Tin Roof Blues

One hundred years ago this autumn, Beauford moved from Knoxville to Boston.

Thanks to money and letters of introduction received from White painter Lloyd Branson as well as letters of introduction from prominent Black men in his Knoxville community, he was able to settle into a life that combined professional art instruction, a window into sociopolitical and cultural "high society," and a growing recognition of how he was emotionally and sexually "different." 

According to biographer David Leeming, Beauford spent a great deal of time alone listening to records on a windup Victrola in his boardinghouse room during this period. "Tin Roof Blues" by the New Orleans Rhythm Kings was his favorite song.  Leeming describes how the lyrics of the song, which praise a tin roof café in New Orleans, "fed a lingering homesickness for the South, but somehow also lifted his [Beauford's] spirits."

He said that Beauford loved singing this tune.

Tin Roof Blues sheet music cover
Image in public domain

Interestingly, I have been only been able to find instrumental recordings of this 1923 song.

Tin Roof Blues - label for original recording
Image in public domain

I found a Website that presents lyrics for the song by Walter Melrose (whose company published the sheet music), but the audio file embedded in the Website does not include singing:  Tin Roof Blues

To get an idea of how the song sounds when lyrics accompany the music, click HERE.

Click on the embedded video below to listen to the original instrumental recording by the New Orleans Rhythm Kings.