Leroy Dallas facts for kids

Leroy Dallas (born December 24, 1909 – died September 1967) was an American blues musician. He was a talented guitarist, singer, and songwriter. He played the guitar, sang, and even played the washboard. Some of his most famous songs include "Good Morning Blues" and "Jump Little Children, Jump," both released in 1948. He worked with other blues artists like Brownie McGhee and Frank Edwards. Leroy Dallas recorded eight songs under his own name between 1948 and 1962.

Life and Music Journey

Leroy Dallas was born in Mobile, Alabama, in 1909. When he was about 15, in 1924, he moved to Memphis, Tennessee. For many years, in the 1930s and 1940s, he traveled a lot across the southern United States, a region known as the Deep South.

Around 1937, in Knoxville, Tennessee, Leroy played the washboard. He was playing alongside another blues musician named Brownie McGhee. Later, Leroy Dallas also teamed up with Frank Edwards and Georgia Slim for a while. He even performed by himself on the streets of Chicago.

In his early years, Leroy formed a small band. He played with James McMillan, who taught Leroy how to play the guitar. They performed in small, lively places called juke joints. These places were common in the Mississippi Delta region. Around 1940, Leroy and Frank Edwards performed on a radio show called Major Bowes Amateur Hour.

Leroy Dallas moved to Brooklyn, New York, in 1943. There, he worked different jobs. He was a food server, a worker who loaded and unloaded ships (a stevedore), a truck driver, and a porter.

Recording His Music

By 1946, Brownie McGhee was a popular guitarist in New York. He often played on other musicians' recordings. Brownie helped Leroy Dallas get a chance to record his own songs. These recordings were for a record label called Sittin' In With, owned by Bob Shad.

In October 1948, Leroy Dallas recorded his first songs. One of them was his version of "Good Morning, School Girl". He called his song "Good Morning Blues." This song was released as a single record. The other side of the record had a song called "I'm Going Away." He also recorded "I'm Down Now, but I Won't Be Down Always" and "Jump Little Children, Jump." These were also released as singles.

On these recordings, Leroy Dallas sang and played the guitar. Brownie McGhee played guitar too. Wilbert Ellis played the piano, and Gene Ramey likely played the double bass. People noticed that Leroy's guitar playing had a strong country feel.

In September 1949, Leroy recorded two more songs. They were "Your Sweet Man's Blues" and "Baby Please Don't Go Back to New Orleans." These songs were released by Sittin' In With and also by Jade Records.

Later Years and Legacy

Leroy Dallas was known as a "capable guitarist" and an "expressive singer." However, he didn't record again until January 1962. At that time, a blues historian named Pete Welding helped him record two more songs. These were "Sweet Man Blues" and "She Caught the M&O." These were his last recordings. He stopped making music later that same year.

The last two songs he recorded were not released right away. They were later included on a collection album called Ramblin' on My Mind in 1965. Leroy Dallas passed away in September 1967 in Brooklyn, New York.

His songs have appeared on several blues collection albums. For example, "Your Sweet Man's Blues" was on Blues Roots Vol. 2 : Blues All Around My Bed in 1983. In 1994, all eight of his recorded songs were put on a collection album. This album was called Ralph Willis: Complete Recordings Vol. 2 (1950–1953) and was released by Document Records.

An American indie rock band called Jump, Little Children got its name from Leroy Dallas's song. Other musicians, like Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee, also covered his song.

Music Releases

Here are some of the songs Leroy Dallas released:

Singles

Compilation Album