Joe Liggins
Joseph Christopher Liggins Jr. (born Theodro Elliott; July 9, 1916 – July 26, 1987) was an American R&B, jazz and blues pianist and vocalist who led Joe Liggins and his Honeydrippers in the 1940s and 1950s. His band appeared often on the Billboard magazine charts. The band's biggest hit was "The Honeydripper", released in 1945. Joe Liggins was the older brother of R&B performer Jimmy Liggins. |
Birth and Death Data: Born Guthrie (city in Oklahoma, United States), Died July 31, 1987 (California (state of the United States of America) )
Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 960 - 1960
Roles Represented in DAHR: leader, composer, piano, vocalist, songwriter, lyricist
= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.
Recordings (Results 1-25 of 101 records)
| Company | Matrix No. | Size | First Recording Date | Title | Primary Performer | Description | Role | Audio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Victor | E0VB-4901 | 10-in. | 6/20/1950 | Pink champagne | Ralph Flanagan Orchestra | Jazz/dance band, with vocal refrain | composer, lyricist | |
| Victor | D5AB-0386 | 10-in. | 10/9/1945 | The honeydripper | Roosevelt Sykes | Male vocal solo, with instrumental quintet | composer | |
| Victor | D6VB-1774 | 10-in. | 5/9/1946 | I've got a right to cry | Erskine Hawkins Orchestra ; Laura Washington | Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band | composer | |
| Exclusive | EXC-207 | 10-in. | 12/31/1948 | The honeydripper - part 2 | Eddie Davis ; James Jackson ; Little Willie Jackson ; Joe Liggins ; Original Honeydrippers | leader, instrumentalist, piano, composer | ||
| Exclusive | EXC-231 | 10-in. | 1945-1948 | Breaking my heart | Joe Liggins ; Original Honeydrippers | leader, instrumentalist, piano, composer | ||
| Exclusive | SA-255 | 10-in. | 1945-1948 | Miss Betty's blues | Joe Liggins ; Original Honeydrippers | leader, instrumentalist, piano, composer | ||
| Exclusive | SA-256 | 10-in. | 1945-1948 | I know my love is true | Joe Liggins ; Original Honeydrippers | leader, instrumentalist, piano, composer | ||
| Exclusive | SA-257 | 10-in. | 1945-1948 | Lovers lament | Joe Liggins ; Original Honeydrippers | leader, instrumentalist, piano, composer | ||
| Exclusive | SA-258 | 10-in. | 1945-1948 | Harlemesque | Joe Liggins ; Original Honeydrippers | leader, instrumentalist, piano, composer | ||
| Specialty | SP-338-A | 10-in. | 12/31/1960 | I've got a right to cry | Joe Liggins ; Original Honeydrippers | composer, leader, vocalist | ||
| Special | SP-338-B | 10-in. | 12/31/1960 | The honeydripper | Joe Liggins ; Original Honeydrippers | vocalist, composer, leader | ||
| Specialty | SP-350-A | 10-in. | 12/31/1960 | Rag mop | Joe Liggins ; Original Honeydrippers | leader, vocalist | ||
| Specialty | SP-350-B | 10-in. | 12/31/1960 | Ramblin' blues | Joe Liggins ; Original Honeydrippers | vocalist, leader, composer | ||
| Specialty | SP-355-A | 10-in. | 12/31/1960 | Pink champagne | Joe Liggins ; Original Honeydrippers | composer, leader, vocalist | ||
| Specialty | SP-355-B | 10-in. | 12/31/1960 | Sentimental lover | Joe Liggins ; Original Honeydrippers | vocalist, composer, leader | ||
| Specialty | SP-368-A | 10-in. | 12/31/1960 | Rhythm in the barnyard - part I | Joe Liggins ; Original Honeydrippers | composer, leader, vocalist | ||
| Specialty | SP-368-B | 10-in. | 12/31/1960 | Rhythm in barnyard - part II | Joe Liggins ; Original Honeydrippers | vocalist, composer, leader | ||
| Specialty | SP-379-A | 10-in. | 12/31/1960 | Daddy on my mind | Joe Liggins ; Original Honeydrippers ; Candy Rivers | composer, leader, vocalist | ||
| Specialty | SP-379-B | 10-in. | 12/31/1960 | Little Joe's boogie | Joe Liggins ; Original Honeydrippers | vocalist, composer, leader | ||
| Specialty | SP-392-A | 10-in. | 12/31/1960 | I just can't help myself | Joe Liggins ; Original Honeydrippers | leader, vocalist, songwriter | ||
| Specialty | SP-392-B | 10-in. | 12/31/1960 | Frankie Lee | Joe Liggins ; Original Honeydrippers | vocalist, leader, composer | ||
| Specialty | SP-394-A | 10-in. | 12/31/1960 | That's the one for me | Joe Liggins ; Original Honeydrippers ; Candy Rivers | leader, vocalist | ||
| Specialty | SP-394-B | 10-in. | 12/31/1960 | Bob is my guy | Joe Liggins ; Original Honeydrippers ; Candy Rivers | vocalist, leader, composer | ||
| Specialty | SP-402-A | 10-in. | 12/31/1960 | Whiskey, gin & wine | Joe Liggins ; Original Honeydrippers | composer, leader, vocalist | ||
| Specialty | SP-402-B | 10-in. | 12/31/1960 | One sweet letter | Joe Liggins ; Original Honeydrippers ; Candy Rivers | vocalist, composer, leader |
Citation
Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Liggins, Joe," accessed December 24, 2025, http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/357980.
Liggins, Joe. (2025). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved December 24, 2025, from http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/357980.
"Liggins, Joe." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2025. Web. 24 December 2025.
DAHR Persistent Identifier
External Sources
Wikipedia: Joe Liggins
Discogs: Joe Liggins
Allmusic: Joe Liggins
Grove: Joe Liggins
Linked Open Data Sources
LCNAR: Liggins, Joe - https://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/n95065509
Wikidata: Joe Liggins - https://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q974670
VIAF: https://viaf.org/viaf/14963486
MusicBrainz: Joe Liggins - https://musicbrainz.org/artist/0f466952-be31-4c2e-a74c-daf799d89ab3
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