Victoria Spivey
Victoria Regina Spivey (October 15, 1906 – October 3, 1976), sometimes known as Queen Victoria, was an American blues singer and songwriter. During a recording career that spanned 40 years, from 1926 to the mid-1960s, she worked with Louis Armstrong, King Oliver, Clarence Williams, Luis Russell, Lonnie Johnson, and Bob Dylan. She also performed in vaudeville and clubs, sometimes with her sister Addie "Sweet Peas" (or "Sweet Pease") Spivey (August 22, 1910 – 1943), also known as the Za Zu Girl. Among her compositions are "Black Snake Blues" (1926), "Dope Head Blues" (1927), and "Organ Grinder Blues" (1928). |
Birth and Death Data: Born October 15, 1906 (Houston), Died October 3, 1976 (New York City)
Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1916 - 1936
Roles Represented in DAHR: vocalist, composer, lyricist, songwriter, piano, director
= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.
Recordings
Company | Matrix No. | Size | First Recording Date | Title | Primary Performer | Description | Role | Audio |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Victor | BVE-48103 | 10-in. | 10/30/1928 | No papa no | Duke Ellington Orchestra | Jazz/dance band (take 1); with female vocal solo (take 2) | composer | |
Victor | BVE-55853 | 10-in. | 9/24/1929 | Funny feathers blues | Henry Allen ; New York Orchestra ; Victoria Spivey | Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo | composer, vocalist | |
Victor | BVE-55854 | 10-in. | 9/24/1929 | How do they do it that way | Henry Allen ; New York Orchestra | Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo | composer, vocalist | |
Victor | BVE-56732 | 10-in. | 10/1/1929 | Blood hound blues | Victoria Spivey | Female vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble | composer, vocalist | |
Victor | BVE-56733 | 10-in. | 10/1/1929 | Dirty T. B. blues | Victoria Spivey | Female vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble | composer, vocalist | |
Victor | BVE-56734 | 10-in. | 10/1/1929 | Moaning the blues | Victoria Spivey | Female vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble | composer, vocalist | |
Victor | BVE-56735 | 10-in. | 10/1/1929 | Telephoning the blues | Victoria Spivey | Female vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble | composer, vocalist | |
Victor | BVE-57555 | 10-in. | 11/25/1929 | Heartbreakin' blues | Sweet Peas Spivey | Female vocal solo, with instrumental quartet | lyricist, composer | |
Victor | BVE-57556 | 10-in. | 11/25/1929 | Leavin' you baby | Sweet Peas Spivey | Female vocal solo, with instrumental quartet | lyricist, composer | |
Victor | BVE-57557 | 10-in. | 11/25/1929 | Longin' for home | Sweet Peas Spivey | Female vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble | lyricist, composer | |
Victor | BVE-59142 | 10-in. | 2/4/1930 | New York blues | Victoria Spivey | Female vocal solo, with guitar and piano | composer, vocalist | |
Victor | BVE-59143 | 10-in. | 2/4/1930 | Lonesome with the blues | Victoria Spivey | Female vocal solo, with guitar and piano | composer, vocalist | |
Victor | BVE-59144 | 10-in. | 2/4/1930 | Showered with blues | Victoria Spivey | Female vocal solo, with guitar and piano | composer, vocalist | |
Victor | BVE-59145 | 10-in. | 2/4/1930 | Haunted by the blues | Victoria Spivey | Female vocal solo, with guitar and piano | composer, vocalist | |
Victor | BVE-62291 | 10-in. | 6/26/1930 | Gotta have what it takes | Harold Grey [i.e., Porter Grainger] ; Victoria Spivey | Female-male vocal duet, with guitar and piano | lyricist, composer, vocalist | |
Victor | BVE-62292 | 10-in. | 6/26/1930 | Gotta have what it takes | Harold Grey [i.e., Porter Grainger] ; Victoria Spivey | Female-male vocal duet, with guitar and piano | lyricist, composer, vocalist | |
