Harry Easton Godwin


Harry Easton Godwin (August 22, 1907 – May 27, 1986) was born in New Jersey and grew up in Chicago and Virginia. He saw many jazz musicians in his youth, including King Oliver, Baby Dodds, Kid Ory, and Louie Armstrong. in the 1950s, Godwin was asked to hire a collection of Jazz musicians for the Cotton Carnival. He hired Bukka White, Little Laura Dukes, Gus Cannon, Furry Lewis, and many more. He worked the festival into the 1980s. He worked his day job as a manufacturer's rep mainly to support his family and music. He collected stories, memorabilia, and taped interviews. He also wrote a few songs. He served as manager for Memphis Slim. Godwin had a radio show on WLYX (Rhodes College). His avocation made him a resource for historians and a hero for the city. He was recorded on two records with Louis Armstrong on February 20, 1965. Godwin gave the track to Armstrong.[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12]

Godwin wrote the song "My Memphis Baby".[13]

He is the son of Earl Godwin.

  1. ^ Rose, Al (1 March 1999). I Remember Jazz: Six Decades Among the Great Jazzmen. LSU Press. ISBN 9780807125717. Retrieved 17 September 2017 – via Google Books.
  2. ^ "Harry E. Godwin". Discogs. Retrieved 17 September 2017.
  3. ^ "Harry Godwin - Tulane University Digital Library". digitallibrary.tulane.edu. Retrieved 17 September 2017.
  4. ^ "Storyville 122 0016 - National Jazz Archive". nationaljazzarchive.org.uk. Retrieved 26 March 2021.
  5. ^ "29 May 1986, Page 3 - The Tennessean at Newspapers.com". Newspapers.com. Retrieved 17 September 2017.
  6. ^ "Various - Tennessee: The Folk Heritage (Volume I: The Delta)". Discogs. Retrieved 17 September 2017.
  7. ^ Inc, Nielsen Business Media (27 May 1972). "Billboard". Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Retrieved 17 September 2017 – via Google Books. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  8. ^ Inc, Nielsen Business Media (11 March 1972). "Billboard". Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Retrieved 17 September 2017 – via Google Books. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  9. ^ "Catalog of Copyright Entries: Third series". Books.google.com. 17 September 1964. Retrieved 17 September 2017.
  10. ^ "Queens". louisarmstrong.pastperfectonline.com. Retrieved 17 September 2017.
  11. ^ "6EBBF7EA-F279-4635-A15C-932516071487". louisarmstrong.pastperfectonline.com. Retrieved 17 September 2017.
  12. ^ Rose, Al (1 March 1999). I Remember Jazz: Six Decades Among the Great Jazzmen. LSU Press. ISBN 9780807125717. Retrieved 17 September 2017 – via Google Books.
  13. ^ Rose, Al (17 September 1966). My Memphis baby. LSU Press. ISBN 9780807125717. OCLC 10377931. Retrieved 17 September 2017 – via Open WorldCat.