BEALE STREET MAMA - Free Jazz Leadsheet

"Beale Street Mama" was written in 1923 by J. Russell Robinson and Milton Ager, with lyrics by Grant Clarke. The song pays homage to Memphis’s Beale Street, a hub of blues and jazz culture, celebrating the independence and spirit of a woman from that lively neighborhood.

The first hit recording came in 1923 by Alberta Hunter with Fletcher Henderson’s Orchestra, recorded in New York City. Later interpretations by Bessie Smith, Ethel Waters, and Duke Ellington’s Orchestra cemented the song’s reputation as a jazz and blues classic. It became a staple in the repertoires of early swing and Dixieland bands.

Musically, it blends elements of early blues and ragtime, typically structured in 32 bars with syncopated rhythm and a memorable melodic hook. The lyrics mix humor and admiration, reflecting the vivacity of Beale Street itself. The song endures as a lively portrait of 1920s urban blues culture.