Porter Grainger facts for kids

Porter Grainger (born Granger; October 22, 1891 – October 30, 1948) was an American musician. He was a talented pianist, songwriter, and even wrote plays. He also helped publish music. Grainger is best known for his amazing piano skills, especially when playing with famous blues singers.

Porter Grainger's Life and Music

Early Life and Career Start

Porter Grainger was born in Bowling Green, Kentucky. His family's last name was originally "Granger." We don't know exactly when he changed it, but by the time of World War I, he signed his name "Grainger" for the draft. At that time, he was living in Chicago. By 1916, he had started his professional music career.

In the spring of 1920, Grainger moved from Chicago to New York City. By 1924, he was living in Harlem, a famous neighborhood known for its vibrant music and arts scene.

Writing About the Blues

In 1926, Grainger worked with another pianist and composer named Bob Ricketts. Together, they wrote and published a book. It was called How to Play and Sing the Blues Like the Phonograph and Stage Artists. This book helped people learn how to play and sing the blues music they heard on records and in live shows.

Working with Famous Singers

Porter Grainger was not mainly known for playing solo. Instead, he was excellent at being an accompanist. This means he played piano to support singers. He worked with many famous blues singers of his time. Some of these included Fannie May Goosby, Viola McCoy, Clara Smith, and Victoria Spivey.

From 1924 to 1928, Grainger worked closely with the legendary blues singer Bessie Smith. They recorded more than a dozen songs together for Columbia Records. One of the biggest moments in his career was in 1928. He was part of a stage show called Mississippi Days, which also featured Bessie Smith.

He also played piano for Mamie Smith in a short film from 1929 called Jailhouse Blues. He often performed with her in live stage shows too. Grainger wrote songs for other female blues singers. These included Gladys Bryant, Dolly Ross, Ada Brown, and his own wife, Ethel Finnie.

Leading a Band

Porter Grainger also led his own band and made eight recordings. Four of these recordings were with his group, the Get Happy Band. These recordings featured famous jazz musicians. They included Sidney Bechet on soprano saxophone and Joe "Tricky Sam" Nanton on trombone. Nanton was a sideman for the famous Duke Ellington. Elmer Snowden played banjo on these recordings as well.

One of the songs on these recordings was "(In) Harlem's Araby." Grainger wrote this song with Jo Trent and Thomas "Fats" Waller. It is still considered one of Grainger's best musical pieces.

Later Years

Grainger's last known recording was in 1932. However, he continued to perform and write music into the 1940s. Not much is known about his final years. He passed away on October 30, 1948, at the age of 57, at his home in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He was buried at Greenwood Cemetery in Sharpsburg, Pennsylvania.

In 1954, someone filed a copyright renewal for his book How to Play and Sing the Blues. It is believed that his daughter took this action.

Porter Grainger's Notable Songs

Two of Porter Grainger's songs are still well-known today as blues standards. A blues standard is a blues song that is very popular and often performed by many different artists.

One of these songs is "Tain't Nobody's Business if I Do." He wrote this song with Everett Robbins. Many artists have performed and recorded it. These include Bessie Smith, Alberta Hunter, Fats Waller, Jimmy Witherspoon, and the Ink Spots.

The other famous song is "Dying Crapshooter's Blues" (1927). This song was first performed by Martha Copeland, Viola McCoy, and Rosa Henderson. Later, it became a popular song in folk-blues music.

Other songs written by Porter Grainger include:

• "What's the Matter Now" (1921)
• "Prescription for the Blues" (1924)
• "Heart Breakin' Joe" (1923)
• "Honey" (1924, with Bob Ricketts)
• "Fortune Teller Blues" (1926)
• "Wylie Avenue Blues" (1927, with Joe Davis)
• "Soul and Body" (1927)
• "Good Time Mama" (1927)
• "Fat and Greasy" (1936)
• "Give It to Him" (1937)
• "I've Got to Have My Ashes Hauled" (1937)
• "One Hour Mama" (1937)
• "Can't You Take a Little Joke" (1939)
• "By an Old Southern River" (1943)