THE DIRTY DOZENS - Free Jazz Leadsheet

"The Dirty Dozens" is traditionally attributed to Speckled Red (Rufus Perryman), who recorded the first known version on August 10, 1929, in Chicago. Although earlier folk versions circulated orally, his recording is widely considered the first documented commercial release.

The song gained prominence through later interpretations by Georgia Tom, Jelly Roll Morton, and a variety of blues and early R&B artists, all drawn to its roots in African American verbal play. The lyrics revolve around competitive insult exchanges—a form of street poetry—delivered over a rollicking blues progression. Its structure typically follows a 12-bar blues pattern, with spoken or half-sung lines that emphasize rhythmic phrasing and improvisational wit.