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 1-25 of 73 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor BS-80381 10-in. 3/22/1934 I'll kill your soul (And dare your spirit to move) Tampa Red Male vocal solo, with kazoo, guitar, and piano instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BS-80382 10-in. 3/22/1934 If I let you get away with it (You'll do it all the time) Tampa Red Male vocal solo, with kazoo, guitar, and piano instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BS-80383 10-in. 3/22/1934 I'll find my way Tampa Red Male vocal solo, with guitar and piano instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BS-80384 10-in. 3/22/1934 You've got to do better Tampa Red Male vocal solo, with kazoo, guitar, and piano instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BS-80385 10-in. 3/22/1934 Kingfish blues Artists vary Male vocal solo, with guitar and piano instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BS-80386 10-in. 3/22/1934 You don't want me blues Tampa Red Male vocal solo, with guitar and piano instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BS-80387 10-in. 3/22/1934 Nobody's sweetheart Tampa Red Male vocal solo, with kazoo, guitar, and piano instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BS-80611 10-in. 6/14/1934 Early in the morning B. Gillum Male vocal solo, with instrumental trio instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BS-80613 10-in. 6/14/1934 At the break of day Big Bil Male vocal solo, with instrumental trio instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BS-80614 10-in. 6/14/1934 I want to go home Big Bil Male vocal solo, with instrumental trio instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BS-85517 10-in. 2/26/1935 The Southern blues Big Bil Male vocal solo, with guitar and piano instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BS-85518 10-in. 2/26/1935 Good jelly Big Bil Male vocal solo, with guitar and piano instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BS-85523 10-in. 2/26/1935 Worthy of you Tampa Red Male vocal solo, with jug band and talk speaker, instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BS-85524 10-in. 2/26/1935 If it ain't that gal of mine Tampa Red Male vocal solo, with jug band instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BS-85525 10-in. 2/26/1935 Mean old tom cat blues Tampa Red Male vocal solo, with piano and guitar instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BS-85526 10-in. 2/26/1935 Don't dog your woman Tampa Red Male vocal solo, with piano and guitar instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BS-85527 10-in. 2/26/1935 Singing and crying blues Tampa Red Male vocal solo, with piano and guitar instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BS-85528 10-in. 2/26/1935 Shake it up a little Tampa Red Male vocal solo, with piano and guitar instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BS-91423 10-in. 7/27/1935 Mountain blues Big Bil Male vocal solo, with guitar and piano instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BS-91424 10-in. 7/27/1935 Bad luck blues Big Bil Male vocal solo, with guitar and piano instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BS-91425 10-in. 7/27/1935 I can't make you satisfied Big Bil Male vocal solo, with guitar and piano instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BS-91426 10-in. 7/27/1935 I'm just a bum Big Bil Male vocal solo, with guitar and piano instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BS-96230 10-in. 10/31/1935 Keep your hands off her Big Bil Male vocal solo ("blues singer"), with guitar, piano, and string bass instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BS-96231 10-in. 10/31/1935 Sun gonna shine in my door some day Big Bil Male vocal solo ("blues singer"), with guitar, piano, and string bass instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BS-96232 10-in. 10/31/1935 Good liquor gonna carry me down Big Bil Male vocal solo ("blues singer"), with guitar, piano, and string bass instrumentalist, piano  
(Results 1-25 of 73 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Black Bob," accessed March 28, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/304557.

Black Bob. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved March 28, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/304557.

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

DAHR Persistent Identifier

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

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