Black Bob

Black Bob (fl. 1930s) was the pseudonym used by an American blues piano player, based in Chicago, who recorded widely in the 1930s accompanying other performers. His real name is unknown, but suggestions have included Bob Hudson, Bob Robinson, Bob Alexander, and Bob Schanault (or Chenault).

Almost nothing is known of his life beyond his recordings. According to Chicago pianist Charlie West, he became known as Black Jack in Cincinnati, Ohio, before moving around 1927 to Chicago where he adopted the name Black Bob. Reportedly, Big Bill Broonzy thought that his real name was Robert Alexander, though Memphis Slim gave his name as Bob Hudson. It was once erroneously suggested that Black Bob was a pseudonym for Bob Call. Reviewing the evidence, researcher Bob Eagle raised the possibility that he may have been the Bob Schanault (possibly misspelled) who recorded with Memphis Minnie in 1936.

Black Bob was the pianist on many Chicago blues recordings of the mid and late 1930s, notably for the Bluebird and Vocalion labels. His recordings included sessions by Broonzy, Amos Easton, Jazz Gillum, Lil Johnson, Red Nelson, Joe McCoy, Memphis Minnie, Merline Johnson, Papa Charlie McCoy, Tampa Red, Casey Bill Weldon, and Washboard Sam. One reviewer described his "muscular runs and rippling fills... clearly... an accomplished professional of his day." Although he seems not to have recorded after 1938 or perhaps 1941, Memphis Minnie reported that she both performed and recorded with him in her backing band as late as 1954.

Nothing is known of his later life.

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1934 - 1937

Roles Represented in DAHR: piano, speaker

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings (Results 51-73 of 73 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor BS-100894 10-in. 8/5/1936 I hate myself Chicago Five ; Tampa Red Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance ensemble instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BS-100940 10-in. 8/5/1936 Give me lovin' Washboard Sam Male vocal solo, with guitar, piano, and washboard instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BS-100941 10-in. 8/5/1936 Crazy about Nancy Jane Washboard Sam Male vocal solo, with guitar, piano, and washboard instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BS-100942 10-in. 8/5/1936 Cherry Hill blues Washboard Sam Male vocal solo, with guitar, piano, and washboard instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BS-100943 10-in. 8/5/1936 Levee blues Washboard Sam Male vocal solo, with guitar, piano, and washboard instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BS-01874 10-in. 12/21/1936 If it wasn't for you Chicago Five ; Tampa Red Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance ensemble instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BS-01875 10-in. 12/21/1936 Right or wrong Chicago Five ; Tampa Red Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance ensemble instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BS-01876 10-in. 12/21/1936 Stop truckin' and Suzi-Q Chicago Five ; Tampa Red Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance ensemble instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BS-01877 10-in. 12/21/1936 Cheatin' on me Chicago Five ; Tampa Red Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance ensemble instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BS-01878 10-in. 12/21/1936 Your one and only Chicago Five ; Tampa Red Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance ensemble instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BS-01879 10-in. 12/21/1936 My za zu girl Chicago Five ; Tampa Red Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance ensemble instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BS-01882 10-in. 12/21/1936 I love all my women Washboard Sam Male vocal solo, with washboard band instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BS-01883 10-in. 12/21/1936 Out with the wrong woman Washboard Sam Male vocal solo, with washboard band instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BS-01884 10-in. 12/21/1936 Come on in Washboard Sam Male vocal solo, with washboard band instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BS-01885 10-in. 12/21/1936 Big woman Washboard Sam Male vocal solo, with washboard band instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BS-01886 10-in. 12/21/1936 Nashville, Tennessee Washboard Sam Male vocal solo, with washboard band instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BS-01887 10-in. 12/21/1936 Razor cuttin' man Washboard Sam Male vocal solo, with washboard band instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BS-07606 10-in. 5/4/1937 She said it Chicago Five ; Tampa Red Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BS-07607 10-in. 5/4/1937 It's hard to believe it's true Chicago Five ; Tampa Red Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BS-07608 10-in. 5/4/1937 When love comes in Chicago Five ; Tampa Red Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BS-07609 10-in. 5/4/1937 You got to learn to do it Chicago Five ; Tampa Red Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BS-07610 10-in. 5/4/1937 I give my love to you Chicago Five ; Tampa Red Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BS-07611 10-in. 5/4/1937 I see you can't take it Chicago Five ; Tampa Red Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band instrumentalist, piano  
(Results 51-73 of 73 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Black Bob," accessed November 1, 2024, https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/304557.

Black Bob. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 1, 2024, from https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/304557.

"Black Bob." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 1 November 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/304557

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