Black Patti founder J. Mayo Williams, a graduate of Brown University and former professional football player, had long been a successful talent scout in race recording for Paramount Records, and now sought to branch out into ownership, with the financial backing of Gennett Records.
The company lasted most of 1927, issuing 55 records before closing after less than a year. J. Mayo Williams moved on to more and greater success at Vocalion Records, where he played a role in the discovery and recording of Robert Johnson, and paved the way for the coming of what would eventually be called rhythm and blues.
Among those 55 records are great blues and jazz, sermons and sacred recordings, even hillbilly and pipe organ records. All are among the rarest 78 rpms known to collectors. A Papa Harvey Hull / Long Cleve Reed record on Black Patti is among the most expensive 78rpms to ever change hands, at $30,000.
What follows is an attempt to bring together as a "virtual" collection as many of the original recordings and their corresponding label images as possible, since actually bringing the records together physically is an acknowledged impossibility.
Black Patti 8005A - Hattie Garland - You Used To Be Sugar Blues
Black Patti 8005B - Hattie Garland - Strange Woman's Dream
Black Patti 8009A - John Williams Memphis Stompers - Pewee Blues
Black Patti 8009B - John Williams Memphis Stompers - Now Cut Loose
Black Patti 8011B - Pace Jubilee Singers - Steal Away And Pray
Black Patti 8015A - Rev. J.M. Gates - Amazing Grace
Black Patti 8016a - Rev J.M. Gates - I Know I Got Religion
Black Patti 8026A - Sam Collins - Yellow Dog Blues
