Tag Archives: OKeh Records
Louis Armstrong & His Hot Five + One
The legendary Louis Armstrong & His Hot Five… Edward “Kid” Ory – Trombone Louis Armstrong – Cornet & Vocals Johnny Dodds – Clarinet Lil Hardin Armstrong – Piano Johnny St. Cyr – 6-String Banjo …made their first recordings – for … Continue reading
“Crazy Blues” – The Centennial
One hundred years ago today – August 10, 1920 – Mamie Smith & Her Jazz Hounds recorded “Crazy Blues.” The recording was made in the New York City studios of OKeh Records. Ralph Peer, the recording director for OKeh in … Continue reading
The Ticonderoga & The New Orleans Hop Scop Blues
The Shelburne Museum is located at 6000 Shelburne Road in Shelburne, Vermont. Spread across the 45 acres of the museum’s grounds are 39 buildings housing a world-renowned collection of art and Americana numbering over 100,000 items. There are also 22 … Continue reading
This Historic Day In Music: “Guitar Blues”/”Guitar Rag” – Take 2
On November 2, 1923, Blues guitarist Sylvester Weaver sat in front of the large horn/”microphone” of the acoustic recording machine in the New York City studios of OKeh Records. He played and recorded two original instrumental guitar pieces that day: “Guitar Blues” and “Guitar Rag.” The resulting … Continue reading
This Historic Day In Music: “Deep Minor Rhythm Stomp,” “Midnight Call Blues,” “Hot Fingers” & “Blue Room Blues”
On October 9, 1929, Blues guitarist Lonnie Johnson… …and Jazz guitarist Eddie Lang… …got together again in the New York City recording studios of OKeh Records to record what would prove to be the final four of their groundbreaking and … Continue reading
This Historic Day In Music: “Bull Frog Moan”
Lonnie Johnson and Eddie Lang needed another side. How so? Well… In 1929, the standard format for the commercial release of recordings was a flat disc made of shellac resin and measuring 10 inches in diameter. The 78 RPM playback … Continue reading
This Historic Day In Music: “A Handful Of Riffs” & “Blue Guitars”
On Wednesday, May 8, 1929, Blues guitarist Lonnie Johnson and Jazz guitarist Eddie Lang returned to the OKeh Records studio at 11 Union Square in New York City. Having cut “Guitar Blues” – their third duet – the day before … Continue reading
This Historic Day In Music: “Guitar Blues”
In the late 1920’s, Blues guitarist Lonnie Johnson and Jazz guitarist Eddie Lang recorded ten landmark duets. Lonnie and Eddie recorded their first two duets – “Two Tone Stomp” and “Have To Change Keys (To Play These Blues)” – on November … Continue reading
This Historic Day In Music: “Two Tone Stomp” & “Have To Change Keys To Play These Blues”
In the Fall of 1928, Lonnie Johnson and Eddie Lang were the two best and busiest studio guitarists in New York City. Lonnie Johnson… …was born Alfonzo Johnson in the Storyville section of New Orleans, Louisiana on February 8, 1894. … Continue reading
This Historic Day In Music: “Crazy Blues”
From the opening notes of the introduction, “Crazy Blues” sounds like a Jazz record. But when Mamie Smith starts to sing, the music takes a turn. “I can’t sleep at night, I can’t eat a bite because the man I … Continue reading
sixstr stories 