Victor | BVE-62293 | 10-in. | 6/26/1930 | Baulin' water blues | Harold Grey [i.e., Porter Grainger] ; Victoria Spivey | Female-male vocal duet, with guitar and piano | songwriter, vocalist | |
Victor | BVE-62294 | 10-in. | 6/26/1930 | Baulin' water blues | Harold Grey [i.e., Porter Grainger] ; Victoria Spivey | Female-male vocal duet, with guitar and piano | songwriter, vocalist | |
Columbia | W142608 | 10-in. | 9/14/1926 | Black snake blues | Martha Copeland | Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano | songwriter | |
Columbia | W145561 | 10-in. | 1/21/1928 | T. B. blues | Willie Jackson | Male vocal solo ("blues singer"), with guitar and piano | composer, lyricist | |
OKeh | 9651 | 10-in. | 5/11/1926 | Black snake blues | Victoria Spivey | Female vocal solo, with piano | vocalist, songwriter | |
OKeh | 9652 | 10-in. | 5/11/1926 | Dirty woman's blues | Victoria Spivey | Female vocal solo, with piano | vocalist, songwriter | |
OKeh | 9678 | 10-in. | 5/13/1926 | Long gone blues | De Lloyd Barnes ; Pierce Gist ; Victoria Spivey | Female vocal solo, with cornet and piano | vocalist, composer | |
OKeh | 9679 | 10-in. | 5/13/1926 | No more jelly bean blues | De Lloyd Barnes ; Pierce Gist ; Victoria Spivey | Female vocal solo, with cornet and piano | vocalist, composer | |
OKeh | 9680 | Not documented | 5/13/1926 | [Unknown title(s)] | Victoria Spivey | Female vocal solo, with cornet and piano | vocalist | |
OKeh | 9681 | Not documented | 5/13/1926 | [Unknown title(s)] | Victoria Spivey | Female vocal solo, with cornet and piano | vocalist | |
OKeh | 74162 | 10-in. | May 1926 | It's evil hearted me | Victoria Spivey | Female vocal solo, with piano | vocalist, composer | |
OKeh | 74163 | 10-in. | May 1926 | Santa Fe blues | Victoria Spivey | Female vocal solo, with piano | vocalist, composer | |
OKeh | 74260 | 10-in. | 8/12/1926 | Hoodoo man blues | Victoria Spivey | Female vocal solo, with piano | vocalist, songwriter | |
OKeh | 74261 | 10-in. | 8/12/1926 | Spider web blues | Victoria Spivey | Female vocal solo, with piano | vocalist, songwriter | |
OKeh | 74262 | 10-in. | 8/12/1926 | It's evil hearted me | Victoria Spivey | Female vocal solo, with piano | vocalist, composer | |
OKeh | 74263 | 10-in. | 8/12/1926 | Santa Fe blues | Victoria Spivey | Female vocal solo, with piano | vocalist, composer | |
OKeh | 74264 | 10-in. | 8/12/1926 | Humored and petted blues | Erby's Fidgety Five ; Victoria Spivey | Female vocal solo, with instrumental quintet | vocalist, songwriter | |
OKeh | 74265 | 10-in. | 8/13/1926 | Big Houston blues | Victoria Spivey | Female vocal solo, with guitar and piano | vocalist, songwriter | |
OKeh | 74266 | 10-in. | 8/13/1926 | Got the blues so bad | Victoria Spivey | Female vocal solo, with violin and piano | vocalist | |
OKeh | 74275 | 10-in. | 8/16/1926 | Blue Valley blues | Erby's Fidgety Five ; Victoria Spivey | Female vocal solo, with instrumental quintet | vocalist | |
OKeh | W80728 | 10-in. | 4/14/1927 | Black snake blues | Clarence Williams’ Blue Five | Jazz/dance band | songwriter | |
OKeh | W80766 | 10-in. | 4/27/1927 | Steady grind | Victoria Spivey | Female vocal solo, with guitar and piano | vocalist, composer, lyricist | |
OKeh | W80767 | 10-in. | 4/27/1927 | Idle hour blues | Victoria Spivey | Female vocal solo, with guitar and piano | vocalist, composer, lyricist | |
OKeh | W80768 | 10-in. | 4/27/1927 | Arkansas road blues | Victoria Spivey | Female vocal solo, with guitar and piano | vocalist, composer, lyricist | |
OKeh | W80769 | 10-in. | 4/27/1927 | The alligator pond went dry | Victoria Spivey | Female vocal solo, with guitar and piano | vocalist, composer, lyricist | |
