CHAPTER FIVE: “ST. LOUIS BLUES”: RACE RECORDS AND HILLBILLY MUSIC
Important Names and Brief Bios
Mamie Smith (1883–1946):
Born in Cincinnati, Ohio; known as the
“Queen of the Blues.” She was a pioneer
blues singer, pianist, and black vaudeville
performer. In 1920, she recorded the
bestsellers “Crazy Blues” and “It’s Right
Here For You, If You Don’t Get It, ’Tain’t
No Fault of Mine.” Mamie Smith’s success
as a recording artist opened up the record
industry to recordings by and for African
Americans.
Sophie Tucker (1884–1966):
A popular Jewish American vaudeville star
who specialized in “Negro songs.” She was
known as “The Last of the Red Hot
Mamas.”
Ralph Peer (1892–1960):
A Missouri-born talent scout for Okeh
Records; he worked as an assistant on
Mamie Smith’s first recording sessions and
was the first to use the catchphrase “race
music.” He discovered the Carter Family
and Jimmie Rodgers at a recording session
in Bristol, Tennessee, in August 1927.
William Christopher “W. C.” Handy
The “Father of the Blues,” born in Alabama
CHAPTER FIVE: “ST. LOUIS BLUES”: RACE RECORDS AND HILLBILLY MUSIC
(1873–1958):
in 1873. Cornet player and composer, he
went on to receive a college degree and
became a schoolteacher. In 1908,
cofounded the first African American–
owned music publishing house. His first
sheet music hit was “Memphis Blues”
(1912), and his biggest hit was the song
“St. Louis Blues” (1914).
Ethel Waters (1896–1977):
Entertained the growing African American
middle class in New York, Chicago, and
other northern cities. She recorded with
bandleaders Fletcher Henderson, Duke
Ellington, and Benny Goodman, and
appeared in several films.
Gertrude “Ma” Rainey (1886–1939):
Popularly known as the “Mother of the
Blues,” was the first of the great women
blues singers and had a direct influence on
Bessie Smith.
Bessie Smith (1894–1937):
Called the “Empress of the Blues,” she was
born in Chattanooga, Tennessee, and
performed in traveling shows and
vaudeville before embarking on a recording
career with Columbia Records. Her
CHAPTER FIVE: “ST. LOUIS BLUES”: RACE RECORDS AND HILLBILLY MUSIC
recordings include W. C. Handy’s “St.
Louis Blues” and Irving Berlin’s
“Alexander’s Ragtime Band.”
Louis Armstrong, aka “Satchmo,”
Born in New Orleans; a cornetist and
“Satchelmouth” (1901–71):
singer, he established certain core features
of jazz, particularly its rhythmic drive and
its emphasis on solo instrumental
virtuosity. Armstrong also profoundly
influenced the development of mainstream
popular singing during the 1920s and
1930s. In 1964, he had a Number One hit
with his version of “Hello, Dolly!”
Charley Patton (ca. 1881–1934):
One of the earliest known pioneers of the
Mississippi Delta blues style. The son of
sharecroppers; a charismatic figure whose
performance techniques included rapping
on the body of his guitar and throwing it
into the air. His powerful rasping voice,
strong danceable rhythms, and broad range
of styles made him ideal for Saturday night
dances and all-day picnics.
Blind Lemon Jefferson (1897–1929):
The first recording star of the country
blues. Born blind, Jefferson was living the
CHAPTER FIVE: “ST. LOUIS BLUES”: RACE RECORDS AND HILLBILLY MUSIC
typical life of a traveling street musician by
the age of fourteen. His first records were
released in 1926. Jefferson’s East Texas
style features a nasal vocal timbre and
sparse guitar accompaniments.
Robert Johnson (1911–38):
Little is known of his early years. His
guitar playing was so remarkable and
idiosyncratic that stories circulated
claiming he had sold his soul to the devil to
play that way. Johnson died apparently as a
victim of poisoning by a jealous husband.
His work was especially revered by the
British guitarist Keith Richards of the
Rolling Stones, and by Eric Clapton.
Fiddlin’ John Carson (1868–1949):
Musician from Georgia who made the first
commercially successful hillbilly record in
1923.
KDKA in Pittsburgh:
In 1920, became the first commercial radio
station in the United States.
WSB in Atlanta:
The first station to feature country artists
regularly; began broadcasting in 1922.
WLS in Chicago:
Broadcast the National Barn Dance,
featuring country artists.
CHAPTER FIVE: “ST. LOUIS BLUES”: RACE RECORDS AND HILLBILLY MUSIC
WSM in Nashville:
Broadcast the famous Grand Ole Opry.
Vernon Dalhart (1883–1948):
A Texas-born former light-opera singer
who recorded the first big country music
hit. In 1924, Dalhart recorded two songs:
“Wreck of the Old 97” and “The Prisoner’s
Song,” a million-seller that contributed to
the success of the fledgling country music
industry.
The Carter Family:
Born in the isolated foothills of the Clinch
Mountains of Virginia, regarded as one of
the most important groups in the history of
country music.
A. P. “Doc” Carter (1891–1960):
The leader of the Carter Family, he
collected and arranged the folk songs that
formed the inspiration for much of the
group’s repertoire; he also sang bass.
Sara Carter (1899–1979):
A. P.’s wife; she sang most of the lead
vocal parts and played autoharp or guitar.
Maybelle Carter (1909–78):
Sang harmony, played steel guitar and
autoharp, and developed an influential
guitar style, which involved playing the
melody on the bass strings while brushing
the upper strings on the offbeats for
CHAPTER FIVE: “ST. LOUIS BLUES”: RACE RECORDS AND HILLBILLY MUSIC
rhythm.
Jimmie Rodgers (1897–1933):
Called the “Singing Brakeman,” he was the
most versatile, progressive, and widely
influential of all the early country recording
artists and was early country music’s
biggest recording star. His influence can be
seen in the public images of Hank
Williams, Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson,
and almost every contemporary male
country music star.
Woodrow Wilson “Woody” Guthrie
One of the musicians most closely
(1912–67):
associated with the plight of American
workers during the Great Depression. He
was born in Oklahoma and began his career
as a hillbilly singer. He composed songs
that were overtly political in nature,
including “This Land Is Your Land,”
“Talking Dust Bowl Blues,” and “Ludlow
Massacre.” After 1940, he was known
primarily as a protest singer.