"Who Threw the Whiskey in the Well" is a 1945 song performed by

Lucky Millinder Lucius Venable "Lucky" Millinder (August 8, 1910 – September 28, 1966) was an American swing and rhythm-and-blues bandleader. Although he could not read or write music, did not play an instrument and rarely sang, his showmanship and musical ...

and His Orchestra. With

Wynonie Harris Wynonie Harris (August 24, 1915 – June 14, 1969) was an American blues shouter and rhythm-and-blues singer of upbeat songs, featuring humorous, often ribald lyrics. He had fifteen Top 10 hits between 1946 and 1952. Harris is attributed by ma ...

on vocals, "Who Threw the Whiskey in the Well" became Lucky Millinder's most successful release on both the pop and R&B charts. The song went to number one on the R&B Jukebox chart and number seven on the pop chart.

Louis Prima Louis Leo Prima (December 7, 1910 – August 24, 1978) was an American singer, songwriter, bandleader, and trumpeter. While rooted in New Orleans jazz, swing music, and jump blues, Prima touched on various genres throughout his career: he forme ...

recorded a version soon after. On December 19, 1945

Bull Moose Jackson Benjamin Clarence "Bull Moose" Jackson (April 22, 1919 – July 31, 1989)Allmusic biography Accessed January 2008. was an American blues and rhythm-and-blues singer and saxophonist, who was most successful in the late 1940s. He is considered a p ...

recorded an answer-song to "Who Threw The Whiskey In The Well.” "I Know Who Threw The Whiskey In The Well” was recorded in New York, for the Queen-label (Queen #4116) with (part of) The Lucky Millinder Band musicians. These included Harold “Money" Johnson (Trumpet), Bernie Peacock (Altsax), Clarence "Bullmoose" Jackson and

Sam "The Man" Taylor Samuel Leroy Taylor, Jr. (July 12, 1916 – October 5, 1990), Sam Taylor Biography ''AllMusic'' known as Sam "The Man" Taylor, was an American jazz, rhythm and blues, and blues tenor saxophonist. Taylor was born in Lexington, Tennessee, United St ...

(Tenorsax), Sir Charles Thompson (Piano), Bernard Mackey (Guitar), Beverly Peer (Bass) and Dave “Panama" Francis (Drums) King R&B Box Set, Disc 1, Gusto Records, GT7-2156-2, Nashville, TN, 2010

Popular culture

*A snippet of this recording is heard at the end of the song " Amazing" from

Aerosmith Aerosmith is an American Rock music, rock band formed in Boston in 1970. The group consists of Steven Tyler (lead vocals), Joe Perry (musician), Joe Perry (guitar), Tom Hamilton (musician), Tom Hamilton (bass), Joey Kramer (drums) and Brad Whi ...

's album ''

Get a Grip ''Get a Grip'' is the eleventh studio album by American rock band Aerosmith, released in April 1993 by Geffen Records. ''Get a Grip'' was the band's last studio album to be released by Geffen before they returned to Columbia Records. ''Get a Gri ...

''.

References

1945 songs Song articles with missing songwriters {{pop-standard-stub