HMR Project: History of Music & Modern Recording

Charley Jordan

Birth of the Blues: Charley Jordan

Charley Jordan

Thought born in Memphis, Tennessee, on July 11, 1890, next to nothing else is known about Charley Jordan but that he used crutches because he'd taken a bullet to the spine in 1928 while bootlegging. American Music has him recording his first several tracks circa June, 1930, in Chicago including 'Keep It Clean', 'Big Four Blues', 'Raidin' Squad Blues', 'Hunkie Tunkie Blues', et al.

'Stack O'Dollars Blues' Charley Jordan

First-known recording to see issue

C June 1930 in Chicago IL Matrix C-5834 Vocalion 1557

Composition: Jordan

'Keep It Clean' Charley Jordan

C June 1930 in Chicago IL Matrix C-5836 Vocalion 1511

Composition: Jordan

'Big Four Blues' Charley Jordan

C June 1930 in Chicago IL Matrix C-5837 Vocalion 1511

Composition: Jordan

'Running Mad Blues' Charley Jordan

19 Sep 1930 in Chicago IL Matrix C-6163 Vocalion 1551

Composition: Jordan

Jordan and Peetie Wheatstraw backed each other on numerous recordings from 1930 to 1937. He supported "Hi" Henry Brown on several titles in 1932. He backed Verdi Lee on multiple titles in 1935, including under her possible pseudonym, Mary Harris. Numerous tracks went down in support of Alice Moore in 1937, the year that he documented multiple titles under the pseudonym, Uncle Skipper. Jordan may be the guitarist for vocalist, Jimmy Oden, with Roosevelt Sykes at piano on October 29, 1937, recording 'The Road to Ruin' and 'Thick and Thin'.