DISCOGRAPHY 1997-2005 (13CD)
Beginning in 1926, African-American musicians in the Memphis area
grouped around the singer, songwriter, guitarist, and harmonica player
Will Shade (also known as Son Brimmer or Sun Brimmer). The personnel
of the band varied from day to day, with Shade booking gigs and
arranging recording sessions. The band was as a training ground for
musicians who would go on to make careers of their own.
Members
Among the recorded members of the Memphis Jug Band at various times
were Will Shade (harmonica, guitar, washtub bass, vocals), Charlie
Burse (guitar, tenor guitar, vocals), Charlie Nickerson (vocals,
piano), Charlie Pierce (fiddle), Charlie Polk (jug), Tewee Blackman
(guitar, vocals), Hambone Lewis (jug), Jab Jones (piano, jug, vocals),
Johnny Hodges (Johnny Hardge) (piano), Ben Ramey (kazoo, vocals), Will
Weldon (guitar, vocals), Memphis Minnie (guitar, vocals), Vol Stevens
(vocals, fiddle, mandolin), Milton Robie (fiddle), Otto Gilmore (Otto
Gilmer) (drums and woodblocks), and Robert Burse (washboard, drums).
Vocals were provided by Hattie Hart, Memphis Minnie, Jennie Mae
Clayton (Shade's wife), and Minnie Wallace. The Memphis Jug Band
accompanied Memphis Minnie on two sides for Victor Records in 1930,
one of her first recording sessions. Some members also contributed to
gospel recordings, either uncredited or as part of the Memphis
Sanctified Singers. The large membership pool gave the Memphis Jug
Band the flexibility to play a mixture of ballads, dance tunes,
knock-about novelty numbers, and blues.
Band name
The group recorded under several names for various record labels: the
Picaninny Jug Band, the Memphis Sanctified Singers, the Carolina
Peanut Boys, the Dallas Jug Band, the Memphis Sheiks, and the Jolly
Jug Band. Other releases were credited to individual members of the
band — Hattie Hart, Minnie Wallace, Will Weldon, Charlie Nickerson,
Vol Stevens, Charlie Burse, "Poor Jab" Jones, and Will Shade—but were
performed with accompaniment by other members of the band.... (Wikipedia)