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Johnny Barfield

John Alexander Barfield (3 March 1909 - 16 January 1974) was an American country and old-time music performer, best known for his 1939 recording of "Boogie Woogie", the first country boogie.

He was born in Tifton, Georgia, and in his youth played guitar on street corners with his brother Coot. They recorded for Columbia Records in Atlanta in 1927, but the recordings were not released. Soon afterwards, Johnny Barfield became acquainted with Clayton McMichen and Bert Layne of the Skillet Lickers, touring with the group and recording with some of its offshoots, including McMichen's group, the Georgia Wildcats. By 1932 he was performing both solo, and as a member of Layne's band. In 1939, he won a recording contract with Bluebird Records, and released his version of "Boogie Woogie", a song derived from "Pinetop's Boogie Woogie" recorded in 1928 by Pinetop Smith. Barfield's song is considered the first country boogie, and became popular on jukeboxes.

Barfield recorded again in 1940 and 1941, but failed to repeat his earlier success. He continued to perform for several years. He died in 1974, aged 64.

Birth and Death Data: Born March 3, 1909 (Georgia), Died January 16, 1974

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1939 - 1941

Roles Represented in DAHR: guitar, vocalist, composer

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

Recordings (Results 1-25 of 32 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor BS-041210 10-in. 8/21/1939 Why don't you give me my memories? Johnny Barfield Male vocal solo, with guitar vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar  
Victor BS-041211 10-in. 8/21/1939 Don't cry, my darlin' Johnny Barfield Male vocal solo, with guitar vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar  
Victor BS-041212 10-in. 8/21/1939 In a sleepy country town Johnny Barfield Male vocal solo, with guitar vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar  
Victor BS-041213 10-in. 8/21/1939 When Daddy played the old banjo Johnny Barfield Male vocal solo, with guitar vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar  
Victor BS-041214 10-in. 8/21/1939 Boogie-woogie Johnny Barfield Male vocal solo, with guitar vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar  
Victor BS-041215 10-in. 8/21/1939 Everybody's tryin' to be my baby Johnny Barfield Male vocal solo, with guitar vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar  
Victor BS-047512 10-in. 2/5/1940 Gonna ride till the sun goes down Johnny Barfield Male vocal solo, with fiddle (violin) and guitar instrumentalist, guitar, composer, vocalist  
Victor BS-047513 10-in. 2/5/1940 My poodle doodle dog Johnny Barfield Male vocal solo, with fiddle (violin) and guitar vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar  
Victor BS-047514 10-in. 2/5/1940 That little shirt my mother made for me Johnny Barfield Male vocal solo, with fiddle (violin) and guitar vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar  
Victor BS-047515 10-in. 2/5/1940 Ain't I right? Johnny Barfield Male vocal solo, with fiddle (violin) and guitar composer, vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar  
Victor BS-047516 10-in. 2/5/1940 Long tongue woman Johnny Barfield Male vocal solo, with fiddle (violin) and guitar vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar  
Victor BS-047517 10-in. 2/5/1940 Old fiddler Joe Johnny Barfield Male vocal solo, with fiddle (violin) and guitar vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar  
Victor BS-047518 10-in. 2/5/1940 Love me only Johnny Barfield Male vocal solo, with fiddle (violin) and guitar vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar  
Victor BS-047519 10-in. 2/5/1940 Don't take my memories Johnny Barfield Male vocal solo, with fiddle (violin) and guitar composer, vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar  
Victor BS-047520 10-in. 2/5/1940 The new "Boogie woogie" Johnny Barfield Male vocal solo, with guitar composer, vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar  
Victor BS-047521 10-in. 2/5/1940 It ain't no good Johnny Barfield Male vocal solo, with guitar composer, vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar  
Victor BS-054544 10-in. 10/8/1940 In the heart of the city Johnny Barfield Male vocal solo, with guitar vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar  
Victor BS-054545 10-in. 10/8/1940 Desert lullaby Johnny Barfield Male vocal solo, with guitar composer, vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar  
Victor BS-054546 10-in. 10/8/1940 True to the one I love Johnny Barfield Male vocal solo, with guitar and violin vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar  
Victor BS-054547 10-in. 10/8/1940 Heartaches and tears Johnny Barfield Male vocal solo, with guitar and violin composer, vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar  
Victor BS-054548 10-in. 10/8/1940 Sleep, darlin', sleep on Johnny Barfield Male vocal solo, with guitar and violin vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar  
Victor BS-054549 10-in. 10/8/1940 Pretty little Naponee Johnny Barfield Male vocal solo, with guitar and violin vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar  
Victor BS-054550 10-in. 10/8/1940 You'll want me to want you some day Johnny Barfield Male vocal solo, with guitar and violin vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar  
Victor BS-054551 10-in. 10/8/1940 It's a long lane that doesn't have a turning Johnny Barfield Male vocal solo, with guitar and violin vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar  
Victor BS-054552 10-in. 10/8/1940 Highway hobo Johnny Barfield Male vocal solo, with guitar and violin composer, vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar  
(Results 1-25 of 32 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Barfield, Johnny," accessed March 29, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/112913.

Barfield, Johnny. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved March 29, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/112913.

"Barfield, Johnny." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 29 March 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/112913

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