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 Chicago, Died 1974 (Chicago)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1937 - 1951

Roles Represented in DAHR: vocalist

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

Recordings (Results 1-25 of 41 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Columbia CCO4788 10-in. 6/10/1947 Ebony rhapsody Big Three Trio ; Rosetta Howard Instrumental ensemble, with female vocal solo vocalist  
Columbia CCO4789 10-in. 6/10/1947 I keep on worrying Big Three Trio ; Rosetta Howard Instrumental ensemble, with female vocal solo vocalist  
Columbia CCO4790 10-in. 6/10/1947 When I been drinking Big Three Trio ; Rosetta Howard Instrumental ensemble, with female vocal solo vocalist  
Columbia CCO4791 10-in. 6/10/1947 Help me baby Big Three Trio ; Rosetta Howard Instrumental ensemble, with female vocal solo vocalist  
Columbia CCO4837 10-in. 9/3/1947 It's hard to go thru life along Big Three Trio ; Rosetta Howard Instrumental ensemble, with female vocal solo vocalist  
Columbia CCO4838 10-in. 9/3/1947 Where shall I go Big Three Trio ; Rosetta Howard Instrumental ensemble, with female vocal solo vocalist  
Columbia CCO4839 10-in. 9/3/1947 Too many drivers Big Three Trio ; Rosetta Howard Instrumental ensemble, with female vocal solo vocalist  
Columbia CCO4840 10-in. 9/3/1947 Why be so blue Big Three Trio ; Rosetta Howard Instrumental ensemble, with female vocal solo vocalist  
Columbia CCO4954 10-in. 12/20/1947 Sweep your blues away Rosetta Howard Female vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble vocalist  
Columbia CCO4955 10-in. 12/20/1947 It was you Rosetta Howard Female vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble vocalist  
Columbia CCO4956 10-in. 12/20/1947 You made me love you Rosetta Howard Female vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble vocalist  
Columbia CCO4957 10-in. 12/20/1947 Plow hand blues Rosetta Howard Female vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble vocalist  
Columbia CCO5268 10-in. 5/29/1951 Lonesome Rosetta Howard Instrumental ensemble, with vocal trio vocalist  
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  
(Results 1-25 of 41 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Howard, Rosetta," accessed December 12, 2025, http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/321965.

Howard, Rosetta. (2025). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved December 12, 2025, from http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/321965.

"Howard, Rosetta." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2025. Web. 12 December 2025.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/321965

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