Piano Red

Willie Lee Perryman (October 19, 1911 – July 25, 1985), usually known professionally as Piano Red and later in life as Dr. Feelgood, was an American blues musician, the first to hit the pop music charts. He was a self-taught pianist who played in the barrelhouse blues style (a loud percussive type of blues piano suitable for noisy bars or taverns). His performing and recording careers emerged during the period of transition from completely segregated "race music" to rhythm and blues, which was marketed to both white and black audiences. Some music historians credit Perryman's 1950 recording "Rocking With Red" for the popularization of the term rock and roll in Atlanta. His simple, hard-pounding left hand and his percussive right hand, coupled with his cheerful shout, brought him considerable success over three decades.

Birth and Death Data: Born Georgia (state of the United States of America), Died July 25, 1985 (Atlanta (capital city of Georgia, United States) )

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1936 - 1966

Roles Represented in DAHR: piano, vocalist, composer, leader, lyricist

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

Recordings (Results 1-25 of 52 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor E0VB-5220 10-in. 7/25/1950 Jumpin' the boogie Piano Red Male vocal solo, with instrumental trio instrumentalist, piano, composer, vocalist, leader  
Victor E0VB-5949 10-in. 10/18/1950 The wrong yoyo Piano Red Instrumental quartet instrumentalist, piano, leader  
Victor E0VB-5950 10-in. 10/18/1950 My gal Jo Piano Red Instrumental quartet instrumentalist, piano, leader, composer  
Victor E0VB-5951 10-in. 10/18/1950 Baby, what's wrong? Piano Red Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, piano, composer, leader  
Victor E1VB-1319 10-in. 2/22/1951 Just right bounce Piano Red Instrumental ensemble instrumentalist, piano, composer, leader  
Victor E1VB-1321 10-in. 2/22/1951 Layin' the boogie Piano Red Jazz/dance band, with shouts leader, instrumentalist, piano, composer  
Columbia CO50524 10-in. 12/10/1953 Rock me "Little" Jimmy Dickens Male vocal solo, with string band composer, lyricist  
Columbia CO67474 10-in. 5/31/1961 Doctor Feelgood Dr. Feelgood and the Interns Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble instrumentalist, piano, vocalist  
Columbia CO67475 10-in. 5/31/1961 Mister Moonlight Dr. Feelgood and the Interns Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble instrumentalist, piano, vocalist  
Columbia CO67476 10-in. 5/31/1961 The swabble Dr. Feelgood and the Interns Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble instrumentalist, piano, vocalist  
Columbia CO67477 10-in. 5/31/1961 Right string but the wrong yo yo Dr. Feelgood and the Interns Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble instrumentalist, piano, vocalist  
Columbia CO67478 10-in. 5/31/1961 I'll be home one day Dr. Feelgood and the Interns Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble instrumentalist, piano, vocalist  
Columbia CO67479 10-in. 5/31/1961 Sea breeze Dr. Feelgood and the Interns Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble instrumentalist, piano, vocalist  
Columbia CO67480 10-in. 5/31/1961 I ain't gonna be a lowdown dog no more Dr. Feelgood and the Interns Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble instrumentalist, piano, vocalist  
Columbia CO67481 10-in. 5/31/1961 Don't let me catch you wrong Dr. Feelgood and the Interns Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble instrumentalist, piano, vocalist  
Columbia CO70021 10-in. 4/3/1962 What's up doc Dr. Feelgood and the Interns Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble instrumentalist, piano, vocalist  
Columbia CO70022 10-in. 4/3/1962 I'll give you anything Dr. Feelgood and the Interns Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble instrumentalist, piano, vocalist  
Columbia CO70023 10-in. 4/3/1962 Love is amazing Dr. Feelgood and the Interns Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble instrumentalist, piano, vocalist  
Columbia CO70024 10-in. 4/3/1962 Bald-headed Lena Dr. Feelgood and the Interns Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble instrumentalist, piano, vocalist  
Columbia CO76625 10-in. 8/22/1962 I feel good Dr. Feelgood and the Interns Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble instrumentalist, piano, vocalist  
Columbia CO76626 10-in. 8/22/1962 It's a sin to tell a lie Dr. Feelgood and the Interns Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble instrumentalist, piano, vocalist  
Columbia CO76627 10-in. 8/22/1962 The same old things keep happening Dr. Feelgood and the Interns Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble instrumentalist, piano, vocalist  
Columbia CO76628 10-in. 8/22/1962 Let's have a good time tonight Dr. Feelgood and the Interns Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble instrumentalist, piano, vocalist  
Columbia CO77414 10-in. 12/6/1962 The double twist Dr. Feelgood and the Interns Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble instrumentalist, piano, vocalist  
Columbia CO77415 10-in. 12/6/1962 Rock me Dr. Feelgood and the Interns Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble instrumentalist, piano, vocalist  
(Results 1-25 of 52 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Piano Red," accessed January 5, 2026, http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/355712.

Piano Red. (2026). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved January 5, 2026, from http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/355712.

"Piano Red." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2026. Web. 5 January 2026.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/355712

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