Bessie Tucker

Bessie Tucker (c. 1906 – January 6, 1933) was an American classic female blues, country blues, and Texas blues singer and songwriter. Little is known of her life outside the music industry. She is known to have recorded 24 tracks, seven of which were alternate takes. Her songs include "Penitentiary" and "Fryin' Pan Skillet Blues".

Birth and Death Data: Born East Texas (cultural, geographic and ecological area in the US federated state of Texas), Died January 6, 1933 (Dallas (city in the state of Texas, United States) )

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1928 - 1929

Roles Represented in DAHR: vocalist, composer, lyricist

= 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
Victor	BVE-45436	10-in.	8/29/1928	Bessie's moan	Bessie Tucker	Female vocal solo, with piano	vocalist, composer
Victor	BVE-45437	10-in.	8/29/1928	The dummy	Bessie Tucker	Female vocal solo, with piano	vocalist, composer
Victor	BVE-45440	10-in.	8/29/1928	Fort Worth and Denver blues	Bessie Tucker	Female vocal solo, with piano	vocalist, composer
Victor	BVE-45441	10-in.	8/29/1928	Penitentiary	Bessie Tucker	Female vocal solo, with piano	vocalist, composer
Victor	BVE-45444	10-in.	8/29/1928	Fryin' pan skillet blues	Bessie Tucker	Female vocal solo, with piano	vocalist, composer
Victor	BVE-45445	10-in.	8/29/1928	My man has quit me	Bessie Tucker	Female vocal solo, with piano	vocalist, composer
Victor	BVE-45448	10-in.	8/30/1928	Got cut all to pieces	Bessie Tucker	Female vocal solo, with piano	vocalist, composer
Victor	BVE-45449	10-in.	8/30/1928	Black name moan	Bessie Tucker	Female vocal solo, with piano	vocalist, composer
Victor	BVE-55328	10-in.	8/10/1929	Better boot that thing	Bessie Tucker	Female vocal solo, with tuba, guitar, and piano	vocalist, composer
Victor	BVE-55329	10-in.	8/10/1929	Katy blues	Bessie Tucker	Female vocal solo, with tuba, guitar, and piano	vocalist, composer
Victor	BVE-55330	10-in.	8/10/1929	Mean old Jack Stropper blues	Bessie Tucker	Female vocal solo, with guitar and piano	vocalist, composer
Victor	BVE-55331	10-in.	8/10/1929	Old black Mary	Bessie Tucker	Female vocal solo, with guitar and piano	vocalist, composer
Victor	BVE-56404	10-in.	10/17/1929	Key to the bushes	Bessie Tucker	Female vocal solo, with guitar and piano	vocalist, composer, lyricist
Victor	BVE-56405	10-in.	10/17/1929	Bogy man blues	Bessie Tucker	Female vocal solo, with guitar and piano	vocalist, composer, lyricist
Victor	BVE-56406	10-in.	10/17/1929	Mean old master	Bessie Tucker	Female vocal solo, with guitar and piano	vocalist, composer, lyricist
Victor	BVE-56407	10-in.	10/17/1929	Pick on me blues	Bessie Tucker	Female vocal solo, with guitar and piano	vocalist, composer, lyricist
Victor	BVE-56447	10-in.	10/21/1929	Whistling woman blues	Bessie Tucker	Female vocal solo, with guitar and piano	vocalist, composer
Victor	BVE-56448	10-in.	10/21/1929	T.B. moan	Bessie Tucker	Female vocal solo, with guitar and piano	vocalist, composer

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Tucker, Bessie," accessed December 26, 2025, http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/106904.

Tucker, Bessie. (2025). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved December 26, 2025, from http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/106904.

"Tucker, Bessie." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2025. Web. 26 December 2025.