Lottie Kimbrough (1900 – unknown) was an
American country blues singer, who was also billed as Lottie Kimborough,
Lottie Beaman, and Lena Kimbrough (amongst several others). Kimbrough was a
large woman, and was nicknamed "the Kansas City Butterball". Her recording
career lasted from 1924 to 1929, however Allmusic journalist Burgin Mathews
stated "Kimbrough's vocal power, and the unique arrangements of several of
her best pieces, rank her as one of the sizable talents of the 1920s blues
tradition.
1900–1970) was an American classic female blues singer, accordionist and
songwriter. Her most noted tracks were "Dream Daddy Blues" and "Western
Union Blues." She wrote a number of her own tracks including "Barrel House
Flat Blues", "Key To The Mountain Blues" and "Black Men Blues." Johnson
variously worked with Peetie Wheatstraw, Tampa Red, Kokomo Arnold and
Roosevelt Sykes, and was married to her fellow blues musician, Lonnie
Johnson.
Biography
Born Mary Williams, in Yazoo City, Mississippi, United States, she
ultimately recorded twenty two tracks between 1929 and 1936. These comprised
eight songs in 1929, six in 1930, a couple more in 1932, four in 1934, and
her final two recordings in 1936. Over that timespan her accompanists
included Henry Brown, Judson Brown, Roosevelt Sykes, Peetie Wheatstraw, Ike
Rodgers, Tampa Red, Artie Mosby, and Kokomo Arnold.
Prior to her recording career, Johnson relocated to St. Louis, Missouri in
1915, where in her teenage years she worked with several of that time's
leading blues musicians. She married Lonnie Johnson, although their marriage
only lasted from 1925 to 1932. Nevertheless, they had six children. Johnson
worked in the St. Louis area until the mid-1940s. Her song, "Key To The
Mountain Blues", was recorded in 1948 by Jess Thomas as "Mountain Key
Blues."
By the 1950s, Johnson had long since given up a music career, and
concentrated on her religion and worked in a hospital. In 1960, Johnson was
interviewed by Paul Oliver with extracts in his book, Conversation With The
Blues. Oliver stated "Living with her mother Emma Williams in an apartment
on Biddle Street, St. Louis, Johnson has known considerable poverty for many
years."
Johnson died in 1970.
In 1995, her entire known recordings were released by Document Records on
the compilation album, Complete Works in Chronological Order (1929-1936).
