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 was as a training ground for musicians who went on to make careers of their own.

Good Old Jug Music: Minnie Wallace & Will Shade - 2025-12-05T00:00:00.000000Z

Jug Jive - The Joyful Sound of Memphis - 2025-06-27T00:00:00.000000Z

The Rough Guide To Memphis Blues - 2023-03-17T00:00:00.000000Z

Matchbox Bluesmaster Series, Vol. 6 - 2022-02-04T00:00:00.000000Z

Ragtime Legends - 2021-10-29T00:00:00.000000Z

Apple Bobbing Mix - Vol. 2 (Remastered) - 2020-10-31T00:00:00.000000Z

Jugs, Washboards & Kazoos - 2020-10-04T00:00:00.000000Z

Backgrounds of Jazz: The Jug Bands - 2020-09-26T00:00:00.000000Z

Rough Guide to the Roots of the Blues - 2020-02-28T00:00:00.000000Z

Blues Roots, Vol. 13 - 2018-09-01T00:00:00.000000Z

Rough Guide To Jug Band Blues - 2017-05-26T00:00:00.000000Z

American Epic: The Best of Memphis Jug Band - 2017-05-12T00:00:00.000000Z

American Epic: The Soundtrack - 2017-05-12T00:00:00.000000Z

American Epic: The Best of Blues - 2017-05-12T00:00:00.000000Z

American Epic: The Collection - 2017-05-12T00:00:00.000000Z

Rough Guide to Unsung Heroes of Country Blues (Vol.2) - 2015-09-25T00:00:00.000000Z

Evil Devil Woman Blues (Blues People 1933 - 1934) - 2015-01-01T00:00:00.000000Z

Alcohol Coke & Gin - 2014-06-23T00:00:00.000000Z

Gambling Blues - 2014-06-23T00:00:00.000000Z

Prison Blues - 2014-06-23T00:00:00.000000Z

Memphis Blues, Vol. 3 (1927 - 1930) - 1970-01-01T00:00:00.000000Z

Street Walker Blues: Vintage Songs About Prostitution, Vol. 1 - 2010-12-07T00:00:00.000000Z

Those Dirty Blues, Vol. 2 - 2010-11-25T00:00:00.000000Z

The Blues Came From Memphis - 2006-08-18T00:00:00.000000Z

The Stuff That Dreams Are Made Of: Super Rarities - 2006-06-26T00:00:00.000000Z

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