Lena Wilson

Lena Wilson (c. 1898 – c. 1939) was an American blues singer who performed in the classic female blues style. An African-American, Wilson performed in vaudeville with her brother Danny and his wife, Edith Wilson in the late 1910s and 1920s. Wilson made numerous recordings in the 1920s as a solo artist, for labels such as Black Swan, Paramount, Pathé, Victor, and Vocalion.

Birth and Death Data: Born 1898 (Charlotte), Died 1939 (New York City)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1923 - 1931

Roles Represented in DAHR: soprano vocal, songwriter, leader, lyricist

= 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 B-27894 10-in. 5/9/1923 'Tain't nobody's biz-ness if I do Lena Wilson Female vocal solo, with piano vocalist, soprano vocal  
Victor B-27895 10-in. 5/9/1923 Triflin' blues Lena Wilson Female vocal solo, with piano vocalist, soprano vocal  
Victor B-28398 10-in. 8/22/1923 Tain't no tellin' what the blues will make you do Lena Wilson Female vocal solo, with piano songwriter, vocalist, soprano vocal  
Victor B-28399 10-in. 8/22/1923 Wish I had you (And I'm gonna get you blues) Lena Wilson Female vocal solo, with piano vocalist, soprano vocal  
Victor [Trial 1923-04-19-03] 10-in. 4/19/1923 Deceitful blues Lena Wilson Female vocal solo, with piano vocalist, soprano vocal  
Columbia 80875 10-in. 2/26/1923 I don't let no one man worry me Lena Wilson Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with jazz/dance band vocalist, soprano vocal  
Columbia 80876 10-in. 2/26/1923 Humming man Lena Wilson Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with jazz/dance band vocalist, soprano vocal  
Columbia 81009 10-in. 5/12/1923 Deceitful blues Lena Wilson Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band vocalist, soprano vocal, leader  
Columbia 81010 10-in. 5/12/1923 Memphis, Tennessee Lena Wilson Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band vocalist, soprano vocal, leader  
Columbia 81128 10-in. 7/12/1923 I need you Fletcher Henderson ; Rosa Henderson Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano lyricist  
Columbia [W]149960 10-in. 2/4/1930 Baby, it upsets me so Lena Wilson Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano vocalist, soprano vocal  
Columbia [W]149961 10-in. 2/4/1930 Chiropractor blues Lena Wilson Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano vocalist, soprano vocal  
Columbia [W]149970 10-in. 2/6/1930 I'm a stationary mama (Lookin' for a permanent man) Lena Wilson Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano vocalist, soprano vocal  
Columbia [W]149971 10-in. 2/6/1930 Find out what they like (And how they like it) Lena Wilson Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano vocalist, soprano vocal  
Columbia W151690 10-in. 7/17/1931 What's your price? Lena Wilson Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano vocalist, soprano vocal  
Columbia W151691 10-in. 7/17/1931 My man o' war Lena Wilson Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano vocalist, soprano vocal  
Brunswick 10853-10855 10-in. 6/15/1923 Sad ‘n’ lonely blues Lena Wilson Female vocal solo vocalist, soprano vocal, songwriter  
Brunswick 10971-10977 10-in. 7/2/1923 Bleeding hearted blues Porter Grainger ; Lena Wilson Female vocal solo, with piano vocalist, soprano vocal  
Brunswick 10975-10976 10-in. 7/2/1923 Chirpin’ the blues Porter Grainger ; Lena Wilson Female vocal solo, with piano vocalist, soprano vocal  
Brunswick 12524-12526 10-in. 2/14/1924 Hula blues Lena Wilson Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance trio vocalist, soprano vocal  
Brunswick 12527-12529 10-in. 2/14/1924 Four-flushin’ papa Lena Wilson Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance trio vocalist, soprano vocal  

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Wilson, Lena," accessed November 2, 2024, https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/109707.

Wilson, Lena. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 2, 2024, from https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/109707.

"Wilson, Lena." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 2 November 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/109707

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