Background
Kimbrough was born in West Bottoms, Kansas City, Missouri, and retained close links to her local community.
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Lottie Kimbrough
Edit ProfileCareer
She was a large woman and was nicknamed "the Kansas City Butterball". Her recording career lasted from 1924 to 1929. Allmusic journalist Burgin Mathews stated, "Kimbrough"s vocal power, and the unique arrangements of several of her best pieces, rank her as one of the sizable talents of the 1920s blues tradition."
She was managed by Winston Holmes, himself a local musician and music promoter.
Her music career began in the early 1920s, when she performed in nightclubs and speakeasies in Kansas City.
In 1924 she undertook her first recording session, at Paramount Records, where she was recorded alongside Ma Rainey. Her earliest recordings used the twins Milas (banjo) and Miles Pruitt (guitar).
She was later backed by Jimmy Blythe (piano). In 1925 she shared recording studio space with Papa Charlie Jackson.
The same year she cut some tracks for Merrit Records, owned by Holmes.
Kimbrough recorded and performed using a number of pseudonyms. He also used a photograph of her more photogenic sister, Estella, for publicity. Kimbrough also appeared billed as Clara Cary and as Mae Moran.
Her Gennett sessions produced the tracks "Rolling Log Blues" and "Goin" Away Blues", which music journalist Tony Russell described as having "haunting beauty".
Kimbrough"s brother Sylvester appeared with her in vaudeville, and in 1926 he supplied recording accompaniment for Paul Banks"s Kansas City Trio. However, it was Kimbrough"s musical collaboration with Holmes which produced her better-known recordings.
Holmes supplied yodels and vocalised bird calls and train whistles on "Lost Lover Blues" and "Wayward Girl Blues" (1928). He was featured again when Kimbrough recorded her final session in November 1929.
Her song "Rolling Log Blues" (which she wrote) has been recorded by Jo Ann Kelly, Woody Mann, Son House, the Blues Band, Rory Block, Eric Bibb, Maria Muldaur, and Buffy Sainte-Marie.
Little is known of her life beyond her recording career. Lottie Kimbrough & Winston Holmes (1928–1929), Wolf, 1984
Lottie Beaman (Kimbrough) 1924/1926 and Luela Miller 1928, Wolf, 1988
Kansas City Blues 1924–1929, Document, 1993.
