Prater & Hayes

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Prater & Hayes were American black musicians from Vicksburg, Mississippi, United States, who made recordings in the 1920s.[1] Matthew Prater was born in West Corinth, Mississippi in 1885 and played the mandolin; Napoleon Hayes was born in New Albany, Mississippi on June 30, 1889, and played the guitar.[2][1]

They were the first to record Scott Joplin's "The Entertainer", under the title "Easy Winner", combining it with another song.[1][3] Another tune they borrowed from Joplin was "Somethin' Doin'". Their recordings showed a fusion of musical styles, of string band, blues and ragtime.[1][4] Prater took the lead with his mandolin, while Hayes played rhythm guitar.[1] They recorded music under two different group names, the 'Blue Boys' and the 'Johnson Boys' (with Lonnie Johnson).[1]

The three records they produced were recorded in Memphis, Tennessee, on February 15, 1928.[3]

  • "Easy Winner", the Blue Boys (combined Joplin's "The Entertainer" with "Creole Belles", by J. Bodewalt Lampe)[1][5]
  • "Memphis Stomp" (side 2) with Lonnie Johnson on fiddle[3][5]
  • "Prater Blues" (side 1), the Johnson Boys[5]
  • "Violin Blues" (side 2), the Johnson Boys (Lonnie Johnson on fiddle)[3][5]
  • "Somethin' Doin'"[5]
  • "Nothin' Doin'"[5]

Their lives after 1928, and the dates of their deaths, are unreported.[2]

References

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