Rosetta Howard

Rosetta Howard (August 30, 1913 – October 8, 1974) was an American blues singer who recorded in the 1930s and 1940s. Little is known of her life. She was born in Woodruff County, Arkansas, and later moved to Chicago, Illinois, where she began her career by joining in with jukebox selections at the club where she worked. Around 1932, she began singing professionally with Jimmie Noone and other bandleaders including Sonny Thompson. Beginning in 1937 she made a number of recordings with the Harlem Hamfats, including her paean to marijuana, "If You're a Viper", and the ribald "Let Your Linen Hang Low". The latter was noted by one music journalist as "Howard engaging Kansas Joe McCoy in sexy banter". She also recorded with Herb Morand and Odell Rand, who were members of the group. In 1939 she recorded with the Harlem Blues Serenaders, who included Charlie Shavers, Buster Bailey, Lil Armstrong, Henry "Red" Allen and Barney Bigard. She continued to perform in Chicago in the 1940s, and in 1947 featured on recordings with the Big Three, including Willie Dixon and Big Bill Broonzy. The records were unsuccessful, and she did not record again. In the 1950s she sang with Thomas A. Dorsey at the Pilgrim Baptist Church in Chicago. Howard died in Chicago in 1974.

Birth and Death Data: Born 1914 (Chicago), Died 1974 (Chicago)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1937 - 1939

Roles Represented in DAHR: vocalist

= 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	Role
Decca	62643	10-in.	10/5/1937	Let your linen hang low-1	Rosetta Howard	vocalist
Decca	62644	10-in.	10/5/1937	If you're a viper	Rosetta Howard	vocalist
Decca	62645	10-in.	10/5/1937	Rosetta blues	Rosetta Howard	vocalist
Decca	62646	10-in.	10/5/1937	It's your turn	Rosetta Howard	vocalist
Decca	62647	10-in.	10/5/1937	Let's fall in love again-1	Rosetta Howard	vocalist
Decca	62648	10-in.	10/5/1937	Worried mind blues	Rosetta Howard	vocalist
Decca	63640	10-in.	4/21/1938	It will never happen again	Rosetta Howard	vocalist
Decca	63641	10-in.	4/21/1938	Trading old love for new	Rosetta Howard	vocalist
Decca	63642	10-in.	4/21/1938	Stay on it	Rosetta Howard	vocalist
Decca	63643	10-in.	4/21/1938	Delta bound	Rosetta Howard	vocalist
Decca	63644	10-in.	4/21/1938	You got to go when the wagon comes	Rosetta Howard	vocalist
Decca	63645	10-in.	4/21/1938	How long baby	Rosetta Howard	vocalist
Decca	63646	10-in.	4/21/1938	Harlem jamboree	Rosetta Howard	vocalist
Decca	65756	10-in.	6/8/1939	Come easy, go easy	Rosetta Howard	vocalist
Decca	65757	10-in.	6/8/1939	My blues is like whiskey	Rosetta Howard	vocalist
Decca	65758	10-in.	6/8/1939	The jive is here	Rosetta Howard	vocalist
Decca	65759	10-in.	6/8/1939	My downfall	Rosetta Howard	vocalist
Decca	65760	10-in.	6/8/1939	Hog-wild blues	Rosetta Howard	vocalist
Decca	65811	10-in.	6/14/1939	Plain Lenox Avenue	Rosetta Howard	vocalist
Decca	65812	10-in.	6/14/1939	Men are like street cars	Rosetta Howard	vocalist
Decca	65813	10-in.	6/14/1939	He's mine all mine	Rosetta Howard	vocalist
Decca	65814	10-in.	6/14/1939	Headin' for the river	Rosetta Howard	vocalist
Decca	91269	10-in.	5/21/1937	Empty bed blues	The Harlem Hamfats	vocalist
Decca	91552	10-in.	10/21/1938	Stomp it out gate	Rosetta Howard	vocalist
Decca	91553	10-in.	10/21/1938	The candy man	Rosetta Howard	vocalist
Decca	91554	10-in.	10/21/1938	Oh rider	Rosetta Howard	vocalist
Decca	91555	10-in.	10/21/1938	Stay away from my door	Rosetta Howard	vocalist
Decca	91556	10-in.	10/21/1938	All on account of you	Rosetta Howard	vocalist

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Howard, Rosetta," accessed April 18, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/321965.

Howard, Rosetta. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved April 18, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/321965.

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