Earl McDonald facts for kids

Earl McDonald (born October 2, 1885 – died April 28, 1949) was an American musician. He was a singer and played the jug, which is a type of musical instrument. Earl McDonald is famous for being a pioneer in creating and recording jug band music.

Earl McDonald: A Music Pioneer

Earl McDonald was born in Louisville, Kentucky. He loved music and started his very first jug band in 1902. This was a long time ago!

Touring and Early Bands

His band traveled a lot. They performed in big cities like New York City and Chicago by 1914. This helped make jug band music more popular.

Later, Earl McDonald formed new groups. These included the Original Louisville Jug Band and the Old Southern Jug Band. These bands made recordings in 1924. They even recorded with famous singers like Sara Martin. A fiddle player named Clifford Hayes also joined them. Together, they formed a group called the Dixieland Jug Blowers for their recordings.

Radio and Recordings

In the 1920s and early 1930s, Earl McDonald and his band, the Ballard Chefs, played music regularly on the radio. They performed on station WHAS. This helped even more people discover and enjoy jug band music.

Earl McDonald was very busy. He made over 40 recordings during his career. These recordings helped share his unique music with many listeners.

Remembering Earl McDonald

Earl McDonald passed away in Louisville in 1949. For many years, his grave did not have a headstone. However, in 2009, people who loved jug band music helped. Supporters of the annual Jug Band Jubilee made sure a gravestone was placed for him. This way, his contributions to music are remembered.