OKeh | W80770 | 10-in. | 4/27/1927 | No. 12, let me roam | Victoria Spivey | Female vocal solo, with guitar and piano | vocalist, composer, lyricist | |
OKeh | W80771 | 10-in. | 4/27/1927 | T - B blues | Victoria Spivey | Female vocal solo, with guitar and piano | vocalist, composer, lyricist | |
OKeh | W80882 | 10-in. | 5/14/1927 | Sport model mama | Bertha Chippie Hill ; Richard M. Jones’ Jazz Wizards | Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band | composer, lyricist | |
OKeh | W81583 | 10-in. | 10/28/1927 | Garter-snake blues | Victoria Spivey | Female vocal solo, with guitar and piano | vocalist, composer, lyricist | |
OKeh | W81584 | 10-in. | 10/28/1927 | Christmas mornin' blues | Victoria Spivey | Female vocal solo, with guitar and piano | vocalist | |
OKeh | W81585 | 10-in. | 10/28/1927 | Dope head blues | Victoria Spivey | Female vocal solo, with guitar and piano | vocalist, composer, lyricist | |
OKeh | W81586 | 10-in. | 10/28/1927 | Red lantern blues | Victoria Spivey | Female vocal solo, with guitar and piano | vocalist, composer, lyricist | |
OKeh | W81589 | 10-in. | 10/31/1927 | Blood thirsty blues | Victoria Spivey | Female vocal solo, with guitar and piano | vocalist, composer, lyricist | |
OKeh | W81590 | 10-in. | 10/31/1927 | Nightmare blues | Victoria Spivey | Female vocal solo, with guitar and piano | vocalist, composer, lyricist | |
OKeh | W81596 | 10-in. | 11/1/1927 | Murder in the first degree | Victoria Spivey | Female vocal solo, with guitar and piano | vocalist, composer, lyricist | |
OKeh | W81597 | 10-in. | 11/1/1927 | Jelly, look what you done done | Victoria Spivey | Female vocal solo, with guitar and piano | vocalist | |
OKeh | W81598 | 10-in. | 11/1/1927 | Your worries ain't like mine | Victoria Spivey | Female vocal solo, with guitar and piano | vocalist | |
OKeh | W81599 | 10-in. | 11/1/1927 | A good man is hard to find | Victoria Spivey | Female vocal solo, with guitar and piano | vocalist | |
OKeh | W401114 | 10-in. | 9/12/1928 | My handy man | Clarence Williams’ Blue Five ; Victoria Spivey | Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance quintet | vocalist | |
OKeh | W401115 | 10-in. | 9/12/1928 | Organ grinder blues | Clarence Williams’ Blue Five ; Victoria Spivey | Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance quintet | vocalist | |
OKeh | W401222 | 10-in. | 10/13/1928 | New black snake blues | Lonnie Johnson ; Victoria Spivey | Female-male vocal duet, with guitar and piano | composer, vocalist, lyricist, instrumentalist, piano | |
OKeh | W401223 | 10-in. | 10/13/1928 | New black snake blues | Lonnie Johnson ; Victoria Spivey | Female-male vocal duet, with guitar and piano | composer, vocalist, lyricist, instrumentalist, piano | |
OKeh | W401242 | 10-in. | 10/17/1928 | No, papa, no | Victoria Spivey | Female vocal solo, with piano | vocalist, composer, lyricist | |
OKeh | W401243 | 10-in. | 10/17/1928 | Toothache blues | Lonnie Johnson ; Victoria Spivey ; Clarence Williams | Female-male vocal duet, with piano | vocalist | |
OKeh | W401244 | 10-in. | 10/18/1928 | Furniture man blues | Lonnie Johnson ; Victoria Spivey ; Clarence Williams | Female-male vocal duet, with piano | vocalist, songwriter | |
OKeh | W401245 | 10-in. | 10/18/1928 | Furniture man blues | Lonnie Johnson ; Victoria Spivey ; Clarence Williams | Female-male vocal duet, with piano | vocalist, songwriter | |
OKeh | W401246 | 10-in. | 10/18/1928 | Mosquito, fly and flea | Victoria Spivey | Female vocal solo, with piano | vocalist, composer, lyricist | |
OKeh | W401247 | 10-in. | 10/18/1928 | Toothache blues | Lonnie Johnson ; Victoria Spivey ; Clarence Williams | Female-male vocal duet, with piano | vocalist | |
