User:Sfunkedonovan/Porter Grainger

Porter Grainger (October 22, 1891–c. 1955?; fl New York, 1920s–1930s) was an African-American pianist, songwriter, playwright, and music publisher.

When Porter was born in Bowling Green, Kentucky, the Granger family name did not include an "i." Although the exact date at which Grainger changed his name is unknown, he registered for the World War I draft by signing his name "Grainger." At that time, he was living in Chicago.^[1] By 1916, his professional career had begun,^[2] around 1920 he moved to New York and by 1924, he was living in Harlem.^[3] Working with another pianist and composer Bob Ricketts, Grainger wrote and published the book How to Play and Sing the Blues Like the Phonograph and Stage Artists in 1926.^[4]

Though he would never really be known as an exceptional musician in his own right,^[5] Grainger nevertheless made strides as an accompanist, working with singers such as Viola McCoy, Clara Smith , and Victoria Spivey. From 1924 to 1928, he worked with blues singer Bessie Smith to record more than a dozen sides for Columbia Records. He was also Mamie Smith's accompanist in the 1929 film short Jail-house Blues and regularly appeared with her in stage shows.^[6]

As a bandleader, Grainger also made eight recordings. Four of these records, made with his ensemble the Get Happy Band, are of special interest to collectors of early jazz, as these albums feature performances by the soprano saxophonist Sidney Bechet, as well as by Duke Ellington sidemen Joe “Tricky Sam” Nanton (trombone) and Elmer Snowden (banjo). “(In) Harlem's Araby,” also appeared on these recordings. The composition was co-written with Jo Trent and Thomas "Fats" Waller and is still considered one of Grainger's best works.^[7]

His last known recording appears to have been in 1932, although he performed and composed into the 1940s. His latter years remain mysteriously murky, although a copyright renewal application for the How to Play and Sing the Blues book was filed in his name in 1954.^[8]

Though he wrote several, only two of Porter Grainger's songs have endured as blues standards: “Tain't Nobody's Business if I Do” (co-authored with Everett Robbins), and “Dying Crapshooter's Blues” (1927). The former has been performed and recorded by several artists, including Bessie Smith, Alberta Hunter, Fats Waller, and the Ink Spots. The latter was performed by Martha Copeland, Viola McCoy, and Rosa Henderson before passing into folk-blues repertoire.^[9]

Other songs include the following:^[10]

• “What's the Matter Now” (1921)
• “Heart Breakin' Joe” (1923)
• “Honey” (1924, with Bob Ricketts)
• “Wylie Avenue Blues” (1927, Joe Davis, co-author)
• “Soul and Body” (1927)
• “Good Time Mama” (1927)
• “Fat and Greasy,” (1936)
• “Give It to Him” (1937)
• “I've Got to Have My Ashes Hauled” (1937)
• “One Hour Mama” (1937)
• “Can't You Take a Little Joke” (1939)
• “By an Old Southern River” (1943)

Hurwitt, Elliot. "Grainger, Porter." African American National Biography. Ed. Henry LouisGates Jr.. Ed. Evelyn BrooksHigginbotham. Oxford African American Studies Center. Wed Feb 09 18:26:43 EST 2011. <http://www.oxfordaasc.com/article/opr/t0001/e4783>

Rye, Howard. "Grainger, Porter." In The New Grove Dictionary of Jazz, 2nd ed. Ed. Barry Kernfeld. Grove Music Online. Oxford Music Online, http://www.oxfordmusiconline.com/subscriber/article/grove/music/J580400 (accessed February 9, 2011).

Yanow, Scott. "Porter Grainger." In All Music Guide to the Blues: The Definitive Guide to the Blues. Ed. Vladimir Bogdanov, Chris Woodstra, Stephen Thomas Erlewine. Hal Leonard Corporation, 2003.