HMR Project: History of Music & Modern Recording

Memphis Minnie

Birth of the Blues: Memphis Minnie

Memphis Minnie

Born on 3 June 1897 in Tunica County, Mississippi, Lizzie Douglas recorded under pseudonyms like Memphis Minnie, Gospel Minnie, Minnie Lawlers and Texas Tessie. She left for Memphis, Tennessee, Beale Street in particular, at age thirteen (1910), whence she began singing and playing guitar on the streets while working as a prostitute. In 1916 she was able to join the Ringling Brothers Circus as a performing musician until 1920. Returning to Beale Street, she is said to have wed Casey Bill Weldon in the early twenties but this is disputed as unlikely. She did, however, marry Joe McCoy in 1929 with whom she made her first recordings of joint compositions on June 18 for Columbia: 'I Want That', 'That Will Be Alright', 'Goin' Back to Texas', et al.

'Frisco Town' Memphis Minnie w Kansas Joe McCoy

18 June 1929 in NYC Matrix W148710 Columbia 14439-D

Composition: ?

'When the Levee Breaks' Memphis Minnie w Kansas Joe McCoy

18 June 1929 in NYC Matrix W148711 Columbia 14455-D

Composition: Joe McCoy / Memphis Minnie

Minnie and Joe decided to settle in Chicago in 1930 where they continued making records until August and September of 1934. In the meantime she also recorded solo works. After Minnie's divorce from McCoy in 1935 she continued to record on her own and toured the South. She married blues musician, Little Son Joe (Ernest Lawlars), in 1939, with whom she remained until his death on 14 November 1961.

'New Bumble Bee' Memphis Minnie

1 July 1930 in Chicago Matrix C5895 Vocalion 1618

Composition: Memphis Minnie

'Crazy Cryin' Blues' Memphis Minnie

30 Jan 1931 in Chicago Matrix C5895 Vocalion 1618

Composition: Memphis Minnie

'Where Is My Good Man' Memphis Minnie

3 Feb 1932 in Chicago Matrix C5895 Vocalion 1698 / Melotone 12730 / Perfect 245

Composition: Memphis Minnie

'My Butcher Man' Memphis Minnie

27 Nov 1933 in Chicago Matrix W152534 OKeh 8948

Composition: Memphis Minnie

'Drunken Barrelhouse Blues' Memphis Minnie w Kansas Joe McCoy

25 March 1934 in Chicago Matrix CP1070-1 Vocalion 02711

Composition: Memphis Minnie

'You Got to Move' Part 1 Memphis Minnie w Kansas Joe McCoy

24 Aug 1934 in Chicago Matrix C 9380 Decca 7038

Composition: Joe and/or Minnie McCoy

'Doctor Doctor Blues' Memphis Minnie

31 Oct 1935 in Chicago Matrix BS-96229 Bluebird B-6199

Composition: Memphis Minnie

'Ice Man' Memphis Minnie

18 Feb 1936 in Chicago Matrix C1263-1 Vocalion 03222

Composition: Memphis Minnie

'New Caught Me Wrong Again' Memphis Minnie

15 Dec 1937 in Chicago Matrix C2056-1 Vocalion 03966 / Conqueror 9026

Composition: Memphis Minnie

'I'd Rather See Him Dead' Memphis Minnie

23 June 1938 in Chicago Matrix C2287 Vocalion 04506 / Conqueror 9162

Composition: Memphis Minnie

'Black Widow Stinger' Memphis Minnie

3 Feb 1939 in Chicago Matrix C2452 Vocalion 04694 / Conqueror 9198

Drums: Fred Williams Composition: Memphis Minnie

'Good Soppin'' Memphis Minnie

3 Feb 1939 in Chicago Matrix C2453 Vocalion 04694 / Conqueror 9198

Drums: Fred Williams Composition: Memphis Minnie

The forties found Minnie performing in Chicago, Detroit, Indianapolis and Memphis until her retirement from the music business in 1957.

'Nothin' In Ramblin''' Memphis Minnie w Little Son Joe

27 June 1940 Matrix WC3167-A Okeh 5670 / Columbia 30066

Composition: Memphis Minnie Lyrics

'Ma Rainey' Memphis Minnie w Little Son Joe

27 June 1940 Matrix WC3171 Okeh 05811

Composition: Memphis Minnie

'Me and My Chauffer Blues' Memphis Minnie w Little Son Joe

21 May 1941 Matrix C3765-1 Okeh 06288 / Columbia 30015 / Conqueror 9933

Composition: Memphis Minnie

'Love Come and Go' Memphis Minnie w Little Son Joe

19 Dec 1944 Matrix C4306 Okeh 6733

Drums: Fred Williams Composition: Little Son Joe

Minnie suffered her first stroke in 1960, which put her in a wheelchair. Her second stroke occurred the next year. Her third stroke twelve years later killed her on August 6, 1973, while living in a nursing home. Guitarist and singer, Bonnie Raitt, purchased Minnie a headstone more than twenty years later in 1996.

Sources & References for Memphis Minnie:

Richard Havers (U Discover Music)

Last.fm

Memphis Music Hall of Fame

Barry Lee Pearson (All Music)

Del Ray

Sonya Shelton (Musician Guide)

VF History (notes)

Wikipedia

Compositions: Music Brainz Second Hand Songs

Recordings: Catalogs:

45 Cat (vinyl)