Sugar Underwood

Subject: Sugar Underwood
From: Leadbelly
Date: 23 Feb 07 - 02:51 PM

Hi,

was just listening to "Davis Street Blues" and "Dew Drop Alley Stomp" by   Sugar Underwood. These tracks were recorded August 23, 1927 in Savannah/Geogia. Because the cover of my LP "Territory Jazz" doesn't give much info I looked for additional input about this interesting ragtime/blues/boogie woogie "mixed" style piano player via internet. But I could not find any substantial data ( i.e. C.V. a.s.o.)

'Catters - need your help! Please.


Manfred

Subject: RE: Sugar Underwood
From: beardedbruce
Date: 23 Feb 07 - 02:59 PM

Page 3 track 3 says nothing is known...


http://www.newworldrecords.org/liner_notes/80235.pdf

150 hits on Altavista, but no information in the first 40.... still looking.

Subject: RE: Sugar Underwood
From: beardedbruce
Date: 23 Feb 07 - 03:06 PM

" Sugar Underwood is featured on his only two solo performances - the fine Davis Street Blues and the dazzling Dew Drop Alley Stomp. "

from one compilation...

"I have a perpetual curiousity about Sugar Underwood, a mysterious figure who made a few recordings, played kind of like Jelly Roll Morton. I think he made 4 sides, recorded in 1927. "

http://www.janetklein.com/web/interviews.htm


Sorry, nothing else.

Subject: RE: Sugar Underwood
From: Leadbelly
Date: 23 Feb 07 - 05:20 PM

Beardedbruce - thank you very much for the results of your research!

I suppose that this very talented artist wasn't really recognized by a record company in those days apart from these 2 tracks. And even these recordings seem to be coincidence more or less because these tracks were made on one of "the annual provincial tours undertaken by the major companies from 1924 onwards in quest of untapped talent."
In this case, an unknown talent scout of RCA has to be praised to select Sugar for recording 2 very different tracks. Thanks to him! And shame on RCA that they did not produce any follow-ups with Sugar Underwood. I can't believe, that these 2 tracks didn't sell. But-naturally-I don't know.

Manfred

Subject: RE: Sugar Underwood
From: GUEST,Hootenanny
Date: 24 Feb 07 - 10:58 AM

I believe that there was an article on Sugar Underwood in Laurie Wright's Storyville jazz magazine some years ago. Vintage Jazz Mart magazine might also be a place to look. Try putting in Vintage Jazz Mart or VJM on you search engine.

Subject: RE: Sugar Underwood
From: Leadbelly
Date: 24 Feb 07 - 12:39 PM

Hootenanny - thanks for the references, but unfortunately my research ended up without any substantial result.

On the other hand I believe having only two tracks performed by mysterious Sugar Underwood is better than none. Thinking of all talented artists never having had a chance to be tape-recorded in those days....
What big cultural loss.

Thanks again,

Manfred

Subject: RE: Sugar Underwood
From: GUEST,Hootenanny
Date: 24 Feb 07 - 01:58 PM

Tape recorded ?????

Subject: RE: Sugar Underwood
From: Leadbelly
Date: 24 Feb 07 - 03:52 PM

You're right, they used other techniques in 1927 and around. Piano rolls or matrixes or whatever...

Manfred