Kokomo Arnold

James "Kokomo" Arnold (February 15, 1896 or 1901 – November 8, 1968) was an American blues musician. A left-handed slide guitarist, his intense style of playing and rapid-fire vocal delivery set him apart from his contemporaries. He got his nickname in 1934 after releasing "Old Original Kokomo Blues" for Decca Records, a cover version of Scrapper Blackwell's blues song about the city of Kokomo, Indiana.

Birth and Death Data: Born February 15, 1901 (Lovejoy), Died November 8, 1968 (Chicago)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1929 - 1938

Roles Represented in DAHR: guitar, vocalist, songwriter

See Also: Gitfiddle Jim

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

Recordings (Results 76-100 of 131 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Decca 90963 10-in. 10/26/1936 False hearted woman Peetie Wheatstraw instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 90964 10-in. 10/26/1936 Little house Peetie Wheatstraw instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 90965 10-in. 10/26/1936 Fairasee woman Peetie Wheatstraw ; Peetie Wheatstraw instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 90966 10-in. 10/26/1936 Beggar man blues Peetie Wheatstraw ; Peetie Wheatstraw instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 91068 10-in. 1/12/1937 Back fence picket blues Kokomo Arnold ; Kokomo Arnold vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 91069 10-in. 1/12/1937 Fool man blues Kokomo Arnold ; Kokomo Arnold vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 91070 10-in. 1/12/1937 Long and tall Kokomo Arnold ; Kokomo Arnold vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 91071 10-in. 1/12/1937 Salty dog Kokomo Arnold ; Kokomo Arnold vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 91072 10-in. 1/12/1937 Cold Winter blues Kokomo Arnold ; Kokomo Arnold vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 91073 10-in. 1/12/1937 Sister Jane cross the hall Kokomo Arnold ; Kokomo Arnold vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 91134 10-in. 3/12/1937 Wild water blues Kokomo Arnold vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 91135 10-in. 3/12/1937 Laugh and grin blues Kokomo Arnold vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 91161 10-in. 3/30/1937 Mean old twister Kokomo Arnold vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 91162 10-in. 3/30/1937 Red beans and rice Kokomo Arnold vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 91163 10-in. 3/30/1937 Give me black or brown Peetie Wheatstraw instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 91164 10-in. 3/30/1937 Working on the project Peetie Wheatstraw instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 91166 10-in. 3/30/1937 Set down gal Kokomo Arnold vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 91167 10-in. 3/30/1937 Big ship blues Kokomo Arnold vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 91230 10-in. 5/7/1937 Crying blues Kokomo Arnold vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 91231 10-in. 5/7/1937 Badluck child Kokomo Arnold vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 91232 10-in. 5/7/1937 Grandpa got drunk Kokomo Arnold vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 91233 10-in. 5/7/1937 Black Mattie Kokomo Arnold vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 91298 10-in. 10/23/1937 Neck bone blues Kokomo Arnold vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 91299 10-in. 10/23/1937 Buddie Brown blues (Rolling time) Kokomo Arnold vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 91300 10-in. 10/23/1937 Rocky road blues Kokomo Arnold vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar  
(Results 76-100 of 131 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Arnold, Kokomo," accessed March 28, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/110643.

Arnold, Kokomo. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved March 28, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/110643.

"Arnold, Kokomo." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 28 March 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/110643

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