OKeh | W402153 | 10-in. | 12/4/1928 | No | Louis Armstrong Orchestra | Jazz/dance sextet | composer | |
OKeh | W402491 | 10-in. | 7/3/1929 | You done lost your good thing now!, part 1 | Lonnie Johnson ; Victoria Spivey | Female-male vocal duet, with guitar and piano | vocalist, instrumentalist, piano, songwriter | |
OKeh | W402492 | 10-in. | 7/3/1929 | You done lost your good thing now!, part 2 | Lonnie Johnson ; Victoria Spivey | Female-male vocal duet, with guitar and piano | vocalist, instrumentalist, piano, songwriter | |
OKeh | W402525 | 10-in. | 7/10/1929 | Funny feathers | Victoria Spivey | Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance sextet | vocalist, lyricist, composer | |
OKeh | W402526 | 10-in. | 7/10/1929 | How do you do it that way? | Victoria Spivey | Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance sextet | vocalist, composer, lyricist | |
Brunswick | VO147 | 10-in. | 3/20/1931 | Nebraska blues | Victoria Spivey | Female vocal solo, with piano | vocalist, composer, lyricist | |
Brunswick | VO148 | 10-in. | 3/20/1931 | He wants too much | Victoria Spivey | Female vocal solo, with guitar and piano | vocalist, composer, lyricist | |
Brunswick | VO149 | 10-in. | 3/20/1931 | Low down man blues | Victoria Spivey | Female vocal solo, with guitar and piano | vocalist, composer, lyricist | |
Brunswick | VO150 | 10-in. | 3/20/1931 | Don’t trust nobody blues | Victoria Spivey | Female vocal solo, with guitar and piano | vocalist, composer, lyricist | |
Brunswick | VO159 | 10-in. | 4/21/1931 | Sensational mood | Hunter’s Serenaders | Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo | vocalist, director | |
Brunswick | C7100 | 10-in. | Dec. 1930 | Mama’s quittin’ and leavin’ | Magnolia Harris ; Howling Smith | Female-male vocal duet, with 2 guitars | vocalist, songwriter | |
Brunswick | C7101 | 10-in. | Dec. 1930 | Mama’s quittin’ and leavin’ | Magnolia Harris ; Howling Smith | Female-male vocal duet, with 2 guitars | vocalist, songwriter | |
Brunswick | C834-C836 | 10-in. | 4/27/1927 | Black snake blues | Dixie Syncopators ; King Oliver | Jazz/dance band | songwriter | |
Edison | 4998 | 10-in. | 9/15/1916 | New York blues | Pietro Frosini | Accordion solo | composer | |
Decca | 90784 | 10-in. | 7/7/1936 | Sweet Pease | Victoria Spivey | vocalist | ||
Decca | 90785 | 10-in. | 7/7/1936 | Black snake swing (Black snake blues) | Victoria Spivey | vocalist | ||
Decca | 90789 | 10-in. | 7/7/1936 | I'll never fall in love again | Victoria Spivey | vocalist | ||
Decca | 90790 | 10-in. | 7/7/1936 | T.B.'s got me blues | Victoria Spivey | vocalist |
Citation
Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Spivey, Victoria," accessed November 1, 2024, https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/105213.
Spivey, Victoria. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 1, 2024, from https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/105213.
"Spivey, Victoria." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 1 November 2024.
DAHR Persistent Identifier
External Sources
Wikipedia: Victoria Spivey
Discogs: Victoria Spivey
Allmusic: Victoria Spivey
Grove: Victoria Spivey
IMDb: Victoria Spivey
Linked Open Data Sources
LCNAR: Spivey, Victoria - http://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/n85376797
Wikidata: Victoria Spivey - http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q543443
VIAF: http://viaf.org/viaf/94114578
MusicBrainz: Victoria Spivey - https://musicbrainz.org/artist/0b9f1797-12ca-4db4-8e0d-d9dc2b90a3da
Wikipedia content provided under the terms of the Creative Commons BY-SA license
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