What was date & Label of the first black artist record?

[Henry]

IIRC, Mamie Smith made the first blues recording c. 1922.

[welshfield]

Mamie Smith, Okeh, Feb 1920, released August 1920. re: "Born with the Blues," Perry Bradford, p118.
"That thing called love," (4113-A), and "You can't keep a good man down."
John

[estott]

Jim Europe made some ragtime band records for Pathé in the late 'teens.

Europe made dance records for Victor as "Europe's Society Orchestra" before the war. His 369th Hellfighters Band recorded for Pathé after the war. Black musician J. Tim Brymm also led a military band during thee war and recorded. I believe Ford Dabney did as well.

[estott]

Thank you all for the posts to date. I will add that J. Europe also recorded piano music for the Welte reproducing piano as did Johney Johnson.
Allen

I'm not aware of James Europe having made any piano rolls, but Ford Dabney (who was his pianist and co-composer) did make rolls.

[phonojim]

James Reese Europe recorded for with his Castle House Orchestra in about 1914. I recently read somewhere that Freddie Keppard's Jazz Cardinals were asked to record around 1914 - 15 but Keppard refused to do it for fear of other people stealing his technique. Had he made the records, he would have had the honor of recording the first jazz record which instead went to the Original Dixieland Jazz Band.

Jim

[Henry]

Mamie Smith, Okeh, Feb 1920, released August 1920. re: "Born with the Blues," Perry Bradford, p118.
"That thing called love," (4113-A), and "You can't keep a good man down."
John

Thanks for the correct details. I was too lazy to get up off my cushion and check the sources.

[Wolfe]

As for "etc.", there were several recordings, made on both 2 and 4 minute format Edison cylinders, of Polk Miller's Old South Quartet - a great African-American ensemble. There were also some recitations by Edward Sterling Wright of Paul Lawrence Dunbar's poems.

A number of black quartets made cylinders in the early days. Starting with the Unique Quartette's cylinders for the New York Phonograph Co. in late 1890.

[estott]

James Reese Europe recorded for with his Castle House Orchestra in about 1914. I recently read somewhere that Freddie Keppard's Jazz Cardinals were asked to record around 1914 - 15 but Keppard refused to do it for fear of other people stealing his technique. Had he made the records, he would have had the honor of recording the first jazz record which instead went to the Original Dixieland Jazz Band.

Jim

Just a clarification- James Europe's orchestra recorded as "Europe's Society Orchestra". The "Castle House Orchestra" which recorded at the time was not the same - it was led by Frank McKee(white)& recorded as "McKee's Orchestra" as well.

[Wolfe]

His 369th Hellfighters Band recorded for Pathé after the war.

369th Infantry Hellfighters Band.

Recorded for Pathé in New York.

[gramophone78]

Another early black American woman recording artist was Miss Belle Davies (and her Piccaninnies) of New Orleans. She recorded in London
"Honeysuckle and The Bee" and "Just Because She Made Dem Goo Goo Eyes".

To date, only one copy of her singing "Goo Goo Eyes" as been discovered.