Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular Music

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

BRADFORD, Perry

(b 14 Feb. 1895, Montgomery AL; d 22 April '70, Queens, NY) Composer, piano, producer. Worked in minstrel shows '06, worked solo, first visit to NYC '10, toured theatres, began writing. Mus. dir. for Mamie Smith; wrote and produced first blues record by a black artist: Mamie's 'Crazy Blues' '21 was a huge hit for the time, establishing the market for 'race' music. Toured with her, produced many sessions with Louis Armstrong, James P. Johnson, etc. Got black artists on radio, started own publishing company; comps. incl. 'You Can't Keep A Good Man Down', 'Evil Blues'. Fell on hard times during the Depression. Bitter autobiography Born With The Blues '65.