Hi,

Several people have prior claims than W.C. Handy: One is Art Gillum of Art Gillham's Society Syncopaters who learned the song in California before 1915 when he came back to Louisville; another is referenced by
David Evans in his book, "Ramblin' on my Mind" who claims Handy stole his Hesitating Blues from Louisville pianist Thomas "Hop" Hopson. Evans states that, "according to oral history the song was written by Hopson." Clearly Handy's version is a rewrite based on an earlier song. Perhaps Gillham's song was taken from Hopson since they were both in Louisville in 1915.

Charlie Poole popularized the song with his "If the River Was Whiskey" on Columbia 15545-D, 1930. I do a cover of Poole's version and also play fingerstyle the Rev. Gary Davis version covered by Jorma and Hot Tuna.

There's a collected version in the Brown Collection dated 1919 and I'd bet that version was around in the early 1900s-- years before Handy.

Richie