Biography
Memphis Minnie, born Lizzie Douglas on June 3, 1897, in either Tunica County, Mississippi or Algiers, Louisiana, was one of the most influential blues guitarists, vocalists, and songwriters of the 20th century. The eldest of 13 children, she received her first guitar at age seven and was performing at parties by age eleven. At thirteen, she ran away to Memphis, Tennessee, where she busked on Beale Street and soon joined the Ringling Brothers Circus as a touring musician, gaining valuable experience and exposure.
Returning to Memphis, Minnie partnered with guitarist Joe McCoy, performing as a duo that caught the attention of Columbia Records. Renamed Kansas Joe and Memphis Minnie, they recorded several successful tracks, including the classic "Bumble Bee." After their separation in the mid-1930s, Minnie moved to Chicago, where she established herself as a solo artist and embraced the electric guitar, a pioneering move for blues musicians of her era. Over a career spanning more than three decades, she recorded nearly 200 songs, such as "When the Levee Breaks" and "Me and My Chauffeur Blues," and became known for her assertive guitar playing, expressive vocals, and songwriting prowess.
Memphis Minnie's legacy is profound: she broke gender barriers in the male-dominated blues scene and influenced generations of musicians. Her music bridged rural and urban blues styles, and she remained active until health issues slowed her in the late 1950s. She died in 1973, and her contributions have since been recognized by artists and historians as foundational to the development of blues and American popular music.
Fun Facts
- Memphis Minnie ran away from home at age 13 to pursue music on Beale Street in Memphis.
- She toured with the Ringling Brothers Circus as a teenager, performing as a musician from 1916 to 1920.
- She was one of the first blues artists to adopt the electric guitar, helping shape the sound of urban blues.
- Bonnie Raitt, a prominent blues-rock musician, paid for Memphis Minnie's headstone after her death.
Associated Acts
- Memphis Minnie and Her Jug Band - eponymous
- Memphis Minnie and Her Combo - eponymous, original
Musical Connections
Mentors/Influences
- Beale Street musicians - Early influences from the vibrant Memphis blues scene where she busked as a teenager (Street performances and local collaborations) [1910s]
Key Collaborators
- Kansas Joe McCoy - Husband and musical partner; performed and recorded as a duo ("Bumble Bee", Columbia Records sessions) [Late 1920s–mid 1930s]
- Little Son Joe (Ernest Lawlars) - Second husband and frequent musical collaborator, especially in her later Chicago years (Numerous Chicago blues recordings) [1940s–1950s]
Artists Influenced
- Bonnie Raitt - Cited Memphis Minnie as a major influence and honored her legacy (Supported headstone for Minnie's grave; blues-influenced guitar work) [1970s–present]
- Led Zeppelin - Adapted her song "When the Levee Breaks" for their own recording ("When the Levee Breaks" (Led Zeppelin IV)) [1971]
Connection Network
Discography
Albums
| Title | Release Date | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Hoodoo Lady (1933-1937) | 1991-04-09 | Album |
| Queen Of The Blues | 1929 | Album |
| I'm a Bad Luck Woman | 1928-12-20 | Album |
| Hoodoo Lady - The Guitar Swing of Memphis Minnie | 2025-07-04 | Album |
| Memphis Minnie Vol. 5 (1940-1941) | 1991 | Album |
| Killer Diller Blues | 2018-03-29 | Album |
| Pickin' the Blues | 2000 | Album |
| Memphis Minnie, The Legend of Blues | 1947 | Album |
| Memphis Minnie | 1930 | Album |
| Me And My Chauffeur Blues | 2023-08-26 | Album |
| Columbia Original Masters | 1991-05-30 | Album |
| Her Greatest Tracks | 2018-11-23 | Album |
| 100% Blues | 2018-11-23 | Album |
| When the Levee Breaks - Greatest Blues Masters | 2012-09-01 | Album |
| Rough Guide To Memphis Minnie - Queen of the Country Blues | 2022-07-29 | Album |
Top Tracks
- When The Levee Breaks (Queen Of The Blues)
- If You See My Rooster (Please Run Him Home) (Hoodoo Lady (1933-1937))
- When the Levee Breaks (I'm a Bad Luck Woman)
- Kissing in the Dark
- Me And My Chauffeur Blues (Memphis Minnie Vol. 5 (1940-1941))
- Kissing in the Dark (I'm a Bad Luck Woman)
- Hoodoo Lady (Hoodoo Lady (1933-1937))
- When the Levee Breaks - Alternate Take (I'm a Bad Luck Woman)
- Keep On Eatin' (Hoodoo Lady (1933-1937))
- When the Levee Breaks
External Links
Tags: #acoustic-chicago-blues, #blues, #country-blues
References
Heard on WWOZ
memphis minnie has been played 12 times on WWOZ 90.7 FM, New Orleans' jazz and heritage station. Showing the 10 most recent plays.
| Date | Time | Title | Show | Spotify |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 8, 2026 | 20:57 | when the levee breaks | R&Bw/ Your Cousin Dimitri | |
| Jan 1, 2026 | 23:55 | My Butcher Manfrom Blues - Blue Ladies | Kitchen Sinkw/ Jennifer Brady | |
| Dec 11, 2025 | 19:06 | when the saints go marching home | R&Bw/ Your Cousin Dimitri | |
| Nov 24, 2025 | 14:14 | JOCKEY MAN BLUESfrom THE ESSENTIAL RECORDINGS | Blues Eclecticw/ Andrew Grafe | |
| Nov 18, 2025 | 15:08 | Moonshinefrom Hoodoo Lady - The Gutair Swing of Memphis Minnie | Soul Serenadew/ Marc Stone | |
| Nov 11, 2025 | 23:14 | Black Widow Stingerfrom First Lady of Country Blues | The Freaknologist Lunatique Showw/ David Kunian | |
| Nov 11, 2025 | 15:04 | Kissing In The Darkfrom Queens of The Blues | Soul Serenadew/ Marc Stone | |
| Nov 7, 2025 | 19:20 | BLACK CAT BLUES | Music of Mass Distractionw/ Black Mold | |
| Oct 31, 2025 | 13:15 | I'm a bad luck woman | New Orleans Music Showw/ Black Mold or Bill DeTurk | |
| Oct 31, 2025 | 11:11 | haunted blues | New Orleans Music Showw/ Black Mold or Bill DeTurk |