South Memphis Jug Band
The Memphis Jug Band was an American musical group that was active from the mid-1920s to the late 1950s. The band featured harmonica, kazoo, fiddle, and mandolin or banjolin, backed by guitar, piano, washboard, washtub bass, and jug. They played slow blues, pop songs, humorous songs, and upbeat dance numbers with jazz and string-band flavors. The band made the first commercial recordings in Memphis, Tennessee, and recorded more sides than any other prewar jug band. They mainly were based in the Beale Street area of Memphis.
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 functioned as a training ground for musicians who went on to make careers of their own.
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