Sippie Wallace

Sippie Wallace   1966

Born Beulah Thomas on 1 November 1898 in Plum Bayou, Arkansas, Sippie Wallace went to Chicago in 1923 with her brothers George and Hersal (both musicians). She wasted no time acquiring a contract with Okeh the same year, she recording 'Up the Country Blues' and 'Shorty George Blues' in October of 1923. In 1929 she moved to Detroit, largely trading blues for gospel for the next three or four decades, singing as an organ player at Leland Baptist Church.

'Shorty George Blues'   Sippie Wallace w Eddie Heywood (piano)

Recorded 26 Oct 1923 in Chicago   OKeh 8106   2nd recording

Composition: George & Hersal Thomas (brothers of Sippie)

'Trouble Everywhere I Roam'   Sippie Wallace w Clarence Williams (piano)

Recorded 28 Nov 1924 in NYC   OKeh 8212

Cornet: Louis Armstrong   Trombone: Aaron Thompson

Clarinet: Sidney Bechet   Banjo: Buddy Christian

Composition: Hersal Thomas / Sippie Wallace

'I'm So Glad I'm Brownskin'   Sippie Wallace w Clarence Williams (piano)

Recorded 2 Dec 1924 in NYC   Matrix 73014-B   OKeh 8197-B

Soprano sax: Sidney Bechet   Banjo: Buddy Christian

Composition: Clarence Williams

'Off and On Blues'   Sippie Wallace w Clarence Williams (piano)

Recorded 2 Dec 1924 in NYC   Matrix 73015-B   OKeh 8197-A

Clarinet: Sidney Bechet   Banjo: Buddy Christian

Composition: Clarence Williams

'Morning Dove Blues'   Sippie Wallace w Hersal Thomas (piano)

Recorded 24 Feb 1925 in NYC   Matrix 73015-B   OKeh 8205-A

Cornet: King Oliver

Composition: George Thomas

'I Feel Good'   Sippie Wallace w Hersal Thomas (piano)

Recorded 3 March 1926 in Chicago   OKeh 8345

Cornet: Louis Armstrong

Composition: Hersal Thomas

'I'm a Mighty Tight Woman'   Sippie Wallace (piano)

Recorded 3 March 1926 in Chicago   OKeh 8345

Cornet: Natty Dominique   Trombone: Kid Ory (?)

Clarinet: Johnny Dodds   Upright bass: Bill Johnson

Composition: Sippie Wallace

Wallace had recorded a couple of tracks in Chicago with pianist, Albert Ammons, and Lonnie Johnson at guitar in 1945. Some tracks went down in 1958 with the so-called Fine Art(s) Trio [Lord] and a few more in 1962 with pianist, James Cohen. She came out of retirement in 1966 with pianist, Little Brother Montgomery (1906-85), on a tour to England, Germany and Denmark from September to December (estimated). Dates included the American Folk Blues Festival in Berlin on 16 October 1966. In 1967 she released the album, 'Sippie Wallace Sings the Blues'. In 1970 she issued the album, 'Sippie Wallace and Victoria Spivey' on Spivey's label. Wallace and much younger blues guitarist, Bonnie Raitt, began collaborating in the seventies. In 1982 Wallace issued 'Sippie' on Atlantic 19350. She starred as herself in the film, 'Jammin' with the Blues Greats', in 1982. Wallace toured Germany in 1984 to record 'An Evening with Sippie Wallace' in October with German pianist, Axel Zwingenberger. Television dates with Montgomery in 1966 below are unidentified, thus possibly stacked in the wrong chronological order. October of 1966 is a centered guess, as actual dates might range from September to December.

'Suitcase Blues'   Sippie Wallace w Little Brother Montgomery (piano)   Television

Circa Oct 1966 in Europe   Venue: ?   Personnel: ?

Composition: Hersal Thomas

'Women Be Wise'   Sippie Wallace w Little Brother Montgomery (piano)   Television

Circa Oct 1966 in Europe   Venue: ?   Personnel: ?

Composition: Sippie's adaptation of Jimmy Foster's 1924 'Don't Advertise Your Man'

'Women Be Wise'   Sippie Wallace w Dr. John (piano)   Television

'Dave Letterman Show'   27 April 1982

Guitar: Bonnie Raitt

Composition: Sippie's adaptation of Jimmy Foster's 1924 'Don't Advertise Your Man'

'Up to the Country Blues'   Sippie Wallace w Axel Zwingenberger (piano)   Television

Hamburg 1985

Composition: George Thomas / Sippie Wallace

Wallace died on her 88th birthday, November 1, 1986, in Detroit. 'Women Be Wise' was released posthumously in 1992 by Alligator.