Piano Red

Willie Lee Perryman (October 19, 1911 – July 25, 1985), usually known professionally as Piano Red and later in life as Dr. Feelgood, was an American blues musician, the first to hit the pop music charts. He was a self-taught pianist who played in the barrelhouse blues style (a loud percussive type of blues piano suitable for noisy bars or taverns). His performing and recording careers emerged during the period of transition from completely segregated "race music" to rhythm and blues, which was marketed to both white and black audiences. Some music historians credit Perryman's 1950 recording "Rocking With Red" for the popularization of the term rock and roll in Atlanta. His simple, hard-pounding left hand and his percussive right hand, coupled with his cheerful shout, brought him considerable success over three decades.

Birth and Death Data: Born October 19, 1911 (Georgia), Died July 25, 1985 (Atlanta)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1950 - 1951

Roles Represented in DAHR: piano, composer, leader, 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 E0VB-5220 10-in. 7/25/1950 Jumpin' the boogie Piano Red Male vocal solo, with instrumental trio composer, vocalist, leader, instrumentalist, piano  
Victor E0VB-5949 10-in. 10/18/1950 The wrong yoyo Piano Red Instrumental quartet leader, instrumentalist, piano  
Victor E0VB-5950 10-in. 10/18/1950 My gal Jo Piano Red Instrumental quartet leader, composer, instrumentalist, piano  
Victor E0VB-5951 10-in. 10/18/1950 Baby, what's wrong? Piano Red Jazz/dance band composer, leader, instrumentalist, piano  
Victor E1VB-1319 10-in. 2/22/1951 Just right bounce Piano Red Instrumental ensemble instrumentalist, piano, composer, leader  
Victor E1VB-1321 10-in. 2/22/1951 Layin' the boogie Piano Red Jazz/dance band, with shouts leader, instrumentalist, piano, composer  

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Piano Red," accessed April 30, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/355712.

Piano Red. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved April 30, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/355712.

"Piano Red." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 30 April 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/355712

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