HMR Project: History of Music & Modern Recording

Kokomo Arnold

Birth of the Blues: Kokomo Arnold

Kokomo Arnold

Born in Lovejoy's Station, Georgia, on 15 February 1896 (perhaps 1901 per census data), Kokomo Arnold (James Arnold) was a left-handed slide guitarist who had migrated in the twenties to Buffalo, New York, to work on a farm, then Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to work in the steel industry, then Chicago in 1929 to bootleg. Though he played guitar, Arnold's first recordings were as bass vocalist with Cotton PIckers Quartet on 13 December 1929 per 'You Must Be So' and 'When the Water Raised' released on Victor. He next recorded as Gitfiddle Jim in Memphis, Tennessee, on May 17, 1930, for Victor: 'Paddlin' Blues' and 'Rainy Night Blues' (Victor 23268).

'When the Water Raised' Cotton PIckers Quartet

Arnold's second-known recording to issue

13 Dec 1929 in Chicago IL Matrix BVE-57259 Victor 23406 / Bluebird B-5344

Tenor: William Carn Tenor: William D. Burns

Baritone: George Fuggitte Bass: James Arnold

Composition: Arnold / Fuggitte

'Rainy Night Blues' Arnold as Gitfiddle Jim

Arnold's third-known recording to issue

17 May 1930 in Memphis TN Matrix 59938-2 Victor 23268

Composition: Arnold

'Paddlin' Blues' Arnold as Gitfiddle Jim

Arnold's fourth-known recording to issue

17 May 1930 in Memphis TN Matrix 59939-1 Victor 23268

Composition: Arnold

Between 1934 and 1938 Arnold recorded 88 sides for Decca Records, American Music (AM) commencing that list with five tracks on January 15 including 'Old Black Cat Blues' backed by 'Sissy Man Blues' on Decca 7050. A number of those included titles by Peetie Wheatstraw whom Arnold backed or was supported by from early 1936 to November 1937, beginning with a session in New York City on February 18 per 'When I Get My Bonus' backed by 'Coon Can Shorty' on Decca 7159. AM has Arnold backing the Honey Dripper (Roosevelt Sykes) for the first time on the same date: 'Dirty Mother for You' and 'Jet Black Snake'.

'Milk Cow Blues' Kokomo Arnold

10 Sep 1934 in Memphis TN Matrix C-9428-B Decca 7026 (1934) / Decca 48000 (1946)

Composition: Arnold

'Sissy Man Blues' Kokomo Arnold

15 Jan 1935 in Chicago Matrix 90797-B Decca 7201

Composition: Arnold

'The Twelves (The Dirty Dozen)' Kokomo Arnold

18 Jan 1935 in Chicago Matrix C-9671-A Decca 7083

Composition: Woods

'My Gal's Been Foolin' Me'

Kokomo Arnold backing Sam Theard in Oscar's Chicago Swingers

9 July 1936 in Chicago Matrix 90797-B Decca 7201

Known personnel: Clarinet: Odell Rand Piano: John Oscar

Composition: Wayne / Theard

'Grandpa Got Drunk' Kokomo Arnold

7 May 1937 in Chicago Matrix 91232-A Decca 7319

Composition: Arnold

'Head Cuttin' Blues' Kokomo Arnold w Peetie Wheatstraw (piano)

3 Nov 1937 in Chicago Matrix 91331-A Decca 7417

Composition: Arnold

AM has Arnold recording to as late as sessions on the 11th and 12th of May, 1938, with five tracks on the latter date including 'Midnight Blues' and 'Bad Luck Blues'.

'Midnight Blues' Kokomo Arnold

12 May 1938 in Chicago Matrix 63750-A Decca 7510

Composition: Arnold

'Bad Luck Blues' Kokomo Arnold

12 May 1938 in Chicago Matrix 91331-A Decca 7540

Composition: Arnold

Arnold quit the music industry in 1938 to work in a Chicago factory. By the time he was rediscovered during the blues revival of the early sixties his world had too changed to want to reenter the business, though he did make a few Chicago appearances. Arnold died of heart attack in Chicago on November 8, 1968.

Sources & References for Kokomo Arnold:

All About Blues Music

IMDb

Last.fm

Uncle Dave Lewis (All Music)

VF History (notes)

Wikipedia

Audio of Arnold: Internet Archive

Compositions (mentioned herein):

Sissy Man Blues (1935)

The Twelves (The Dirty Dozen) (1935)

Recordings: Catalogs: 45 Worlds Discogs Hung Medien RYM SHS