HMR Project: History of Music & Modern Recording

Georgia White

Birth of the Blues: Georgia White

Georgia White

For a pianist who recorded well over 100 tracks for Decca very little is known about blues and jazz singer, Georgia White. Thought to have been born on 9 March 1903 perhaps in Sandersville, Georgia, White made her first recording per 'When You're Smiling the Whole World Smiles With You' on 16 May 1930 with Jimmie Noone's Apex Club Orchestra. White stayed with Noone's band into early 1931. She presumably sang in nightclubs otherwise thereafter.

'When You're Smiling (The Whole World Smiles With You)'

Georgia White backed by Jimmie Noone’s Apex Club Orchestra

Clarinet: Jimmie Noone

16 May 1930 in Chicago Matrix C5754 Vocalion 1497

Composition: Mark Fisher / Larry Shay / Joe Goodwin

It was March 13 of !935 when White put away her first tracks for Decca as Georgia Lawson, 'Your Worries Ain't Like Mine' and 'You Done Lost Your Good Thing Now', neither issued. She would record both titles twice again on 10 April 1935 and 7 September 1935. Those issued by Decca, 'You Done Lost Your Good Thing Now' is said to have been her most popular title. Other titles going down on April 10 to issue were 'Dupree Blues' and 'Dallas Man' issued as Georgia White. White hung with Decca for her entire recording career of six years during which she was backed by guitarist, Lonnie Johnson, in New York City on April 1 of 1938 to lay out such as 'Almost Afraid of Love' and 'Crazy Blues'. Though Johnson and White are thought to have shared multiple sessions together, Tom Lord's sessionography shows those with Ikey Robinson. At this writing there are no samples to be found on the internet of titles from their one certain session together on 1 April 1938.

'You Done Lost Your Good Thing Now' Georgia White (piano / vocal)

10 April 1935 in Chicago Matrix C 9910 Decca 48001 / 7072

Composition: White

'Tell Me Baby' Georgia White (piano / vocal)

16 Jan 1936 in NYC Matrix 60347 Decca 7152

Composition: Traditional

'Get 'Em From The Peanut Man' ('Hot Nuts') Georgia White (piano / vocal)

16 Jan 1936 in NYC Matrix 60401 Decca 7152

Composition: Lil Johsnon

'I Just Want to Be Your Stingaree' Georgia White (vocal)

12 May 1936 in Chicago Matrix 90719 Decca 48066 / 7199

Piano: Richard M. Jones Guitar: Ikey Robinson Bass: John Lindsay

Composition: White

'Was I Drunk' Georgia White (vocal)

4 Sep 1936 in Chicago Matrix 90854 Decca 7216

Piano: Richard M. Jones Guitar: Ikey Robinson Bass: John Lindsay

Composition: Charles Farrell / Chick Endor

'The Stuff Is Here' Georgia White (vocal)

5 Oct 1937 in NYC Matrix 62640 Decca 7436

Piano: Richard M. Jones Guitar: Ikey Robinson Bass: John Lindsay

Composition: Sam Hill

'Alley Boogie' Georgia White (vocal)

5 Oct 1937 in NYC Matrix 62640 Decca 7436

Piano: Richard M. Jones Guitar: Ikey Robinson

Composition: Lucille Bogan / Georgia White

'Mama Knows What Papa Wants When Papa's Feeling Blue'

Georgia White (piano / vocal)

From White's last-known session

11 March 1941 in Chicago Matrix 93575 Decca 7841

Composition: Christian Marcus

After White's last tracks for Decca she performed in nightclubs with an all-female band along with such as Bumble Bee Slim and Big Bill Broonzy. She is last known working at the Blue Pub in Chicago in 1959 when she fades into obscurity such that her death is uncertain, perhaps about 1980.

Sources & References for Georgia White:

Joslyn Layne (All Music)

VF History (notes)

Wikipedia

Audio of White: Internet Archive

Recordings by White: Catalogs: 45 Worlds Discogs Hung Medien RYM SHS

Recordings by White: Compilations: Music Brainz

Recordings by White: Sessions:

DAHR (Georgia White / 1930-41)

DAHR (Georgia White as Georgia Lawson/ 1935)

Document Records Volume 1 / 1935-36 / DOCD-5301

Document Records Volume 2 / 1936-37 / DOCD-5302