Pearl Dickson facts for kids

Pearl Dickson (born Pearl Dixon, October 5, 1903 – October 24, 1977) was an American singer and songwriter. She was known for her Memphis blues and country blues music. Pearl was born in Somerville, Tennessee, in 1903.

She recorded four songs during her career. These songs were "High Yellow Blues", "Twelve Pound Daddy", "Little Rock Blues", and "Guitar Rag". However, only two of her songs were officially released: "Twelve Pound Daddy" and "Little Rock Blues". Not much is known about Pearl Dickson's life beyond her short time making music.

Pearl Dickson's Music Journey

Pearl Dickson recorded her songs on December 12, 1927. She worked with two guitar-playing brothers, Maylon and Richard "Hacksaw" Harney. They recorded these songs for Columbia Records in Memphis, Tennessee.

For reasons we don't know, Columbia Records only released one record. This record had "Twelve Pound Daddy" on one side and "Little Rock Blues" on the other. It came out in April 1928. The record label called the group "Pearl Dickson accompanied by 'Pet' and 'Can'". These were the nicknames for her guitar players.

What Her Songs Meant

Pearl Dickson wrote her own songs. Her lyrics often talked about life in a new way. For example, in her song "Little Rock Blues," she sang, "I started to heaven, but I changed my mind / But I'm going to Little Rock, where I can have a better time."

This line shows a different way of thinking for people at that time. Instead of only focusing on what happens after life, they also thought about enjoying life now. Her lyrics have even been studied to show how blues songs use words and grammar.

A musician named Stefan Grossman used "Little Rock Blues" as inspiration for his own song in 1966. He called his version "Little Rock Blues Number Two."

When Did Pearl Dickson Pass Away?

Pearl Dickson passed away in Memphis, Tennessee, in 1977. She was 74 years old.

Pearl Dickson's Recorded Songs

Singles Released

Albums Featuring Her Music