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 101-125 of 131 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Decca 91330 10-in. 11/3/1937 High mountain blues Kokomo Arnold vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 91331 10-in. 11/3/1937 Head cuttin' blues Kokomo Arnold vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 91332 10-in. 11/3/1937 Broke man blues Kokomo Arnold vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 91333 10-in. 11/3/1937 Back on the job Kokomo Arnold vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 91334 10-in. 11/3/1937 Shine on, moon Kokomo Arnold vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca C 9428 10-in. 9/10/1934 Milk cow blues Kokomo Arnold vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca C 9429 10-in. 9/10/1934 Old original Kokomo blues Kokomo Arnold vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca C 9434 10-in. 9/10/1934 Back to the woods Kokomo Arnold vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca C 9435 10-in. 9/10/1934 Sagefield woman blues Kokomo Arnold vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca C 9653 10-in. 1/15/1935 Old black cat blues (Jinx blues) Kokomo Arnold vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca C 9654 10-in. 1/15/1935 Sissy man blues Kokomo Arnold vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca C 9655 10-in. 1/15/1935 Front door blues Kokomo Arnold vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca C 9656 10-in. 1/15/1935 Back door blues Kokomo Arnold vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca C 9671 10-in. 1/18/1935 The twelves (Dirty dozens) Kokomo Arnold vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca C 9672 10-in. 1/18/1935 Feels so good Kokomo Arnold vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca C 9774 10-in. 2/5/1935 Milk cow blues No.2 Kokomo Arnold vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca C 9775 10-in. 2/5/1935 Biscuit roller blues Kokomo Arnold vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca C 9776 10-in. 2/5/1935 Slop jar blues Kokomo Arnold vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca C 9777 10-in. 2/5/1935 Black Annie Kokomo Arnold vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca C 9792 10-in. 2/12/1935 Chain gang blues Kokomo Arnold vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca C 9793 10-in. 2/12/1935 Monday morning blues Kokomo Arnold vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca C 9794 10-in. 2/12/1935 How long, how long blues Kokomo Arnold vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca C 9795 10-in. 2/12/1935 Thing' bout coming my way Kokomo Arnold vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca C 9863 10-in. 3/23/1935 You should not a'done it Kokomo Arnold vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca C 9864 10-in. 3/23/1935 Lonesome Southern blues Kokomo Arnold vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar  
(Results 101-125 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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