About The Era of the Washboard Bands(1925-1935)

The first recordings of bands featuring the washboard were made in the mid-1920’s. This started as a South Side Chicago phenomenon, with the 1925 recordings by Jimmie O’Bryant’s band with Jasper Taylor playing washboard being the first made by a so-called “Washboard Band.”

    Clarence Willams (piano) with Floyd Casey (washboard)

 

Clarence Williams was largely responsible for the popularity of the washboard in the late 1920’s.
His washboard bands from 1927-1930 included: WILLIAMS’ WASHBOARD BAND,  WASHBOARD FOUR, WASHBOARD FIVE, and his DIXIE WASHBOARD BAND. Jimmy Bertrand and Jasper Taylor’s musicians in Chicago and Floyd Casey’s in New York also rapidly contributed to the fame of the washboard.
       

1930 marks the height of the prohibition as well as the craze for the ‘Washboard.”  In the 1930’s, the Washboard Bands became very popular. Numerous bands were born, two bands rode the crest of the washboard wave: the WASHBOARD SERENADERS (jointly led by Bruce Johnson and Harold Randolph), and the WASHBOARD RHYTHM KINGS. On a 1930 session the WASHBOARD RHYTHM KINGS band members included: Henry “Red” Allen on trumpet, Teddy Bunn on guitar, Wilton Crawley on clarinet, Pops Foster on Bass, Charlie Holmes on alto sax, Bruce Johnson on washboard and Jelly Roll Morton on piano.

    Many renowned musicians were featured in Washboard Bands such as: Louis Armstrong, Freddie Keppard, Johnny Dodds, Baby Dodds, Henry Allen, Teddy Bunn, Pops Foster, Jelly Roll Morton, Taft Jordon, Tiny Parham and Clarence Williams, to mention a few. The results were often spectacular:  hot, driving music propelled by the insistent pulse of the washboard and featuring solos by superb instrumentalists.

    Louis Armstrong was featured with the ALABAMA WASHBOARD STOMPERS and LOUIS ARMSTRONG’S ORIGINAL WASHBOARD BEATERS.

    WASHBOARD BANDS OF THE 1920’S AND 1930’S

    JIMMY BERTRAND’S WASHBOARD WIZARDS • JOHNNY DODD’S WASHBOARD BAND • BEALE STREET WASHBOARD BAND • CLARENCE WILLIAMS WASHBOARD BAND • HERSCHEL BROWN AND HIS WASHBOARD BAND • ALABAMA WASHBOARD STOMPERS • CHICAGO STOMPERS • WASHBOARD RHYTHM KINGS • JIMMY O’BRYANT’S WASHBOARD WIZARDS • WASHBOARD SAM AND HIS WASHBOARD BAND • WASHBOARD SERENADERS • BIG JOE AND HIS WASHBOARD BAND • GEORGIA WASHBOARD STOMPERS • ORIGINAL WASHBOARD BEATERS • SCORPION WASHBOARD BAND • FIVE HARMANIACS • MA RAINEY AND HER TUB JUG WASHBOARD BAND • WASHBOARD WONDERS • FIVE RHYTHM KINGS • WASHBOARD RHYTHM BOYS • TRAMP BAND • WILLIAM’S WASHBOARD BAND • RHYTHM KINGS •DIXIE WASHBOARD BAND

    Today the REYNOLDS BROTHERS bring to life the era of the washboard bands with their strong rhythmic pulse, high spirit, and rollicking good humor.