Discography

1930s – Delta Roots

Highway Dust (3:50) – Front-porch slide blues, weary and dusty, reflecting Papa Zee’s early wandering years.

Ashes on the Delta (4:15) – Slow acoustic lament, mourning what the fire and river left behind.

Chain Gang Moan (6:20) – Field-holler roots, rhythmic and raw, echoing the hardship of Southern chain gangs.

1940s – Travelin’ Blues

Train Done Gone (3:40) – Upbeat dancehall stomper bridging blues to early rock ’n’ roll.

Deep River Blues (4:10) – A mournful Delta tune, performed in small venues postwar.

Bayou Moonlight (3:55) – Hypnotic swamp blues from his Louisiana travels.

Dusty Shoes Rag (3:30) – Playful Piedmont fingerpicking blues, lighthearted.

1950s – Chicago Electric Years

South Side Shuffle (4:10) – Rollicking club number full of electric riffs and harmonica fire.

Papa Zee’s Got His Mojo (4:00) – Signature electric anthem with audience call-and-response.

Clarksdale Burning (5:15) – Heavy riff-driven blues recalling Delta roots electrified.

Empty Room Blues (4:40) – A late-night slow blues ballad, smoky and intimate.

1960s – Gospel & Soul Fusion

River Jordan Blues (4:20) – Revival-tent gospel fire fused with Delta sorrow.

Whiskey Glass Blues (4:45) – A Texas-style late-night ballad with soul undertones.

Rise from the Fire (4:50) – Gospel-blues anthem of survival and redemption.

1970s – Later Years

High Water Risin’ (Electric) (5:20) – Heavy swampy blues-rock, hypnotic and moody.

High Water Risin’ (Delta) (4:35) – Stripped-down acoustic version, sorrowful and intimate.

Midnight on Beale Street (5:10) – Smoky jazz-blues hybrid, reflective.

Papa Zee’s Swingin’ Shoes (4:25) – Upbeat swing number with brass and stride piano.

Shadow Walkin’ (5:00) – Moody late-career electric blues, dark and atmospheric.

1980s (Previously Lost – Rediscovered in 2025)

The Lost Reels — tapes found in 2025 by fans, neighbors, and friends.

Slow Train Boogie (4:20) – Mid-tempo swampy boogie, Papa Zee’s voice gravelly but strong.

Shadow Walkin’ Blues (6:05) – Long, moody late-night club performance.

Deep River Boogie (Instrumental) (4:10) – Hypnotic porch jam with resonator + harp.

Ashes in the Wind (3:55) – Acoustic lament, farmhouse recording rediscovered.

Cold Iron Blues (5:00) – Electric Chicago club session, raw unreleased cut.

River Road Rag (4:20) – Playful ragtime-blues crossover with piano + guitar.

High Water Boogie (Lost Take) (5:00) – Darker swampy alternate take.

Dust in My Cup (4:40) – Late-career acoustic lament, sparse but powerful.

Resonator Stomp (Instrumental) (3:50) – Driving slide guitar instrumental.

Beale Street Strut (Instrumental) (4:30) – Electric club jam with guitar + harp.