Porter Grainger (1891-1955)
Last updated: 19.04.24
According to the Internet source given below, Porter Grainger [born Granger] was an African-American pianist, author, songwriter, playwright, and music publisher. He was born in Bowling Green, Kentucky and began his musical career in Chicago before moving to New York in 1920. As a pianist he accompanied many female artists such as Fannie May Goosby, Viola McCoy, Clara Smith, and Victoria Spivey. From 1924 to 1928, he worked with blues singer Bessie Smith recording for Columbia Records. His 1928 production Mississippi Days also featured Bessie Smith. Grainger wrote songs for included Gladys Bryant, Dolly Ross, Ada Brown, and his own wife, Ethel Finnie as well as being bandleader of his ensemble the Get Happy Band.
Tain't Nobody's Business if I Do co-authored with Everett Robbins and Dying Crapshooter's Blues (1927) have become blues standards.
He died in New York.
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Porter_Grainger | Biography by wikipedia.org. | |
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DAHR: Porter Grainger | List of 257 historic recordings from 1921 to 1940. |
| Title (Release Year) | Composer | Performers | Issue |
|---|
| Historic Records | ||||
 |
American Woman and West Indian Man, The (1928) | P. Grainger | Anna Freeman Sam Manning |
Brunswick: E27045-E27046 |
|
Band 'll Play Who'd A-Thought It, The (1927) | P. Grainger | Nannie Mckinney | Brunswick: E6117-E6119 |
|
Bedbug Blues - Part 2 (1927) | P. Grainger | Lonnie Johnson | OKeh: W81504 |
|
Boola Boo (1931) | P. Grainger | Jake Fenderson | Victor: BRC-68267 |
 |
Bring It With You When You Come (1923) | P. Grainger | Leona Williams | Columbia: 80778 |
|
Bum's Rush, The (1929) | P. Grainger | Vernon Dalhart Carson Robison |
Brunswick: C3770 |
|
Chattanooga (1924) | P. Grainger | Tennessee Tooters | Columbia: 81789 |
|
Cheatin' Daddy (1926) | P. Grainger | Clara Smith | Columbia: W143155 |
|
Deep Down in My Soul (1926) | P. Grainger | Clara Smith | Columbia: W143156 |
|
Do Doodle Oom (1924) | P. Grainger | Piron's New Orleans Orchestra | Victor: B-29190 |
|
Done Got De Blues (1925) | P. Grainger | Harmony Hounds | Columbia: W141315 |
|
Done Sold My Soul to the Devil (And My Heart's Done Turned to Stone) (1924) | P. Grainger | Clara Smith | Columbia: 140076 |
|
Done Throwed the Key Away (1930) | P. Grainger | Lizzie Miles | Victor: BVE-58679 |
|
Don't Fool Around on Me (1930) | P. Grainger | Clara Smith | Columbia: W150649 |
|
Don't You Advertise Your Man (1931) | P. Grainger | M. Smith | OKeh: W404866 |
|
Down in My Soul (1939) | P. Grainger | E. Waters | Victor: BS-041553 |
|
⇑Down in the Mouth Blues (1930) | P. Grainger | Clara Smith | Columbia: W150650 |
|
Dyin' Crap-Shooter's Blues (1927) | P. Grainger | Martha Copeland | Columbia: W144097 |
|
Ev'rybody Seems to Have Somebody But Me (1929) | P. Grainger | J. C. Johnson | Columbia: W149635 |
|
Fat and Greasy (1940) | P. Grainger | T. Waller | Victor: BS-048776 |
|
Fortune Teller Blues (1926) | P. Grainger | Martha Copeland | Columbia: W143204 |
|
Goin' Back to Jamaica (1928) | P. Grainger | Anna Freeman Sam Manning |
Brunswick: E27043-E27044 |
|
Ground Hog Blues (1924) | P. Grainger | Tennessee Tooters | Columbia: 81788 |
|
