Porter Grainger  (1891-1955)
Last updated: 09.10.23
According to the Internet source given below, Porter Grainger [born Granger] was an African-American pianist, author, songwriter, playwright, and music publisher.
He was born in Bowling Green, Kentucky and began his musical career in Chicago before moving to New York in 1920. As a pianist he accompanied many female artists such as Fannie May Goosby, Viola McCoy, Clara Smith, and Victoria Spivey. From 1924 to 1928, he worked with blues singer Bessie Smith recording for Columbia Records. His 1928 production Mississippi Days also featured Bessie Smith. Grainger wrote songs for included Gladys Bryant, Dolly Ross, Ada Brown, and his own wife, Ethel Finnie as well as being bandleader of his ensemble the Get Happy Band.
Tain't Nobody's Business if I Do co-authored with Everett Robbins and Dying Crapshooter's Blues (1927) have become blues standards.
He died in New York.
Websites:
url15.gif Porter_Grainger Biography by wikipedia.org.  
This list is arranged in chronological order and contains 28 works by Porter Grainger (1891-1955). It does not claim to be complete and represents only the number of items located. Keys: (w&m)
Title Year Attribution Remarks
       
What's the Matter Now 1921
Tain't Nobody's Biz-Ness if I Do 1922 Everett Robbins (co-author)
Blinky Williams (perf.)
 wvicon.gif youtube15.jpg
Do Doodle Oom 1923  youtube15.jpg
Just Thinkin' 1923  youtube15.jpg
Mistreatin' Daddy (w&m) 1923 Bob Ricketts (co-author)  wvicon.gif
Triflin' Blues 1923 Viola McCoy (perf.)  youtube15.jpg
Heart Breakin' Joe 1924 Jo Trent (words)
James P Johnson (words)
 wvicon.gif
Honey 1924 Bob Ricketts (co-author)
Prescription for the Blues 1924
Fortune Teller Blues 1926
Good Time Mama 1927
Soul and Body 1927
Wylie Avenue Blues 1927 Joe Davis (co-author)
Devil's Gonna Git You 1928 Bessie Smith (perf.)  youtube15.jpg
Yes Indeed He Do 1928
Miss Golden Brown 1929  youtube15.jpg
Fat and Greasy 1936
Small's Paradise Review (w&m) 1936
Give It to Him 1937
I've Got to Have My Ashes Hauled 1937
One Hour Mama 1937  wvicon.gif
Can't You Take a Little Joke 1939
By an Old Southern River 1943
I'm Gonna Get You ? Bob Ricketts (co-author)  youtube15.jpg
In Harlem's Araby ?  youtube15.jpg
Laughin' Cryin' Blues ? Bob Ricketts (words)
Patrol Wagon Blues ?
Sad and Lonely Blues ?
     Composer Title Performer
       
youtube15.jpg P. Grainger Devil's Gonna Git You (1928) (3:11) B. Smith
youtube15.jpg P. Grainger Do Doodle Oom (1923) (3:10) Fletcher Henderson and his Orchestra
youtube15.jpg P. Grainger I'm Gonna Get You (2:59) Mamie Smith And Her Jazz Hounds
youtube15.jpg P. Grainger In Harlem's Araby (3:26) Tuba Skinny
youtube15.jpg P. Grainger Just Thinkin' (1923) (2:54) Viola McCoy
youtube15.jpg P. Grainger Miss Golden Brown (1929) (2:43) Memphis Jazzers as Dixie Devils.
youtube15.jpg P. Grainger T'ain't Nobody's Bizness If I Do (2:30) Blinky Williams
youtube15.jpg P. Grainger Triflin' Blues (1923) (2:54) Viola McCoy