Papa Charlie Jackson

William Henry "Papa Charlie" Jackson (November 10, 1887 – May 7, 1938) was an early African American bluesman and songster who accompanied himself with a banjo guitar, a guitar, or a ukulele. His recording career began in 1924. Much of his life remains a mystery, but his draft card lists his birthplace as New Orleans, Louisiana, and his death certificate states that he died in Chicago, Illinois, on May 7, 1938.

Birth and Death Data: Born New Orleans (largest city of the state of Louisiana, United States), Died 1938 (Chicago (city and county seat of Cook County, and largest city in State of Illinois, United States of America) )

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1925 - 1948

Roles Represented in DAHR: banjo, composer, vocalist, lyricist

Notes: Papa Charlie Jackson also credited as Charlie Jackson.

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

Recordings (Results 1-25 of 56 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor BVE-34180 10-in. 12/28/1925 Shake that thing Busse's Buzzards Jazz/dance band composer  
Victor BVE-46037 10-in. 7/2/1928 The head hunter's dream Tiny Parham and his Musicians Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, banjo  
Victor BVE-46038 10-in. 7/2/1928 Stuttering blues Tiny Parham and his Musicians Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, banjo  
Victor BVE-46039 10-in. 7/2/1928 Clarice Tiny Parham and his Musicians Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, banjo  
Victor BVE-46040 10-in. 7/2/1928 Snake eyes Tiny Parham and his Musicians Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, banjo  
Victor BVE-46041 10-in. 7/2/1928 Cuckoo blues Tiny Parham and his Musicians Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, banjo  
Victor BVE-46042 10-in. 7/2/1928 Jogo rhythm Tiny Parham and his Musicians Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, banjo  
Victor BVE-48846 10-in. 2/1/1929 Stompin' on down Tiny Parham and his Musicians Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, banjo  
Victor BVE-48847 10-in. 2/1/1929 Blue melody blues Tiny Parham and his Musicians Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, banjo  
Victor BVE-57216 10-in. 12/3/1929 Dixieland doin's Tiny Parham and his Musicians Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, banjo  
Victor BVE-57217 10-in. 12/3/1929 Cathedral blues Tiny Parham and his Musicians Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, banjo  
Victor BVE-57218 10-in. 12/3/1929 Cheerful blues Tiny Parham and his Musicians Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, banjo  
Victor BVE-57219 10-in. 12/3/1929 Black cat moan Tiny Parham and his Musicians Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, banjo  
Victor BVE-57333 10-in. 10/26/1929 Pig's feet and slaw Tiny Parham and his Musicians Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, banjo  
Victor BVE-57334 10-in. 10/26/1929 Bombay Tiny Parham and his Musicians Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, banjo  
Victor BVE-57335 10-in. 10/26/1929 Fat man blues Tiny Parham and his Musicians Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, banjo  
Victor BVE-57336 10-in. 10/26/1929 Golden lily Tiny Parham and his Musicians Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, banjo  
Victor BVE-57337 10-in. 10/26/1929 Steel string blues Tiny Parham and his Musicians Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, banjo  
Victor BVE-57338 10-in. 10/26/1929 Sud buster's dream Tiny Parham and his Musicians Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, banjo  
Victor BVE-62932 10-in. 11/4/1930 Rock bottom Tiny Parham and his Musicians Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, banjo  
Victor BVE-62933 10-in. 11/4/1930 Down yonder Tiny Parham and his Musicians Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, banjo  
Victor BVE-62934 10-in. 11/4/1930 Blue moon blues Tiny Parham and his Musicians Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, banjo  
Victor BVE-62935 10-in. 11/4/1930 Squeeze me Tiny Parham and his Musicians Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, banjo  
Victor BVE-62936 10-in. 11/4/1930 Back to the jungle Tiny Parham and his Musicians Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, banjo  
Victor BVE-62937 10-in. 11/4/1930 Nervous tension Tiny Parham and his Musicians Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, banjo  
(Results 1-25 of 56 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Jackson, Papa Charlie," accessed January 2, 2026, http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/106245.

Jackson, Papa Charlie. (2026). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved January 2, 2026, from http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/106245.

"Jackson, Papa Charlie." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2026. Web. 2 January 2026.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/106245

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