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American musicians From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Prater & Hayes were American black musicians from Vicksburg, Mississippi, United States, who made recordings in the 1920s.[1] Matthew Prater was a mandolin player; Napoleon Hayes played the guitar.[1] They were the first to record Scott Joplin's "The Entertainer", under the title "Easy Winner", combining it with another song.[1][2] Another tune they borrowed from Joplin was "Somethin' Doin'."
Hayes was born in West Corinth, Mississippi in 1885, and Prater in New Albany, Mississippi on June 30, 1889.[3]
Their recordings showed a fusion of musical styles, of string band, blues and ragtime.[1][4] Prater took the lead with his mandolin, while Hayes played rhythm guitar.[1] They recorded music under two different group names, the 'Blue Boys' and the 'Johnson Boys' (with Lonnie Johnson).[1]
The three records that they produced were recorded in Memphis, Tennessee, on February 15, 1928.[2]
Their lives after 1928, and the dates of their deaths, are unreported.[3]
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