Harry Easton Godwin

{{Short description|American jazz historian (1907–1986)}}

{{Multiple issues|{{notability|1=Biographies|date=January 2018}}{{citation style|date=January 2018}}}}

Harry Easton Godwin (August 22, 1907 – May 27, 1986) was born in New Jersey and grew up in Chicago and Virginia. He saw many jazz musicians in his youth, including King Oliver, Baby Dodds, Kid Ory, and Louie Armstrong. in the 1950s, Godwin was asked to hire a collection of Jazz musicians for the Cotton Carnival. He hired Bukka White, Little Laura Dukes, Gus Cannon, Furry Lewis, and many more. He worked the festival into the 1980s. He worked his day job as a manufacturer's rep mainly to support his family and music. He collected stories, memorabilia, and taped interviews. He also wrote a few songs. He served as manager for Memphis Slim. Godwin had a radio show on WLYX (Rhodes College). His avocation made him a resource for historians and a hero for the city. He was recorded on two records with Louis Armstrong on February 20, 1965. Godwin gave the track to Armstrong.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FuZiEChB2qQC&q=Harry+Godwin+Jazz&pg=PA222|title=I Remember Jazz: Six Decades Among the Great Jazzmen|first=Al|last=Rose|date=1 March 1999|publisher=LSU Press|isbn=9780807125717|accessdate=17 September 2017|via=Google Books}}{{cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/artist/2001897-Harry-E-Godwin|title=Harry E. Godwin|website=Discogs|accessdate=17 September 2017}}{{cite web|url=https://digitallibrary.tulane.edu/islandora/object/tulane:15765|title=Harry Godwin - Tulane University Digital Library|website=digitallibrary.tulane.edu|accessdate=17 September 2017}}{{cite web|title=Storyville 122 0016 - National Jazz Archive|url=https://nationaljazzarchive.org.uk/explore/journals/storyville/storyville-122/1268003-storyville-122-0015?q=godwin|accessdate=26 March 2021|website=nationaljazzarchive.org.uk}}{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/112431958/|title=29 May 1986, Page 3 - The Tennessean at Newspapers.com|website=Newspapers.com|accessdate=17 September 2017}}{{cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/Various-Tennessee-The-Folk-Heritage-Volume-I-The-Delta/release/2665450|title=Various - Tennessee: The Folk Heritage (Volume I: The Delta)|website=Discogs|accessdate=17 September 2017}}{{cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-ycEAAAAMBAJ&q=Harry+Godwin+Cotton+Carnival&pg=PA14|title=Billboard|date=27 May 1972|publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc.|accessdate=17 September 2017|via=Google Books}}{{cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uSgEAAAAMBAJ&q=Harry+Godwin+Cotton+Carnival&pg=PA18|title=Billboard|date=11 March 1972|publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc.|accessdate=17 September 2017|via=Google Books}}{{cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=iy4hAQAAIAAJ&q=Harry+Godwin+Cotton+Carnival&pg=PA1280|title=Catalog of Copyright Entries: Third series|date=17 September 1964|website=Books.google.com|accessdate=17 September 2017}}{{cite web|url=http://louisarmstrong.pastperfectonline.com/bysearchterm?keyword=Queens&page=5|title=Queens|website=louisarmstrong.pastperfectonline.com|accessdate=17 September 2017}}{{cite web|url=http://louisarmstrong.pastperfectonline.com/byperson?keyword=Godwin,+Harry|title=6EBBF7EA-F279-4635-A15C-932516071487|website=louisarmstrong.pastperfectonline.com|accessdate=17 September 2017}}{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FuZiEChB2qQC&q=Harry+Godwin+Louis+Armstrong&pg=PA139|title=I Remember Jazz: Six Decades Among the Great Jazzmen|first=Al|last=Rose|date=1 March 1999|publisher=LSU Press|isbn=9780807125717|accessdate=17 September 2017|via=Google Books}}

Godwin wrote the song "My Memphis Baby".{{cite book|url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/10377931|title=My Memphis baby|date=17 September 1966|isbn=9780807125717|oclc=10377931|accessdate=17 September 2017|via=Open WorldCat|last1=Rose|first1=Al|publisher=LSU Press }}

He is the son of Earl Godwin.