Harlem Hamfats

Harlem Hamfats
OriginChicago, Illinois, United States
GenresSwing jazz, Dixieland
Years active1936–1938
LabelsDecca
Past membersKansas Joe McCoy
Papa Charlie McCoy
Herb Morand
John Lindsay
Odell Rand
Horace Malcolm
Freddie Flynn
Pearlis Williams

The Harlem Hamfats was a Chicago jazz band formed in 1936. Initially, they mainly provided backup music for jazz and blues singers, such as Johnny Temple, Rosetta Howard, and Frankie Jaxon, for Decca Records.[1] Their first record, "Oh! Red", became a hit, securing them a Decca contract for fifty titles,[2] and they launched a successful recording career performing danceable music.

The group's inclusion in the dirty blues genre is due to such songs as "Gimme Some of that Yum Yum" and "Let's Get Drunk and Truck".[3]

  1. ^ Moore, Allan F. (2002), The Cambridge Companion to Blues and Gospel Music. Cambridge University Press. p. 36. ISBN 0-521-00107-2.
  2. ^ Oliver, Paul (1989). Screening the Blues: Aspects of the Blues Tradition. Da Capo Press. p. 83. ISBN 0-306-80344-5.
  3. ^ "The Harlem Hamfats – Let's Get Drunk and Truck Lyrics | Genius Lyrics". Genius.com. 2015-04-01. Retrieved 2016-05-12.