This is a great audio for the origins of "The Ballad of Frankie and Johnny

The radio show is a brief one - but it really helps with the origins and traditions surrounding this ballad/song.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4185374

Here are also notes on the background of this ballad. Scroll down for them. Interesting stuff"

http://bluegrassmessengers.com/master/frankie1.html

And there's more! Here's a thread of messages and comments on this song.

http://www.mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=2601

Here's the great Satchmo singing this ballad.

Listen to Frankie and Johnny - (Real Audio - 3:57)