Sleepy John Estes

John Adam Estes (January 25, 1899 or 1900 – June 5, 1977), performing as Sleepy John Estes, was an American blues guitarist, songwriter and vocalist. His music influenced such artists as The Beatles, Bob Dylan and Led Zeppelin.

Birth and Death Data: Born January 25, 1899 (Ripley), Died June 5, 1977 (Brownsville)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1929 - 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 70 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor BVE-55531 10-in. 9/17/1929 Broken hearted, ragged and dirty, too Sleepy John Estes Male vocal solo, with mandolin, guitar, and piano vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar, composer  
Victor BVE-55581 10-in. 9/24/1929 The girl I love she got long curly hair Sleepy John Estes Male vocal solo, with mandolin, guitar, and piano vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar, composer  
Victor BVE-55596 10-in. 9/26/1929 Diving duck blues Sleepy John Estes Male vocal solo, with mandolin, guitar, and piano vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar, composer  
Victor BVE-55597 10-in. 9/26/1929 Little Sarah Sleepy John Estes ; Yank Rachell Male vocal duet, with mandolin, guitar, and piano vocalist  
Victor BVE-56335 10-in. 10/2/1929 Black Mattie blues Sleepy John Estes Male vocal solo, with harmonica, mandolin, and guitar vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar, composer  
Victor BVE-56336 10-in. 10/2/1929 T-bone steak blues Sleepy John Estes ; Yank Rachell Male vocal duet, with harmonica, mandolin, and guitar instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist  
Victor BVE-59918 10-in. 5/13/1930 Milk cow blues Sleepy John Estes Male vocal solo, with guitar, mandolin, and piano vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar, composer  
Victor BVE-59919 10-in. 5/13/1930 Street car blues Sleepy John Estes Male vocal solo, with guitar, mandolin, and piano vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar, composer  
Victor BVE-59934 10-in. 5/17/1930 Expressman blues Sleepy John Estes ; Yank Rachell Male vocal solo, with guitar, mandolin, and piano instrumentalist, guitar  
Victor BVE-59935 10-in. 5/17/1930 Wadie green blues Sleepy John Estes ; Yank Rachell Male vocal solo, with guitar, mandolin, and piano vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar  
Victor BVE-59967 10-in. 5/21/1930 Whatcha' doin' Sleepy John Estes Male vocal solo, with guitar, mandolin, and piano vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar, composer  
Victor BVE-59968 10-in. 5/21/1930 Poor John blues Sleepy John Estes Male vocal solo, with guitar, mandolin, and piano vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar, composer  
Victor BVE-62547 10-in. 5/30/1930 Stack o' dollars Sleepy John Estes Male vocal solo, with guitar, mandolin, and piano vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar, composer  
Victor BVE-62548 10-in. 5/30/1930 My black gal blues Sleepy John Estes Male vocal solo, with guitar, mandolin, and piano vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar, composer  
Victor BVE-62549 10-in. 5/30/1930 Ninety pound mama Sleepy John Estes ; Yank Rachell Male vocal duet, with guitar, mandolin, and piano vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar  
Victor BVE-62550 10-in. 5/30/1930 Sweet mama Sleepy John Estes ; Yank Rachell Male vocal solo, with guitar, mandolin, and piano instrumentalist, guitar  
Victor BVE-64736 10-in. 11/26/1930 Ticket agent blues Noah Lewis' Jug Band Instrumental ensemble, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, guitar  
Victor BVE-64737 10-in. 11/26/1930 New Minglewood blues Noah Lewis' Jug Band Instrumental ensemble, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, guitar  
Victor BVE-64738 10-in. 11/28/1930 Selling the jelly Noah Lewis' Jug Band Instrumental ensemble, with female vocal solo instrumentalist, guitar  
Victor BVE-64739 10-in. 11/28/1930 Bad luck's my buddy Noah Lewis' Jug Band Instrumental ensemble, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, guitar  
Victor BS-064915 10-in. 9/24/1941 Don't you want to know? Delta Boys Male vocal solo and duet, with instrumental trio vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar, composer  
Victor BS-064916 10-in. 9/24/1941 You shouldn't do that Delta Boys Male vocal solo and duet, with instrumental trio composer, instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist  
Victor BS-064917 10-in. 9/24/1941 When the saints go marching in Delta Boys Male vocal solo and duet, with instrumental trio instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist  
Victor BS-064918 10-in. 9/24/1941 Black gal swing Delta Boys Male vocal solo and duet, with instrumental trio instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist  
Victor BS-064919 10-in. 9/24/1941 Get up and go Delta Boys Male vocal solo and duet, with instrumental trio instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist  
(Results 1-25 of 70 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Estes, Sleepy John," accessed March 28, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/104491.

Estes, Sleepy John. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved March 28, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/104491.

"Estes, Sleepy John." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 28 March 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/104491

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