Hard Headed Gal (1924) | P. Grainger | George W. Williams | Columbia: 81854 |
|
He Just Don't Appeal to Me (1929) | P. Grainger | Bessie Brown | Brunswick: E29532 |
|
He's Gone Home (1927) | P. Grainger | P. Grainger | Columbia: W145236 |
|
He's Got Me Goin' (1929) | P. Grainger | B. Smith | Columbia: W148902 |
|
Homeless Blues (1927) | P. Grainger | B. Smith | Columbia: W144800 |
|
Hoochee Miss Lou (1932) | P. Grainger | Betty Kashman | OKeh: W405149 |
|
Hootin' Owl Blues (1927) | P. Grainger | Dolly Ross | Brunswick: E22064 |
|
Hot Hot Mama (Lookin' For a Fire-Proof Man) (1932) | P. Grainger | Betty Kashman | OKeh: W405148 |
|
I Done Caught You Blues (1928) | P. Grainger | Ozie Ware | Victor: BVE-48101 |
|
I Wonders What This New Year's Gonna Bring to Me (1927) | P. Grainger | P. Grainger | Columbia: W145238 |
|
⇑If You Can't Bring It You've Got to Send It (1925) | P. Grainger | Jody Edwards Susie Edwards |
OKeh: S-73392 |
|
If You Hit My Dog I'll Kick Your Cat (1924) | P. Grainger | Bessie Brown George W. Williams Charles Thomas |
Columbia: 81848 |
|
If You Only Knowed (1925) | P. Grainger | Clara Smith | Columbia: 140230 |
|
I'll Put You Under the Jail (1925) | P. Grainger | Jody Edwards Susie Edwards |
OKeh: S-73393 |
|
I'm Gonna Get You (1922) | P. Grainger | M. Smith | OKeh: S-71112 |
|
It Takes the Lawd (To Tell What's on My Mind) (1925) | P. Grainger | Clara Smith | Columbia: W141258 |
|
It's All Coming Home to You (1928) | P. Grainger | Clara Smith | Columbia: W146245 |
|
I've Got a Gal and She Ain't No Good (1925) | P. Grainger | Harmony Hounds | Columbia: W141316 |
|
Jazz Hound Blues (1921) | P. Grainger | M. Smith | OKeh: S-7725 |
|
Laughin' Cryin' Blues (1923) | P. Grainger | Sara Martin | OKeh: S-71433 |
|
Let's Get Loose (1929) | P. Grainger | Clara Smith | Columbia: W149633 |
|
Man I Got Ain't the Man I Want, The (1930) | P. Grainger | Lizzie Miles | Victor: BVE-58676 |
|
Mine's Just As Good As Yours (1927) | P. Grainger | Martha Copeland | Columbia: W143481 |
|
Mister Brakes-Man (Let Me Ride Your Train) (1927) | P. Grainger | Martha Copeland | Columbia: W144098 |
|
Mistreatin' Daddy (1923) | P. Grainger | B. Smith | Columbia: 81392 |
|
My Good Lord's Done Been Here (1926) | P. Grainger | George Gray Ernest Elliott P. Grainger |
Brunswick: E4166-E4167 |
|
Nothin' But a Double Barrel Shot-Gun ('s Gonna Keep Me Away From You) (1927) | P. Grainger | P. Grainger | OKeh: W81512 |
|
⇑Nuthin' Don't Bother Me (1927) | P. Grainger | Porter Grainger Trio | Brunswick: E4532-E4533 |
|
On the Puppy's Tail (1925) | P. Grainger | Get Happy Band | Columbia: W141025 |
|
Patrol Wagon Blues (1930) | P. Grainger | New York Orchestra | Victor: BVE-62345 |
|
Polecat Blues (1927) | P. Grainger | Sylvester Weaver | OKeh: W81879 |
|
Prescription for the Blues (1924) | P. Grainger | Clara Smith | Columbia: 140109 |
|
Puddin' Papa (1925) | P. Grainger | Get Happy Band | Columbia: W141024 |
|
Put It Right Here (Or Keep It Out There) (1928) | P. Grainger | B. Smith | Columbia: W145787 |
|
Santa Claus, Bring My Man Back to Me (1928) | P. Grainger | Ozie Ware | Victor: BVE-48100 |
|
She Just Won't Don't (1929) | P. Grainger | Lonnie Johnson | OKeh: W401669 |
|
She's Gone to Join the Song-Birds in Heaven (1927) | P. Grainger | Eva Taylor | OKeh: W81787 |
|
