“Speckled Red’s Blues” – Speckled Red (1930)

Speckled Red (Rufus Perryman) was a self-taught piano player from Georgia who had his first recording session in Memphis Tennessee in 1929. One of the tunes he recorded there, “The Dirty Dozens”, became a bit of a hit – and he was invited back to another session in Chicago in the spring of 1930, where he recorded this tune.

Amazing to listen to this and think about the deep roots of rock and roll in black American music. Here it is for all to hear, 20+ years ahead of its time.

Recorded in Chicago on Tuesday, April 8, 1930.
Released as Brunswick 7164.

Credits:
Speckled Red – piano, vocals