Kimbrough was born in either
Jonesboro, Arkansas, Her Gennett sessions produced the tracks "Rolling Log Blues" and "Goin' Away Blues", which the music journalist Tony Russell described as having "haunting beauty". Kimbrough's brother Sylvester appeared with her in
vaudeville, and in 1926 he supplied recording accompaniment for
Paul Banks's Kansas City Trio. However, Kimbrough's musical collaboration with Holmes produced her better-known recordings. Holmes supplied
yodels and vocalised
bird calls and
train whistles on "Lost Lover Blues" and "Wayward Girl Blues" (1928). Myles Pruitt participated in this recording and was a regular partner throughout Kimbrough's recording and concert career. He was featured again when Kimbrough recorded her final session, in November 1929. "Rolling Log Blues", one of the songs she wrote, has been recorded by
Jo Ann Kelly,
Woody Mann,
Son House, the
Blues Band,
Rory Block,
Eric Bibb,
Maria Muldaur, and
Buffy Sainte-Marie. Little is known of her life beyond her recording career. ==Selected compilation albums==