Washboard Doc

Joseph Doctor (September 8, 1911 – September 16, 1988), known as Washboard Doc, was an American New York blues musician, who specialised in playing the washboard. He recorded with Victoria Spivey, Alec Seward, Paul Oscher, Screamin' Jay Hawkins and Big Joe Turner among others.

In May 1969, in Willie Dixon's basement recording studio in Chicago, Illinois, Washboard Doc provided backing on five tracks which, along with other performers work, was released on the 1970 album, Victoria Spivey Presents The All Star Blues World of Spivey Records in Stereo, issued unsurprisingly on Spivey Records. Washboard Doc similarly provided his washboard backing to a small number of tracks on two subsequent Spivey Records collections that were released that year. Victoria Spivey usually recorded at least one track on each of the collections issued by her own record label. Also in 1975, Spivey Records issued an album primarily credited to Paul Oscher, New York Really Has the Blues, which had three tracks by 'Washboard Doc and Friends'.

By 1979, Washboard Doc had teamed up with two other musicians; Cab Lucky (1938 – 2011) and John "Flash" Whitner (1919 – unknown). Lucky played harmonica and guitar, and was a singer, whilst Flash also sang and played 'humazoo' and washtub bass. The trio recorded an album, Washboard Doc's Hep 3, billed as Washboard Doc and his Hep 3. This resulted in the release of American Folk Blues Festival '80, with two sides by the threesome, their versions of "Flip, Flop and Fly" and "Shake, Rattle and Roll".