Tallahassee Tight

Louis Washington (reportedly born Louis Jackson, October 1895 – after 1934), also known by his bluesman name, Tallahassee Tight, was an American musician, performing both gospel music and blues.

According to researchers Bob Eagle and Eric LeBlanc, he was born in Wadesboro, Florida, in 1895. His limited output was all recorded, as far as is known, by the American Record Corporation in New York in 1934, and is essentially limited to one relatively modern release: East Coast Blues & Gospel Songs, Document Records DOCD-5387, 1995. This recording also includes the work of his contemporary, Spark Plug Smith.

Washington used his real name for his gospel singing, but apparently preferred to use Tallahassee Tight when singing blues. It is believed that he was from northwest Florida, based not only on his choice of nicknames, but also from several of his songs: "Tallahassee Women", "Quincy Wimmens", and "Coast Line Blues". Quincy, Florida is approximately 20 miles from Tallahassee, and the Coast Line refers to the Seaboard Air Line Railroad which passes through Tallahassee.

In 1995, an album was released by Document Records of the music of Louis Washington/Tallahassee Tight and Spark Plug Smith. The album indicates that the music was originally recorded in 1933 and 1934.

According to Bruce Bastin, "Of limited musical interest, but completely within the guitar traditions of the Southeast, Louis Washington may have the distinction of being the one recorded resident Florida Bluesman of the period of commercial blues recording".

Birth and Death Data: Born (Wadesboro (human settlement in Florida, United States of America))

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1934

Roles Represented in DAHR: vocalist, guitar

Notes: Tallahassee Tight is a pseudonym for Louis Washington, and according to Dixon/Godrich/Rye, secular titles are under the name Tallahassee Tight while spirituals are under the name Louis Washington.

= 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 Description Role Audio
ARC 14593 10-in. 1/15/1934 Had a dream that troubled me Louis Washington Male vocal solo, with guitar (self-accompaniment) instrumentalist, guitar  
ARC 14594 10-in. 1/15/1934 Run sinner run Louis Washington Male vocal solo, with guitar (self-accompaniment) instrumentalist, guitar  
ARC 14595 10-in. 1/15/1934 Tell the world about this Louis Washington Male vocal solo, with guitar (self-accompaniment) instrumentalist, guitar  
ARC 14596 10-in. 1/15/1934 Standin on a rock Louis Washington Male vocal solo, with guitar (self-accompaniment) instrumentalist, guitar  
ARC 14597 10-in. 1/15/1934 You better run Louis Washington Male vocal solo, with guitar (self-accompaniment) instrumentalist, guitar  
ARC 14598 10-in. 1/15/1934 Death bed Louis Washington Male vocal solo, with guitar (self-accompaniment) instrumentalist, guitar  
ARC 14599 10-in. 1/15/1934 When I get there Louis Washington Male vocal solo, with guitar (self-accompaniment) instrumentalist, guitar  
ARC 14604 10-in. 1/15/1934 Lord have mercy Louis Washington Male vocal solo, with guitar (self-accompaniment) instrumentalist, guitar  
ARC 14605 10-in. 1/15/1934 Slow water blues Tallahassee Tight Male vocal solo, with guitar (self-accompaniment) instrumentalist, guitar  
ARC 14606 10-in. 1/15/1934 Lonesome and worried blues Tallahassee Tight Male vocal solo, with guitar (self-accompaniment) instrumentalist, guitar  
ARC 14634 10-in. 1/18/1934 Ramblin' wind blues Tallahassee Tight Male vocal solo, with guitar (self-accompaniment) instrumentalist, guitar  
ARC 14635 10-in. 1/18/1934 Black gal Tallahassee Tight Male vocal solo, with guitar (self-accompaniment) instrumentalist, guitar  
ARC 14636 10-in. 1/18/1934 Quincey wimmens Tallahassee Tight Male vocal solo, with guitar (self-accompaniment) instrumentalist, guitar  
ARC 14637 10-in. 1/18/1934 Tallahassee women Tallahassee Tight Male vocal solo, with guitar (self-accompaniment) instrumentalist, guitar  
ARC 14638 10-in. 1/18/1934 Coast line blues Tallahassee Tight Male vocal solo, with guitar (self-accompaniment) instrumentalist, guitar  
ARC 14676 10-in. 1/24/1934 Black snake blues Tallahassee Tight Male vocal solo, with guitar (self-accompaniment) instrumentalist, guitar  
ARC 14677 10-in. 1/24/1934 Screaming woman Tallahassee Tight Male vocal solo, with guitar (self-accompaniment) instrumentalist, guitar  
ARC 14678 10-in. 1/24/1934 You reap what you sow Tallahassee Tight Male vocal solo, with guitar (self-accompaniment) instrumentalist, guitar  
ARC 14679 10-in. 1/24/1934 Home sick blues Tallahassee Tight Male vocal solo, with guitar (self-accompaniment) instrumentalist, guitar  
ARC 14680 10-in. 1/24/1934 Where you goin' sinner Louis Washington Male vocal solo, with guitar (self-accompaniment) instrumentalist, guitar  
ARC 14681 10-in. 1/24/1934 Heaven in my view Louis Washington Male vocal solo, with guitar (self-accompaniment) instrumentalist, guitar  
ARC 14682 10-in. 1/24/1934 Jealous maw Tallahassee Tight Male vocal solo, with guitar (self-accompaniment) instrumentalist, guitar  

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Tallahassee Tight," accessed January 3, 2026, http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/401801.

Tallahassee Tight. (2026). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved January 3, 2026, from http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/401801.

"Tallahassee Tight." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2026. Web. 3 January 2026.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/401801

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