Johnny Watson
Johnny Watson (April 12, 1867 – November 1, 1963), known as Daddy Stovepipe, was an American blues singer, guitarist and harmonica player, best known for his recordings. Watson also recorded as Jimmy Watson, Sunny Jim and Rev. Alfred Pitts. He may have been the earliest-born blues performer to record. Many of his recordings were jug band duets with his wife, Sarah Watson, who was usually credited as Mississippi Sarah. |
Birth and Death Data: Born Mobile (county seat of Mobile County, Alabama, United States), Died November 1, 1963 (Chicago (city and county seat of Cook County, and largest city in State of Illinois, United States of America) )
Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1924 - 1941
Roles Represented in DAHR: vocalist, harmonica, guitar, composer, lyricist
Notes: Sometimes listed as John Watson on disc labels. Not the same performer as Stovepipe No. 1 (Sam Jones) or Sweet Papa Stovepipe (McKinely Peebles). Husband of Mississippi Sarah.
= 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-85519 | 10-in. | 2/26/1935 | Strewin' it out | Daddy Stovepipe ; Mississippi Sarah | Female vocal solo, with guitar, harmonica, and jug | composer, lyricist, instrumentalist, harmonica, guitar | |
| Victor | BS-85520 | 10-in. | 2/26/1935 | The spasm | Daddy Stovepipe ; Mississippi Sarah | Female-male vocal duet, with guitar, harmonica, and jug | instrumentalist, harmonica, guitar, vocalist | |
| Victor | BS-85521 | 10-in. | 2/26/1935 | 35 depression | Daddy Stovepipe ; Mississippi Sarah | Female vocal solo, with jug band | composer, lyricist, instrumentalist, harmonica, guitar | |
| Victor | BS-85522 | 10-in. | 2/26/1935 | If you want me baby | Daddy Stovepipe ; Mississippi Sarah | Male vocal solo, with jug band | composer, lyricist, instrumentalist, harmonica, guitar | |
| Victor | BS-071430 | 10-in. | 9/30/1941 | Doodle la do da | Marilyn Duke ; Vaughn Monroe's Orchestra | Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo and male vocal ensemble | composer, lyricist | |
| Brunswick | VO171 | 10-in. | 10/21/1931 | Jake leg blues | Daddy Stovepipe ; Mississippi Sarah | Female-male vocal duet, with guitar, harp, and jug | vocalist, instrumentalist, harmonica, guitar | |
| Brunswick | VO172 | 10-in. | 10/21/1931 | Home brew blues | Daddy Stovepipe ; Mississippi Sarah | Female-male vocal duet, with guitar, harp, and jug | vocalist, instrumentalist, harmonica, guitar | |
| Brunswick | VO173 | 10-in. | 10/21/1931 | Jail cell blues | Daddy Stovepipe ; Mississippi Sarah | Female-male vocal duet, with guitar, harp, and jug | vocalist, instrumentalist, harmonica, guitar | |
| Brunswick | VO174 | 10-in. | 10/21/1931 | I don’t want you no more | Daddy Stovepipe ; Mississippi Sarah | Female-male vocal duet, with guitar, harp, and jug | vocalist, instrumentalist, harmonica, guitar | |
| Brunswick | VO175 | 10-in. | 10/22/1931 | Burleskin’ blues | Daddy Stovepipe ; Mississippi Sarah | Female-male vocal duet, with guitar, harp, and jug | vocalist, instrumentalist, harmonica, guitar | |
| Brunswick | VO176 | 10-in. | 10/22/1931 | Greenville strut | Daddy Stovepipe ; Mississippi Sarah | Instrumental ensemble, with male vocal solo (scat) | vocalist, instrumentalist, harmonica, guitar | |
| Brunswick | VO177 | 10-in. | 10/22/1931 | Read your ABC’s | Mississippi Sarah | Female vocal solo, with guitar, harmonica, and kazoo | instrumentalist, harmonica, guitar | |
| Brunswick | VO178 | 10-in. | 10/22/1931 | Do you love him? | Mississippi Sarah | Female vocal solo, with guitar, harmonica, and kazoo | instrumentalist, harmonica, guitar | |
| Gennett | 11861 | 10-in. | 5/10/1924 | Sundown blues | Daddy Stovepipe | Male vocal solo, with guitar and harmonica | vocalist, instrumentalist, harmonica, guitar | |
| Gennett | 11862 | 10-in. | 5/10/1924 | Stove Pipe blues | Daddy Stovepipe | Male vocal solo, with guitar and harmonica | vocalist, instrumentalist, harmonica, guitar | |
| Gennett | 11863 | 10-in. | 5/10/1924 | Tidewater blues | Daddy Stovepipe | Male vocal solo, with guitar and harmonica | vocalist, instrumentalist, harmonica, guitar |
Citation
Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Watson, Johnny," accessed December 27, 2025, http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/111653.
Watson, Johnny. (2025). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved December 27, 2025, from http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/111653.
"Watson, Johnny." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2025. Web. 27 December 2025.
DAHR Persistent Identifier
Linked Open Data Sources
LCNAR: Watson, Johnny, 1867-1963 - https://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/no2001075233
Wikidata: Daddy Stovepipe - https://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q3011770
VIAF: https://viaf.org/viaf/3494153411788941700000
MusicBrainz: Daddy Stovepipe - https://musicbrainz.org/artist/778c7178-0430-4e09-83d9-a827de0f8c75
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