-in. 9/4/1936 Was I drunk? Georgia White vocalist  
Decca 90855 10-in. 9/4/1936 No second hand woman Georgia White vocalist  
Decca 90864 10-in. 9/10/1936 The boy in the boat Georgia White vocalist  
Decca 90865 10-in. 9/10/1936 Sinking sun blues Georgia White vocalist  
Decca 91011 10-in. 12/7/1936 Little red wagon Georgia White vocalist  
Decca 91012 10-in. 12/7/1936 Dan the back door man Georgia White vocalist  
Decca 91013 10-in. 12/7/1936 Your hellish way Georgia White vocalist  
Decca 91014 10-in. 12/7/1936 Marble stone blues Georgia White vocalist  
Decca 91023 10-in. 12/8/1936 Poor lonesome boy Georgia White vocalist  
Decca 91102 10-in. 1/28/1937 You don't know my mind Georgia White vocalist  
Decca 91103 10-in. 1/28/1937 When my love comes down Georgia White vocalist  
Decca 91104 10-in. 1/28/1937 Walking the street Georgia White vocalist  
Decca 91105 10-in. 1/28/1937 Grandpa and Grandma Georgia White vocalist  
Decca 91106 10-in. 1/28/1937 I'm so glad I'm 21 today Georgia White vocalist  
Decca 91107 10-in. 1/28/1937 Toothache blues Georgia White vocalist  
Decca 91229 10-in. 5/6/1937 Mistreated blues Georgia White vocalist  
Decca 91255 10-in. 5/9/1937 New trouble in mind Georgia White vocalist  
Decca 91256 10-in. 5/19/1937 Trouble in mind swing Georgia White vocalist  
Decca 91257 10-in. 5/19/1937 Moonshine blues Georgia White vocalist  
Decca 91259 10-in. 5/19/1937 Biscuit roller Georgia White vocalist  
Decca 91351 10-in. 11/9/1937 Careless love-1 Georgia White vocalist  
Decca 91352 10-in. 11/9/1937 Rock me Daddy-1 Georgia White vocalist  
Decca 91353 10-in. 11/9/1937 Red Cap Porter-1 Georgia White vocalist  
Decca 91354 10-in. 11/9/1937 Alley boogie Georgia White vocalist  
Decca 91545 10-in. 10/21/1938 The blues ain' t nothin' but...? Georgia White vocalist  
Decca 91546 10-in. 10/21/1938 Dead man' s blues Georgia White vocalist  
Decca 91547 10-in. 10/21/1938 Love sick blues Georgia White vocalist  
Decca 91548 10-in. 10/21/1938 My worried mind blues Georgia White vocalist  
Decca 91863 10-in. 11/3/1939 Furniture man Georgia White vocalist  
Decca 91864 10-in. 11/3/1939 Ain't that so? Georgia White vocalist  
Decca 91865 10-in. 11/3/1939 I'm doing what my heart says do Georgia White vocalist  
Decca 91866 10-in. 11/3/1939 You got to drop the sack Georgia White vocalist  
Decca 91867 10-in. 11/3/1939 'Tain't nobody's fault but yours Georgia White vocalist  
Decca 91868 10-in. 11/3/1939 Worried head blues Georgia White vocalist  
Decca 93573[a] 10-in. 3/11/1941 Mail plane blues Georgia White vocalist  
Decca 93574 10-in. 3/11/1941 Misery blues Georgia White vocalist  
Decca 93575 10-in. 3/11/1941 Mama knows what Papa wants when Papa 's feelin' blue Georgia White vocalist  
Decca 93576 10-in. 3/11/1941 Come around to my house Georgia White vocalist  
Decca 93577 10-in. 3/11/1941 Territory blues Georgia White vocalist  
Decca 93578 10-in. 3/11/1941 When you' re away Georgia White vocalist  
Decca C 9858 10-in. 3/13/1935 Your worries ain't like mine Georgia White vocalist, instrumentalist, piano  
Decca C 9859 10-in. 3/13/1935 You done lost your good thing now Georgia White vocalist, instrumentalist, piano  
Decca C 9907 10-in. 4/10/1935 Dupree blues Georgia White vocalist, instrumentalist, piano  
Decca C 9908 10-in. 4/10/1935 Dallas man (Lost lover blues) Georgia White vocalist, instrumentalist, piano  
Decca C 9909 10-in. 4/10/1935 Your worries ain't like mine Georgia White vocalist, instrumentalist, piano  
Decca C 9910 10-in. 4/10/1935 You done lost your good thing now Georgia White vocalist, instrumentalist, piano  

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "White, Georgia," accessed May 4, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/110377.

White, Georgia. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved May 4, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/110377.

"White, Georgia." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 4 May 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/110377

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