Red Nelson

Nelson Wilborn (August 31, 1907 – March 1970), better known as Red Nelson or Dirty Red, was an American blues singer and occasional guitarist. His recording career lasted well over a decade. Two of his standout songs are "Crying Mother Blues" and "Streamline Train" (both 1936). His accompanists on record variously included Cripple Clarence Lofton, Blind John Davis, Black Bob, Kansas Joe McCoy, Papa Charlie McCoy, Big Bill Broonzy and Lonnie Johnson.

His 1947 release "Mother Fuyer" managed to escaped censorship.

Birth and Death Data: Born August 31, 1907 (Sumner), Died March 1, 1970 (Chicago)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1935 - 1937

Roles Represented in DAHR: vocalist

= 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
Victor BS-014342 10-in. 10/11/1937 Eva Mae blues Red Nelson Male vocal solo, with instrumental trio vocalist  
Victor BS-014343 10-in. 10/11/1937 Working man blues Red Nelson Male vocal solo, with instrumental trio vocalist  
Victor BS-014344 10-in. 10/11/1937 Relief blues Red Nelson Male vocal solo, with instrumental trio vocalist  
Victor BS-014345 10-in. 10/11/1937 Back home Red Nelson Male vocal solo, with instrumental trio vocalist  
Victor BS-014346 10-in. 10/11/1937 Jailhouse blues Red Nelson Male vocal solo, with instrumental trio vocalist  
Victor BS-014347 10-in. 10/11/1937 Black gal stomp Red Nelson Male vocal solo, with instrumental trio vocalist  
Decca 90297 10-in. 9/4/1935 Detroit special Red Nelson vocalist  
Decca 90298 10-in. 9/4/1935 Long ago blues Red Nelson vocalist  
Decca 90299 10-in. 9/4/1935 Grand trunk blues Red Nelson vocalist  
Decca 90300 10-in. 9/4/1935 Slave man blues Red Nelson vocalist  
Decca 90465 10-in. 11/20/1935 Grand trunk blues Red Nelson vocalist  
Decca 90466 10-in. 11/20/1935 Slave man blues Red Nelson vocalist  
Decca 90467 10-in. 11/20/1935 Long ago blues Red Nelson vocalist  
Decca 90468 10-in. 11/20/1935 Detroit Special Red Nelson vocalist  
Decca 90597 10-in. 2/4/1936 Crying mother blues Red Nelson vocalist  
Decca 90598 10-in. 2/4/1936 Streamline train Red Nelson vocalist  
Decca 90605 10-in. 2/6/1936 Sweetest thing born Red Nelson vocalist  
Decca 90606 10-in. 2/6/1936 When the soldiers get their bonus Red Nelson vocalist  
Decca 90689 10-in. 4/18/1936 What a time I'm havin' Red Nelson vocalist  
Decca 90690 10-in. 4/18/1936 Empty bed blues Red Nelson vocalist  
Decca 90856 10-in. 9/9/1936 Gravel in my bed-1 Red Nelson vocalist  
Decca 90857 10-in. 9/9/1936 Gambling man Red Nelson vocalist  
Decca 90858 10-in. 9/9/1936 The girl I left behind Red Nelson vocalist  
Decca 90859 10-in. 9/9/1936 Who put these jinx on me? Red Nelson vocalist  

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Nelson, Red," accessed April 23, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/107164.

Nelson, Red. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved April 23, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/107164.

"Nelson, Red." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 23 April 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/107164

External Sources

Wikipedia: Red Nelson

Discogs: Red Nelson

Linked Open Data Sources

LCNAR: Nelson, Red, 1907-1970 - http://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/n94103746

Wikidata: Red Nelson - http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q27922777

VIAF: http://viaf.org/viaf/5122088

MusicBrainz: Red Nelson - https://musicbrainz.org/artist/ff8f91c2-58e5-4f25-9f40-148b9e121a1d

ISNI: 0000 0001 1466 6442 - http://www.isni.org/isni/0000000114666442

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