Victoria Spivey

Victoria Spivey

Source: Smokestack Lightnin'

Born in Houston, Texas, on 15 October 1906, Victoria Spivey ("Queen Victoria") was an early blues vocalist who wrote the greater portion of her repertoire such as 'Dope Head Blues', 'Dirty T.B. Blues' and 'Don't Trust Nobody Blues'. Spivey's career began with her father who had a string band. When he died, she age seven, she continued performing at such as parties. In 1918 she left Houston for Dallas to accompany silent films at the Lincoln Theater, whence she began performing in nightclubs, also meeting Blind Lemon Jefferson.

In 1926 Spivey moved to St. Louis where she signed on to Okeh Records, recording 'Black Snake Blues' and ''Dirty Woman's Blues' on May 11, 1926. Two days later she was with Pierce Gist (cornet) and De Lloyd Barnes (piano) for 'Long Gone Blues' and 'No More Jelly Bean Blues'.

'Black Snake Blues'   Victoria Spivey (piano)

Recorded 11 May 1926 in St. Louis   OKeh 8338

Composition: Spivey / Jesse Johnson

August 13 of 1926 may have been Spivey's first session with guitarist and violinist, Lonnie Johnson, perhaps with John Erby on piano for 'Big Houston Blues' and 'Got the Blues So Bad'. Johnson and Spivey would see one another numerously to 1929, Lord's disco showing a last date together for duets on July 3, those being two parts to 'You Done Lost Your Good Thing Now'. They would reunite in 1961 for tracks to Spivey's 'Idle Hours' and 'Woman Blues'. April 12 of 1965 found Johnson backing titles to Spivey's album, 'The Queen and Her Knights'.

'Dope Head Blues'   Victoria Spivey

Recorded 28 Oct 1927 in NYC   OKeh 8338

Piano: Porter Grainger   Guitar: Lonnie Johnson

Composition: Spivey

Among the highlights of Spivey's early career was opportunity to put down tracks with King Oliver in 1928. On July 10 of 1929 she received backing from jazz giant in the becoming, Louis Armstrong, Okeh to issue 'Funny Feathers' and 'How Do You Do It That Way?'. Spivey appeared in the role of Missy Rose in the film, 'Hallelujah!', released in August of 1929 before sessions in September and October with Henry Red Allen (1929) toward such as 'Funny Feathers Blues' and Bloodhound Blues'.

'Organ Grinder Blues'   Victoria Spivey w Clarence Williams' Blue Five

Recorded 12 Sep 1928 in NYC   Take 2   Matrix 401115-C   OKeh 8615

(Take 1   Matrix 401115-A later issued on Spivey LP 2001 & Document: YouTube)

Cornet: King Oliver   Trombone: poss. Ed Cuffee   Clarinet: Omer Simeon

Clarinet: Piano: Clarence Williams   Guitar: Eddie Lang

Composition: Clarence Williams

'How Do They Do It That Way?'   Victoria Spivey w Henry Red Allen's New York Orchestra

Recorded 24 Sep 1929 in NYC   Take 2   Matrix 55854-2   Victor V-38088

(Take 1   Matrix 55854-1 later issued on Document: YouTube)

Trumpet: Henry Red Allen   Trombone: J. C. Higginbotham

Clarinet: Teddy Hill / Charlie Holmes / Albert Nicholas

Saxophones: Teddy Hill / Charlie Holmes / Albert Nicholas

Piano: Luis Russell   Banjo: Will Johnson

String Bass: Pops Foster   Drums: Paul Barbarin

Composition: Spivey

'Dirty T.B. Blues'   Victoria Spivey w Henry Red Allen

Recorded 1 Oct 1929 in NYC   Matrix 56733-2   Victor V-38570

Trumpet: Henry Red Allen   Trombone: J. C. Higginbotham

Soprano sax: Charlie Holmes   Tenor sax: Teddy Hill

Piano: Luis Russell   Guitar: Will Johnson   String Bass: Pops Foster

Composition: Spivey   1927

'Moanin' the Blues'   Victoria Spivey w Henry Red Allen

Recorded 1 Oct 1929 in NYC   Matrix 56734-1   Victor V-38546   Bluebird B8619

Trumpet: Henry Red Allen   Trombone: J. C. Higginbotham

Soprano sax: Charlie Holmes   Tenor sax: Teddy Hill

Piano: Luis Russell   Guitar: Will Johnson   String Bass: Pops Foster

Composition: Spivey

'Don't Trust Nobody Blues'   Victoria Spivey

Recorded 20 March 1931 in Chicago   Vocalion 1640

Piano: Thomas Dorsey   Guitar: Tampa Red

Composition: Spivey

Spivey retired from the entertainment industry in 1951 until resuming her career ten years later with Lonnie Johnson (above). Highlighting the earlier part of this latter period was a session on March 2 of 1962 for her own label, Spivey Records (founded 1961), with guitarist, Big Joe Williams, and folk singer, Bob Dylan, for the title, 'It's Dangerous'.

'It's Dangerous'   Victoria Spivey (piano)

Recorded 2 March 1962 in NYC

Issued on compilation of various 'Kings and The Queen' (Vol 2)   Spivey LP 1014 / 1970

Guitar: Big Joe Williams   Harmonica: Bob Dylan

Composition: Spivey

'You're My Man - Slick Chick Blues'   Victoria Spivey (piano)

Recorded 18 Oct 1962 in NYC

Issued on the album 'Victoria Spivey'   XTRA 1022 / 1965

Issued on the album 'The Blues is Life'   Folkways FS3541 / 1976

See also Folkways FS3815

Drums: Pat Wilson

Composition: Spivey

'Dirty T.B. Blues'   Victoria Spivey (piano)   Television

Granada TV "I Hear the Blues'   Broadcast 12 Dec 1963

Composition: Spivey   1927

The last certain recording date given for Spivey in Lord's discography was at Chelsea House in Brattleboro, Vermont, on May 22, 1976. Accompanied by Danny Russo among others, they performed 'T.B. Blues' and 'Organ Grinder Blues'. Spivey died several months later of internal hemorrhage on October 3, 1976, she 69 years of age.