Shootin' Star Blues (1927) | P. Grainger | Martha Copeland | Columbia: W144852 |
|
Song From a Cotton Field (1929) | P. Grainger | W. Robison | Victor: BVE-50926 |
|
Song From a Cotton Field (1927) | P. Grainger | P. Grainger | OKeh: W81513 |
|
St. Louis Cyclone Blues (1927) | P. Grainger | Lonnie Johnson | OKeh: W81503 |
|
Stinging Bee Blues (1927) | P. Grainger | Margaret Johnson | OKeh: W81424 |
|
Sweet Papa Butterbeans and Sweet Mama Susie (1926) | P. Grainger | Jody Edwards Susie Edwards |
OKeh: 74360 |
|
Tain't Nobody's Biz-Ness if I Do (1923) | P. Grainger | B. Smith | Columbia: 80862 |
|
⇑Tain't None of Your Business (1927) | P. Grainger | Jody Edwards Susie Edwards |
OKeh: W81474 |
|
Tain't What You Pay to Get a Thing (1926) | P. Grainger | Willie Jackson | Columbia: W142707 |
|
Tain't What You Used to Have, My Friend (1926) | P. Grainger | Jody Edwards Susie Edwards |
OKeh: 74042 |
|
That Dog O'Mine (1926) | P. Grainger | Harmony Hounds | Columbia: W141481 |
|
That's Why the Undertakers Are Busy Today (1927) | P. Grainger | Clara Smith | Columbia: W144249 |
|
Up North Blues (1926) | P. Grainger | Harmony Hounds | Columbia: W141480 |
|
When They Get Lovin' They's Gone (1930) | P. Grainger | Billie Young | Victor: BVE-59735 |
|
Yes Indeed He Do (1928) | P. Grainger | B. Smith | Columbia: W146887 |
|
You Ought to Be Ashamed (1928) | P. Grainger | B. Smith | Columbia: W146889 |
|
You Simply Ain't My Type (1931) | P. Grainger | Arnold Wiley Irene Wiley |
Columbia: W151698 |
| as Performer | ||||
|
He's Gone Home (1927) | P. Grainger | P. Grainger | Columbia: W145236 |
|
I Wonders What This New Year's Gonna Bring to Me (1927) | P. Grainger | P. Grainger | Columbia: W145238 |
|
My Good Lord's Done Been Here (1926) | P. Grainger | George Gray Ernest Elliott P. Grainger |
Brunswick: E4166-E4167 |
|
Nothin' But a Double Barrel Shot-Gun ('s Gonna Keep Me Away From You) (1927) | P. Grainger | P. Grainger | OKeh: W81512 |
|
Song From a Cotton Field (1927) | P. Grainger | P. Grainger | OKeh: W81513 |
This list is arranged in chronological order and contains 93 works by Porter Grainger (1891-1955).
It does not claim to be complete and represents only the number of items located. Keys: (w&m)
| Title | Year | Attribution | Remarks |
|---|
| Jazz Hound Blues | 1921 | Mamie Smith (perf.) | |
| What's the Matter Now | 1921 | ||
| I'm Gonna Get You | 1922 | Bob Ricketts (co-author) Mamie Smith (perf.) |
|
| Tain't Nobody's Biz-Ness if I Do (w&m) | 1922 | Everett Robbins (co-author) Bessie Smith (perf.) Blinky Williams (perf.) |
  |
| Bring It With You When You Come (w&m) | 1923 | Leona Williams (perf.) | |
| Do Doodle Oom | 1923 | Fletcher Henderson (co-author) Piron's New Orleans Orchestra (perf.) |
|
| Just Thinkin' | 1923 | |
|
| Laughin' Cryin' Blues (w&m) | 1923 | Bob Ricketts (co-author) Sara Martin (perf.) |
|
| Mistreatin' Daddy (w&m) | 1923 | Bob Ricketts (co-author) Bessie Smith (perf.) |
|
| Triflin' Blues | 1923 | Viola McCoy (perf.) | |
| Chattanooga (w&m) | 1924 | Bob Ricketts (co-author) Tennessee Tooters (perf.) |
|
| ⇑ Done Sold My Soul to the Devil (And My Heart's Done Turned to Stone) (w&m) | 1924 | Clara Smith (perf.)
as Harold Gray |
|
| Ground Hog Blues | 1924 | Tennessee Tooters (perf.)
as Harold Gray |
|
| Hard Headed Gal (w&m) | 1924 | George W. Williams (perf.)
