Rosetta Howard and the Harlem Hamfats

Rosetta Howard

Source: Douglas Green Associates

Rosetta Howard was born in Woodruff, Arkansas, on 30 August 1913. She is thought to have begun her career singing along to a jukebox (invented 1927) in a club where she was employed. She was about 18 (1932) when she began working with jazz guitarist, Jimmie Noone (later clarinet), in Chicago. Five years later on May 21, 1937, Howard made her first recordings in Chicago with the Harlem Hamfats: 'I'm Alabamy Bound' (unissued) and 'Empty Bed Blues' (Decca 7370). That was preceded in issue by 'If You're a Viper' / 'Rosetta Blues' on Decca 7326. (A "viper" is someone who uses marijuana.) The Harlem Hamfats were a studio rather than performing group originally configured in 1936 by record producer, Mayo Williams, its personnel continuously changing as recordings required. They had made their first recordings on 18 April of 1936, 'Oh! Red' and 'Lake Providence Blues' (Decca 7182), with personnel consisting of Herb Morand (trumpet), Odell Rand (clarinet), Horace Malcolm (piano), Papa Charlie McCoy (guitar / mandolin), Joe McCoy (guitar), Harrison (bass) and Pearlis Williams (drums). The Decca label which credits "Hamfood Ham" with vocals should read Hamfoot Ham instead. DAHR appears to have that as Joe McCoy, but Discogs identify Hamfoot as Papa Charlie McCoy. I distinguish him here as "Papa" to avoid confusion with the country musician, Charlie McCoy.

Trumpet: Herb Morand   Clarinet: Odell Rand   Piano: Horace Malcolm

Guitar: Joe McCoy   Guitar / mandolin: Papa Charlie McCoy

Bass: Harrison   Drums: Pearlis Williams

Vocal: Joe McCoy [DAHR] or Papa Charlie McCoy [Lord]

Trumpet: Herb Morand   Clarinet: Odell Rand   Piano: Horace Malcolm

Guitar: Joe McCoy   Guitar / mandolin: Papa Charlie McCoy

Bass: Harrison   Drums: Pearlis Williams

Vocal: Joe McCoy [DAHR] or Papa Charlie McCoy [Lord]

Trumpet: Herb Morand   Clarinet: Odell Rand   Piano: Horace Malcolm

Guitar: Joe McCoy   Guitar / mandolin: Papa Charlie McCoy

Bass: Ransom Knowling   Drums: Pearlis Williams

Composition: Jay Cee Johnson

Trumpet: Herb Morand   Clarinet: Odell Rand   Piano: Horace Malcolm

Guitar: Joe McCoy   Guitar / mandolin: Papa Charlie McCoy

Bass: John Lindsay   Drums: Fred Flynn

Composition: Rosetta Howard

Trumpet: Herb Morand   Clarinet: Odell Rand   Piano: Horace Malcolm

Guitar: Joe McCoy   Guitar / mandolin: Papa Charlie McCoy

Bass: John Lindsay   Drums: Fred Flynn

Composition: Rosetta Howard

Trumpet: Herb Morand   Clarinet: Odell Rand   Piano: Horace Malcolm

Guitar: Joe McCoy   Guitar / mandolin: Papa Charlie McCoy

Bass: John Lindsay   Drums: Fred Flynn

Composition: Herb Morand

Known personnel:

Trumpet: Henry Red Allen   Clarinet: Barney Bigard   Drums: Sidney Catlett

After titles in 1939 Howard didn't record again for another eight years. Among her final tracks in 1947 were three put down for Columbia on June 10 with Willie Dixon's Big Three Trio consisting of Leonard Caston (piano), Bernardo Dennis (guitar) and Charles Saunders (drums): 'When I Been Drinking', 'Help Me Baby' and 'I Keep on Worrying'. September 3 saw Howard with Dixon's Big Three recording such as 'Where Shall I Go' with Alphonse Walker on drums. Howard's last recordings are thought to have been on December 20 of 1947 with Big Bill Broonzy in the group: 'Sweep Your Blues Away', 'It Was You', 'You Made Me Love You' and 'Plow Hand Blues'.

Piano: Leonard Caston   Guitar: Bernardo Dennis

Bass: Willie Dixon   Drums: Charles Saunders

Composition: Johnston / Sam Coslow

Piano: Leonard Caston   Guitar: Bernardo Dennis

Bass: Willie Dixon   Drums: Charles Saunders

Composition: Rosetta Howard

Piano: Leonard Caston   Guitar: Bernardo Dennis

Bass: Willie Dixon   Drums: Charles Saunders

Composition: Big Bill Broonzy

Piano: Leonard Caston   Guitar: Bernardo Dennis

Bass: Willie Dixon   Drums: Alphonse Walker [Lord]

Composition: James Clark

Trumpet: Johnny Morton   Alto sax: Oett "Sax" Mallard   Tenor sax: Bill Casimir

Piano: Bob Call   Bass: Ransom Knowling   Drums: Judge Riley

Composition: Rosetta Howard

Trumpet: Johnny Morton   Alto sax: Oett "Sax" Mallard   Tenor sax: Bill Casimir

Piano: Bob Call   Bass: Ransom Knowling   Drums: Judge Riley

Composition: Big Bill Broonzy

Trumpet: Johnny Morton   Alto sax: Oett "Sax" Mallard   Tenor sax: Bill Casimir

Piano: Bob Call   Bass: Ransom Knowling   Drums: Judge Riley

Composition: Big Bill Broonzy

Trumpet: Johnny Morton   Alto sax: Oett "Sax" Mallard   Tenor sax: Bill Casimir

Piano: Bob Call   Bass: Ransom Knowling   Drums: Judge Riley

Composition: Big Bill Broonzy

See 'Roots N' Blues: The Retrospective 1925-1950' on Columbia C4K47911 / 1992

Upon retirement encouraged by inability to sell records Howard remained in Chicago, not to sing again but in church, she a Baptist. She died a quarter century or so later on October 18, 1974, in Chicago.