Memphis Jug Band

Formed in Memphis, Tennessee, the Memphis Jug Band was the most prolific pre-war jug band on record and the chief rival to Cannon's Jug Stompers. Led by Will Shade (born 1898 in Memphis; died 1966), who played harmonica, guitar, and the "bullfiddle" (a stringed instrument made from a garbage can), the group was a fluid collective of local musicians. Recording extensively for Victor Records between 1927 and 1934, their sound captured the vibrant, chaotic energy of the Beale Street entertainment scene. Their repertoire was a mix of country blues, popular dance tunes, and jazz-inflected novelty songs. Tracks like "Stealin' Stealin'" and "On the Road Again" showcased a rhythmic, interwoven instrumental style that became highly influential during the later folk and blues revivals. Shade remained a fixture in Memphis, occasionally recording for field researchers well into the post-war era.