Richard Rabbit Brown
Source: Smokestack Lightnin'
Richard "Rabbit" Brown was born about 1880 to live his entire life in New Orleans. He performed in nightclubs, on the streets and was also a singing boatman at Lake Pontchartrain. On 14 October 1925 George Reneau recorded Brown's composition, 'The Sinking of the Titanic'. Brown's initial recordings arrived per six tracks on March 11, 1927, such as 'James Alley' and 'I'm Not Jealous' (Victor 20578) including 'Great Northern Blues' unissued. Bob Dylan did a well-known cover of 'James Alley' in 1963. Another of Brown's compositions, 'Mystery of the Dunbar's Child', was recorded that day. Those sessions were also Brown's last unless it's true, as likely, that he recorded 'Does Jesus Care?' and 'Where He Leads Me I Will Follow' (Vocalion 1273) as Blind Willie Harris in March of 1929.
'James Alley Blues' Richard Rabbit Brown
First title of session
11 March 1927 in New Orleans Matrix BVE-38000 Victor 20578
Composition: Richard Rabbit Brown
'Never Let the Same Bee Sting You Twice' Richard Rabbit Brown
11 March 1927 in New Orleans Matrix BVE-38002 Victor 21475
Composition: Chris Smith / Cecil Mack 1916
'I'm Not Jealous' Richard Rabbit Brown
11 March 1927 in New Orleans Matrix BVE-38003 Victor 20578
Composition: Richard Rabbit Brown
'The Sinking of the Titanic' Richard Rabbit Brown
11 March 1927 in New Orleans Matrix BVE-38005 Victor 35840
Composition: Richard Rabbit Brown
'Does Jesus Care?' Richard Rabbit Brown
March 1929 in New Orleans Matrix NO106 Vocalion 1273
Music: J. Lincoln Hall Lyrics: Frank E. Graeff
'Where He Leads Me I Will Follow' Richard Rabbit Brown
March 1929 in New Orleans Matrix NO107 Vocalion 1273
Music: John S. Norris Lyrics: Ernest Blandy
Brown is thought to have died in New Orleans on an unknown date in 1937.
Sources & References for Richard Rabbit Brown:
Blues Trail John Bush (All Music) Last.fm
Old Weird America VF History (notes) Wikipedia
Audio: Internet Archive
Recordings: Catalogs:
Richard Rabbit Brown: Discogs RYM
Blind Willie Harris: Discogs RYM
Recordings: Sessions:
DAHR (Richard Rabbit Brown / 1927)
DAHR (Blind Willie Harris / 1929)
Stefan Wirz (American Music / 1927/29)
Authority Search: VIAF
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