as Harold Gray |
|
| Heart Breakin' Joe | 1924 | Jo Trent (words) James P Johnson (words) |
|
| Honey | 1924 | Bob Ricketts (co-author) | |
| If You Hit My Dog I'll Kick Your Cat (w&m) | 1924 | Harold Gray (words) Bessie Brown (perf.) Charles Thomas (perf.) George W. Williams (perf.) as Harold Gray |
|
| Prescription for the Blues (w&m) | 1924 | Clara Smith (perf.) | |
| Done Got De Blues (w&m) | 1925 | Harmony Hounds (perf.) | |
| I'll Put You Under the Jail | 1925 | Andrew Sissle (words) Jody Edwards (perf.) Susie Edwards (perf.) |
|
| Title | Year | Attribution | Remarks |
|---|
| I've Got a Gal and She Ain't No Good | 1925 | Harmony Hounds (perf.) | |
| If You Can't Bring It You've Got to Send It | 1925 | Freddie Johnson (words) Jody Edwards (perf.) Susie Edwards (perf.) |
|
| If You Only Knowed (w&m) | 1925 | Clara Smith (perf.) | |
| It Takes the Lawd (To Tell What's on My Mind) (w&m) | 1925 | Clara Smith (perf.)
as Harold Gray |
|
| On the Puppy's Tail | 1925 | Get Happy Band (perf.) | |
| Puddin' Papa | 1925 | Get Happy Band (perf.)
as Harold Gray |
|
| Cheatin' Daddy (w&m) | 1926 | Clara Smith (perf.) | |
| Deep Down in My Soul | 1926 | Clara Smith (perf.) | |
| Fortune Teller Blues (w&m) | 1926 | Martha Copeland (perf.) | |
| My Good Lord's Done Been Here | 1926 | Ernest Elliott (perf.) Porter Grainger (perf.) George Gray (perf.) |
|
| Sweet Papa Butterbeans and Sweet Mama Susie (w&m) | 1926 | Jody Edwards (perf.) Susie Edwards (perf.) |
|
| ⇑ Tain't What You Pay to Get a Thing (w&m) | 1926 | Willie Jackson (perf.) | |
| Tain't What You Used to Have, My Friend (w&m) | 1926 | Jody Edwards (perf.) Susie Edwards (perf.) |
|
| That Dog O'Mine (w&m) | 1926 | Harmony Hounds (perf.) | |
| Up North Blues (w&m) | 1926 | Harmony Hounds (perf.) | |
| Band 'll Play Who'd A-Thought It, The (w&m) | 1927 | Nannie Mckinney (perf.) | |
| Bedbug Blues - Part 2 | 1927 | Lonnie Johnson (perf.) | |
| Dyin' Crap-Shooter's Blues (w&m) | 1927 | Martha Copeland (perf.) | |
| He's Gone Home (w&m) | 1927 | Porter Grainger (perf.) | |
| Homeless Blues (w&m) | 1927 | Bessie Smith (perf.) | |
| Title | Year | Attribution | Remarks |
|---|
| Hootin' Owl Blues | 1927 | Langston Hughes (words) Dolly Ross (perf.) |
|
| I Wonders What This New Year's Gonna Bring to Me (w&m) | 1927 | Porter Grainger (perf.) | |
| Mine's Just As Good As Yours (w&m) | 1927 | Martha Copeland (perf.) | |
| Mister Brakes-Man (Let Me Ride Your Train) (w&m) | 1927 | Martha Copeland (perf.) | |
| Nothin' But a Double Barrel Shot-Gun ('s Gonna Keep Me Away From You) (w&m) | 1927 | Porter Grainger (perf.) | |
| Nuthin' Don't Bother Me | 1927 | Porter Grainger Trio (perf.) | |
| Polecat Blues (w&m) | 1927 | Sylvester Weaver (perf.) | |
| She's Gone to Join the Song-Birds in Heaven | 1927 | Porter Grainger (words) Eva Taylor (perf.) |
|
| Shootin' Star Blues (w&m) | 1927 | Martha Copeland (perf.) | |
| Soul and Body | 1927 | ||
| St. Louis Cyclone Blues | 1927 | Porter Grainger (words) Lonnie Johnson (perf.) |
|
| ⇑ Stinging Bee Blues (w&m) | 1927 | Margaret Johnson (perf.) | |
| Tain't None of Your Business | 1927 | Jody Edwards (perf.) Susie Edwards (perf.) |
|
| That's Why the Undertakers Are Busy Today (w&m) | 1927 | Clara Smith (perf.)
