Morton Harvey - Memphis Blues (1912)
Morton Harvey was FIRST to sing "Memphis Blues" on record. In fact, his rendition of W.C. Handy's "Memphis Blues" (Victor 17657)--cut on October 2, 1914, and issued in early 1915--is the earliest known vocal record of a song with "blues" in the title.
Folks I've just been down, down to Memphis town,
That's where the people smile, smile on you all the while.
Hospitality, they were good to me.
I couldn't spend a dime, and had the grandest time.
I went out a dancing with a Tennessee dear,
They had a fellow there named Handy with a band you should hear
And while the folks gently swayed, all the band folks played Real harmony.
I never will forget the tune that Handy called the Memphis Blues.
Oh yes, them Blues.
They've got a fiddler there that always slickens his hair
And folks he sure do pull some bow.
And when the big Bassoon seconds to the Trombones croon.
It moans just like a sinner on Revival Day, on Revival Day.
Oh that melody sure appealed to me.
Just like a mountain stream rippling on it seemed.
Then it slowly died, with a gentle sigh
Soft as the breeze that whines high in the summer pines.
Hear me people, hear me people, hear I pray,
I'm going to take a million lesson's 'til I learn how to play
Because I seem to hear it yet, simply can't forget
That blue refrain.
There's nothing like the Handy Band that played the Memphis Blues so grand.
Oh play them Blues.
That melancholy strain, that ever haunting refrain
Is like a sweet old sorrow song.
Here comes the very part that wraps a spell around my heart.
It sets me wild to hear that loving tune a gain,
The Memphis Blues.
Morton Harvey (1886 - 15 August 1961) was a baritone identified as "tenor" on Victor records.
He was born in Omaha, Nebraska. His paternal grandfather, T. W. Harvey, brought the first Aberdeen Angus cattle over to America and later founded the town of Harvey, Illinois.
His family discouraged young Morton's theatrical ambitions, instead wanting him to become a preacher. However, at the prompting of Phil Schwartz, an employee of the Jerome Remick music firm, Harvey went to Chicago to try out for a road show of The Time, the Place and the Girl. He joined the chorus and finally got a chance to play the organ grinder.
After the show disbanded in 1913, he found work in motion picture theaters which featured illustrated songs between silent films. While in Memphis he was signed up by the Al. G. Field Greater Minstrels organization. Alfred Solman heard Harvey sing when the company passed through New York and introduced him to Billy Murray, who told the young performer to look him up when the troupe's season closed. When Harvey did, Murray took him to companies for auditions, which in turn led to recording dates.
His first Victor discs were issued in December 1914. "At the Ball, That's All" was coupled on 17649 with Collins and Harlan's "Do the Funny Fox Trot." "I Want to Go Back to Michigan" on 17650 was coupled with the American Quartet's "At the Mississippi Cabaret."
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Folks I've just been down, down to Memphis town,
That's where the people smile, smile on you all the while.
Hospitality, they were good to me.
I couldn't spend a dime, and had the grandest time.
I went out a dancing with a Tennessee dear,
They had a fellow there named Handy with a band you should hear
And while the folks gently swayed, all the band folks played Real harmony.
I never will forget the tune that Handy called the Memphis Blues.
Oh yes, them Blues.
They've got a fiddler there that always slickens his hair
And folks he sure do pull some bow.
And when the big Bassoon seconds to the Trombones croon.
It moans just like a sinner on Revival Day, on Revival Day.
Oh that melody sure appealed to me.
Just like a mountain stream rippling on it seemed.
Then it slowly died, with a gentle sigh
Soft as the breeze that whines high in the summer pines.
Hear me people, hear me people, hear I pray,
I'm going to take a million lesson's 'til I learn how to play
Because I seem to hear it yet, simply can't forget
That blue refrain.
There's nothing like the Handy Band that played the Memphis Blues so grand.
Oh play them Blues.
That melancholy strain, that ever haunting refrain
Is like a sweet old sorrow song.
Here comes the very part that wraps a spell around my heart.
It sets me wild to hear that loving tune a gain,
The Memphis Blues.
Morton Harvey (1886 - 15 August 1961) was a baritone identified as "tenor" on Victor records.
He was born in Omaha, Nebraska. His paternal grandfather, T. W. Harvey, brought the first Aberdeen Angus cattle over to America and later founded the town of Harvey, Illinois.
His family discouraged young Morton's theatrical ambitions, instead wanting him to become a preacher. However, at the prompting of Phil Schwartz, an employee of the Jerome Remick music firm, Harvey went to Chicago to try out for a road show of The Time, the Place and the Girl. He joined the chorus and finally got a chance to play the organ grinder.
After the show disbanded in 1913, he found work in motion picture theaters which featured illustrated songs between silent films. While in Memphis he was signed up by the Al. G. Field Greater Minstrels organization. Alfred Solman heard Harvey sing when the company passed through New York and introduced him to Billy Murray, who told the young performer to look him up when the troupe's season closed. When Harvey did, Murray took him to companies for auditions, which in turn led to recording dates.
His first Victor discs were issued in December 1914. "At the Ball, That's All" was coupled on 17649 with Collins and Harlan's "Do the Funny Fox Trot." "I Want to Go Back to Michigan" on 17650 was coupled with the American Quartet's "At the Mississippi Cabaret."
His r