It was the year 1920.  One of the more important events in the annals of popular music in the United States occurred 100 years ago this month. Mamie Smith and Her Jazz Hounds’ recording of Perry Bradford‘s tune “Crazy Blues” became an instant hit and was the first significant recording in the blues genre. And Mamie herself was also the first African American female popular singer to lead a commercial recording. This week on Deeper Roots we celebrate with the first installment of a show featuring two hours of music including two very special guests: Gillian and Gary Atkinson, proprietors of Document Records in the UK. I had a chance to interview the two about the label and about the dawn of blues and jazz recording including the early century social impact of black artists. A very special opportunity offered for a very special time. We’ll also hear about a recent video release called Searching for Secret Heroes, a resurrection of a long lost documentary made by Sam Charters, released by Document this past April.

EDIT

No.	Artist	Title	Album	Buy
1	Mamie Smith	Crazy Blues	American Roots Music [Disc 2]
2	Deeper Roots	Pre 20th Century – Gillian Atkinson Interview	Document Interview – Crazy Blues Centennial
3	James Reese Europe's 369th U.S. Infantry "Hell Fighters" Band	The Darktown Strutters' Ball	James Reese Europe's 369th U.S. Infantry "Hell Fighters" Band (Remastered)
4	James Reese Europe's 369th U.S. Infantry "Hell Fighters" Band	Memphis Blues	James Reese Europe's 369th U.S. Infantry "Hell Fighters" Band (Remastered)
5	Deeper Roots	Crazy Blues Recording – Gary/Gillian Atkinson	Document Interview – Crazy Blues Centennial
6	Deeper Roots	Selling the Crazy Blues	Document Interview – Crazy Blues Centennial
7	Kid Ory's Creole Jazz Band	Royal Garden Blues	The History of Jazz :The Swing
8	Mamie Smith	Mamma Whip! Mamma Spank!	Complete Recorded Works, Vol. 2
9	Edna Hicks	Hard Luck Blues (Pm 12023, 1629-2)	The Rise & Fall of Paramount Records, Volume 1 (1917-1927)
10	Ma Rainey and Lovie Austin's Blues Serenaders	Honey Where You Been So Long? (Pm 12200, 1701-2)	The Rise & Fall of Paramount Records, Volume 1 (1917-1927)
11	Deeper Roots	The Circle of Musicians – Gillian Atkinson	Document Interview – Crazy Blues Centennial
12	Hall Johnson Choir	St. Louis Blues	When The Sun Goes Down: Walk Right In – The Secret Story Of Rock & Roll
13	Jelly Roll Morton	Buddy Bolden's Blues (I Thought I Heard Buddy Bolden Say) [Album Version]	The Rose & The Briar
14	Deeper Roots	Document Records with Gary Atkinson	Document Interview – Crazy Blues Centennial
15	Lovie Austin and Her Blues Serenaders	Traveling Blues (Pm 12255, 10005-2)	The Rise & Fall of Paramount Records, Volume 1 (1917-1927)
16	Deeper Roots	Gillian and Gary Discussing Blues in the Jazz Age	Document Interview – Crazy Blues Centennial
17	The Hokum Boys	We Don't Sell It Here No More	Georgia Tom – Complete Recorded Works Vol. 1 (September 1928 – 5 February 1930)
18	Deeper Roots	Early Influentials in the Circles	Document Interview – Crazy Blues Centennial
19	Deeper Roots	Early Influentials in the Circles	Document Interview – Crazy Blues Centennial
20	Bessie Smith	I Need A Little Sugar In My Bowl	The Anthology
21	Deeper Roots	Searching for Secret Heroes Serendipity	Crazy Blues Centennial Interviews
22	Furry Lewis	John Henry	Searching For Secret Heroes
23	JD Short – Memphis Willie B	Alone In The Evening Hours	Searching For Secret Heroes
24	Hattie Heart	Coldest Stuff in Town	Searching For Secret Heroes
25	Trixie Smith and her Down Home Syncopators	Freight Train Blues (Pm 12211, 1767-1)	The Rise & Fall of Paramount Records, Volume 1 (1917-1927)
26	Sippie Wallace With Clarence Williams' Blue Five	Baby I Can't Use You No More	The Complete Clarence Williams Sessions, Vol. 2 – 1923-1925
27	Sara Martin/Fats Waller	Tain't Nobody's Bus'ness If I Do	The Compete Recorded Works Vol. 1, [Disc 1]
28	Lizzie Miles	Electrician Blues	Rude Dudes
29	Victoria Spivey and Her Hallelujah Boys	Black Snake Swing	The Victoria Spivey Collection 1926-1937
30	Ida Cox	I've Got The Blues For Rampart Street	Black Swan Sampler
31	Mamie Smith	You Can't Keep A Good Man Down	Mamie Smith Vol. 1 (1920-1921)