Washboard Sam
Robert Clifford Brown (July 15, 1910 – November 6, 1966), known professionally as Washboard Sam, was an American blues musician and singer. |
Birth and Death Data: Born Lawrence County (county in Arkansas, United States), Died November 6, 1966 (Chicago (city and county seat of Cook County, and largest city in State of Illinois, United States of America) )
Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1935 - 1953
Roles Represented in DAHR: washboard, vocalist, composer, leader, songwriter
Notes: His composer attribution and performances are sometimes credited in Victor ledgers and disc labels as his original name, Robert Brown.
= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.
Recordings (Results 1-25 of 286 records)
| Company | Matrix No. | Size | First Recording Date | Title | Primary Performer | Description | Role | Audio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Victor | BS-85780 | 10-in. | 4/12/1935 | Ocean blues | Washboard Sam | Male vocal solo, with 2 guitars and washboard | vocalist, composer | |
| Victor | BS-85781 | 10-in. | 4/12/1935 | Y M V blues | Washboard Sam | Male vocal solo, with 2 guitars and washboard | vocalist, composer | |
| Victor | BS-100315 | 10-in. | 4/2/1936 | You done tore your playhouse down | Washboard Sam's Band | Instrumental trio, with male vocal solo | vocalist, instrumentalist, washboard | |
| Victor | BS-100316 | 10-in. | 4/2/1936 | Don't 'low | Washboard Sam's Band | Instrumental trio, with male vocal solo | vocalist, instrumentalist, washboard | |
| Victor | BS-100940 | 10-in. | 8/5/1936 | Give me lovin' | Washboard Sam | Male vocal solo, with guitar, piano, and washboard | vocalist, composer, instrumentalist, washboard | |
| Victor | BS-100941 | 10-in. | 8/5/1936 | Crazy about Nancy Jane | Washboard Sam | Male vocal solo, with guitar, piano, and washboard | vocalist, instrumentalist, washboard | |
| Victor | BS-100942 | 10-in. | 8/5/1936 | Cherry Hill blues | Washboard Sam | Male vocal solo, with guitar, piano, and washboard | vocalist, composer, instrumentalist, washboard | |
| Victor | BS-100943 | 10-in. | 8/5/1936 | Levee blues | Washboard Sam | Male vocal solo, with guitar, piano, and washboard | vocalist, composer, instrumentalist, washboard | |
| Victor | BS-01882 | 10-in. | 12/21/1936 | I love all my women | Washboard Sam | Male vocal solo, with washboard band | vocalist, instrumentalist, washboard, composer | |
| Victor | BS-01883 | 10-in. | 12/21/1936 | Out with the wrong woman | Washboard Sam | Male vocal solo, with washboard band | vocalist, instrumentalist, washboard, composer | |
| Victor | BS-01884 | 10-in. | 12/21/1936 | Come on in | Washboard Sam | Male vocal solo, with washboard band | vocalist, instrumentalist, washboard, composer | |
| Victor | BS-01885 | 10-in. | 12/21/1936 | Big woman | Washboard Sam | Male vocal solo, with washboard band | vocalist, instrumentalist, washboard, composer | |
| Victor | BS-01886 | 10-in. | 12/21/1936 | Nashville, Tennessee | Washboard Sam | Male vocal solo, with washboard band | vocalist, instrumentalist, washboard, composer | |
| Victor | BS-01887 | 10-in. | 12/21/1936 | Razor cuttin' man | Washboard Sam | Male vocal solo, with washboard band | vocalist, instrumentalist, washboard, composer | |
| Victor | BS-07614 | 10-in. | 5/4/1937 | Easy ridin' mama | Washboard Band (Washboard Sam) | Washboard band, with male vocal solo | vocalist, composer | |
| Victor | BS-07615 | 10-in. | 5/4/1937 | The big boat | Washboard Band (Washboard Sam) | Washboard band, with male vocal solo | vocalist, composer | |
| Victor | BS-07616 | 10-in. | 5/4/1937 | Back door | Washboard Band (Washboard Sam) | Washboard band, with male vocal solo | vocalist, composer | |
| Victor | BS-07617 | 10-in. | 5/4/1937 | We gonna move | Washboard Band (Washboard Sam) | Washboard band, with male vocal solo | vocalist, composer | |
| Victor | BS-07618 | 10-in. | 5/4/1937 | Low down woman | Washboard Band (Washboard Sam) | Washboard band, with male vocal solo | vocalist, composer | |
| Victor | BS-07619 | 10-in. | 5/4/1937 | I drink good whiskey | Washboard Band (Washboard Sam) | Washboard band, with male vocal solo | vocalist, composer | |
| Victor | BS-07620 | 10-in. | 5/4/1937 | Lowland blues | Washboard Band (Washboard Sam) | Washboard band, with male vocal solo | vocalist, composer | |
| Victor | BS-07621 | 10-in. | 5/4/1937 | I'm on my way blues | Washboard Band (Washboard Sam) | Washboard band, with male vocal solo | vocalist, composer | |
| Victor | BS-016500 | 10-in. | 11/11/1937 | Washboard's barrel house song | Washboard Band (Washboard Sam) | Male vocal solo, with washboard band | vocalist, composer | |
| Victor | BS-016501 | 10-in. | 11/11/1937 | Want to woogie some more | Washboard Band (Washboard Sam) | Male vocal solo, with washboard band | vocalist, composer | |
| Victor | BS-016502 | 10-in. | 11/11/1937 | Ladies' man | Washboard Band (Washboard Sam) | Male vocal solo, with washboard band | vocalist |
Citation
Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Washboard Sam," accessed December 24, 2025, http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/109384.
Washboard Sam. (2025). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved December 24, 2025, from http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/109384.
"Washboard Sam." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2025. Web. 24 December 2025.
DAHR Persistent Identifier
Linked Open Data Sources
LCNAR: Washboard Sam, 1910-1966 - https://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/no92021915
Wikidata: Washboard Sam - https://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q328968
VIAF: https://viaf.org/viaf/27256089
MusicBrainz: Washboard Sam - https://musicbrainz.org/artist/7c913d1c-cef0-4c02-89d2-ecbf6ab5fc21
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