as Harold Gray |
|
| Wylie Avenue Blues | 1927 | Joe Davis (co-author) | |
| American Woman and West Indian Man, The | 1928 | Anna Freeman (perf.) Sam Manning (perf.) |
|
| Devil's Gonna Git You, | 1928 | Bessie Smith (perf.) | |
| Goin' Back to Jamaica | 1928 | Anna Freeman (perf.) Sam Manning (perf.) |
|
| I Done Caught You Blues | 1928 | Ozie Ware (perf.) | |
| It's All Coming Home to You (w&m) | 1928 | Clara Smith (perf.) | |
| Title | Year | Attribution | Remarks |
|---|
| Put It Right Here (Or Keep It Out There) (w&m) | 1928 | Bessie Smith (perf.) | |
| Santa Claus, Bring My Man Back to Me | 1928 | Ozie Ware (perf.) | |
| Yes Indeed He Do (w&m) | 1928 | Bessie Smith (perf.) | |
| You Ought to Be Ashamed (w&m) | 1928 | Bessie Smith (perf.) | |
| Bum's Rush, The | 1929 | Porter Grainger (words) Vernon Dalhart (perf.) Carson Robison (perf.) |
|
| Ev'rybody Seems to Have Somebody But Me | 1929 | J. C. Johnson (perf.) | |
| He Just Don't Appeal to Me (w&m) | 1929 | Bessie Brown (perf.) | |
| He's Got Me Goin' (w&m) | 1929 | Bessie Smith (perf.)
as Harold Gray |
|
| Let's Get Loose (w&m) | 1929 | Clara Smith (perf.)
as Harold Gray |
|
| Miss Golden Brown | 1929 | |
|
| She Just Won't Don't (w&m) | 1929 | Lonnie Johnson (perf.)
as Harold Gray |
|
| ⇑ Song From a Cotton Field (w&m) | 1929 | Porter Grainger (perf.) Willard Robison (perf.) |
|
| Don't Fool Around on Me | 1930 | Clara Smith (perf.) | |
| Done Throwed the Key Away | 1930 | Lizzie Miles (perf.)
as Harold Gray |
|
| Down in the Mouth Blues | 1930 | Clara Smith (perf.) | |
| Man I Got Ain't the Man I Want, The | 1930 | Lizzie Miles (perf.) | |
| Patrol Wagon Blues | 1930 | New York Orchestra (perf.) | |
| When They Get Lovin' They's Gone (w&m) | 1930 | Billie Young (perf.)
as Harold Gray |
|
| Boola Boo (w&m) | 1931 | Jake Fenderson (perf.) | |
| Don't You Advertise Your Man | 1931 | Mamie Smith (perf.) | |
| Title | Year | Attribution | Remarks |
|---|
| You Simply Ain't My Type (w&m) | 1931 | Arnold Wiley (perf.) Irene Wiley (perf.) |
|
| Hoochee Miss Lou (w&m) | 1932 | Betty Kashman (perf.) | |
| Hot Hot Mama (Lookin' For a Fire-Proof Man) (w&m) | 1932 | Betty Kashman (perf.) | |
| Fat and Greasy (w&m) | 1936 | Charles Johnson (co-author) Thomas Waller (perf.) |
|
| Small's Paradise Review (w&m) | 1936 | ||
| Give It to Him | 1937 | ||
| I've Got to Have My Ashes Hauled | 1937 | ||
| One Hour Mama | 1937 | |
|
| Can't You Take a Little Joke | 1939 | ||
| Down in My Soul (w&m) | 1939 | Ethel Waters (perf.) | |
| By an Old Southern River | 1943 | ||
| ⇑ In Harlem's Araby | ? | |
|
| Sad and Lonely Blues | ? |
| Composer | Title | Performer |
|---|
|
P. Grainger | Devil's Gonna Git You (1928) (3:11) | B. Smith |
|
P. Grainger | T'ain't Nobody's Bizness If I Do (2:30) | Blinky Williams |
|
P. Grainger | I'm Gonna Get You (2:59) | Mamie Smith And Her Jazz Hounds |
|
P. Grainger | In Harlem's Araby (3:26) | Tuba Skinny |
|
P. Grainger | Just Thinkin' (1923) (2:54) | Viola McCoy |
|
P. Grainger | Miss Golden Brown (1929) (2:43) | Memphis Jazzers as Dixie Devils. |
|
P. Grainger | Do Doodle Oom (1923) (3:10) | Fletcher Henderson and his Orchestra |
|
P. Grainger | Triflin' Blues (1923) (2:54) | Viola McCoy |