Black Bob

Black Bob (fl. 1930s) was the pseudonym used by an American blues piano player, based in Chicago, who recorded widely in the 1930s accompanying other performers. His real name is unknown, but suggestions have included Bob Hudson, Bob Robinson, Bob Alexander, and Bob Schanault (or Chenault).

Almost nothing is known of his life beyond his recordings. According to Chicago pianist Charlie West, he became known as Black Jack in Cincinnati, Ohio, before moving around 1927 to Chicago where he adopted the name Black Bob. Reportedly, Big Bill Broonzy thought that his real name was Robert Alexander, though Memphis Slim gave his name as Bob Hudson. It was once erroneously suggested that Black Bob was a pseudonym for Bob Call. Reviewing the evidence, researcher Bob Eagle raised the possibility that he may have been the Bob Schanault (possibly misspelled) who recorded with Memphis Minnie in 1936.

Black Bob was the pianist on many Chicago blues recordings of the mid and late 1930s, notably for the Bluebird and Vocalion labels. His recordings included sessions by Broonzy, Amos Easton, Jazz Gillum, Lil Johnson, Red Nelson, Joe McCoy, Memphis Minnie, Merline Johnson, Papa Charlie McCoy, Tampa Red, Casey Bill Weldon, and Washboard Sam. One reviewer described his "muscular runs and rippling fills... clearly... an accomplished professional of his day." Although he seems not to have recorded after 1938 or perhaps 1941, Memphis Minnie reported that she both performed and recorded with him in her backing band as late as 1954.

Nothing is known of his later life.

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1934 - 1937

Roles Represented in DAHR: piano, speaker

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

Recordings (Results 26-50 of 73 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor BS-96233 10-in. 10/31/1935 Down the line blues Big Bil Male vocal solo ("blues singer"), with guitar, piano, and string bass instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BS-96250 10-in. 11/1/1935 When I take my vacation in Harlem Tampa Red Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BS-96251 10-in. 11/1/1935 Drinkin' my blues away Tampa Red Male vocal solo, with guitar, piano, and string bass instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BS-96252 10-in. 11/1/1935 Dark and stormy night Tampa Red Male vocal solo, with guitar, piano, and string bass instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BS-96253 10-in. 11/1/1935 Good woman blues Tampa Red Male vocal solo, with guitar, piano, and string bass instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BS-96254 10-in. 11/1/1935 You missed a good man Tampa Red Male vocal solo, with guitar, piano, and string bass instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BS-96255 10-in. 11/1/1935 Waiting blues Tampa Red Male vocal solo, with guitar, piano, and string bass instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BS-100099 10-in. 4/1/1936 When you were a gal of seven Chicago Five ; Tampa Red Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance ensemble instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BS-100300 10-in. 4/1/1936 Let's get drunk and truck Chicago Five ; Tampa Red Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance ensemble instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BS-100301 10-in. 4/1/1936 Maybe it's someone else you love Chicago Five ; Tampa Red Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance ensemble instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BS-100302 10-in. 4/1/1936 I wonder what's the matter Chicago Five ; Tampa Red Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance ensemble instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BS-100303 10-in. 4/1/1936 She don't know my mind Tampa Red Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance trio instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BS-100304 10-in. 4/1/1936 She don't know my mind Tampa Red Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance trio instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BS-100317 10-in. 4/3/1936 Too long Papa Charlie's Boys Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance trio instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BS-100318 10-in. 4/3/1936 Let my peaches be Papa Charlie's Boys Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance trio instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BS-100319 10-in. 4/3/1936 Gypsy woman blues Papa Charlie Male vocal solo, with instrumental trio instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BS-100320 10-in. 4/3/1936 You can't play me cheap Papa Charlie Male vocal solo, with instrumental trio instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BS-100327 10-in. 4/3/1936 Take it easy, greasy Trixie Butler Female vocal solo, with string bass and piano instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BS-100328 10-in. 4/3/1936 You got the right key Trixie Butler Female vocal solo, with string bass and piano instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BS-100329 10-in. 4/3/1936 Just a good woman with the blues Trixie Butler Female vocal solo, with string bass and piano instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BS-100889 10-in. 8/5/1936 You stole my heart Chicago Five ; Tampa Red Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance ensemble instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BS-100890 10-in. 8/5/1936 You got me worryin' Chicago Five ; Tampa Red Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance ensemble instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BS-100891 10-in. 8/5/1936 Caught my gal truckin' Chicago Five ; Tampa Red Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance ensemble instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BS-100892 10-in. 8/5/1936 All night long Chicago Five ; Tampa Red Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance ensemble instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BS-100893 10-in. 8/5/1936 That's the way I do Chicago Five ; Tampa Red Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance ensemble instrumentalist, piano  
(Results 26-50 of 73 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Black Bob," accessed April 25, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/304557.

Black Bob. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved April 25, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/304557.

"Black Bob." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 25 April 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/304557

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