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Folk Blues

Kansas Joe McCoy – “Pile Driver Blues”

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Kansas Joe McCoy and his wife Memphis Minnie were stars in the Memphis and Chicago blues music scenes. Together they ...

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Frank Stokes – “I’m Going Away Blues”

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Often hailed as the “Father of the Memphis blues” guitar style, Frank Stokes recorded dozens of 78 RPM sides for ...

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Walter “Buddy Boy” Hawkins – “Snatch It Back Blues”

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Walter “Buddy Boy” Hawkins is one of those great pre-war blues artists for whom it is hard to find biographical ...

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Son House – “Clarksdale Moan”

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Son House was discovered and promoted as a young man by reigning Delta Blues king, Charley Patton. House’s style would ...

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Kansas Joe McCoy and Memphis Minnie – “When The Levee Breaks”

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A peculiar detail about Chicago Blues legend Joe McCoy is that he had a lot of stage names. Best known ...

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Charley Patton – “High Water Everywhere Parts 1 & 2″

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The “Father Of The Delta Blues,” Charley Patton lived from around 1887 to April 28, 1934. His performances and recorded ...

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Jimmy Davis – “She’s A Hum Dum Dinger”

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She’s A Hum Dum Dinger from Dingersville. What more do you need to know about my baby? Oh my Lord ...

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King Solomon Hill – “Times Has Done Got Hard”

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Everyone wanted to know who King Solomon Hill was. Who laid down such amazing tracks as this one. After much ...

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Will Batts – “Cadillac Baby”

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Will Batts’ starts his “Cadillac Baby” with the last line from Blind Lemon Jefferson’s “Booger Rooger Blues” — “Somebody learned ...

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Gus Cannon – “Madison Street Rag”

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You can trace much of American popular music back to the blues. This is most obviously evident in Rock n’ ...

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William Moore – “One Way Gal”

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“One Way Gal” was recorded in Chicago in 1928 by the legendary “barber bluesman,” William Moore. A 78 RPM vinyl ...

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Jaybird Coleman – “Mistreatin’ Mama”

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“Mistreatin’ Mama” has been covered by blues giants like Robert Johnson, Big Bill Broonzy, and Leadbelly, to name a few. ...

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Charley Patton – “Poor Me”

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It is impossible to overstate the importance of Charley Patton’s music and its lasting influence. Robert Johnson, Howlin’ Wolf, John ...

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Ma Rainey – “Stack O’ Lee Blues”

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Here is Ma Rainey’s 1926 recording of the iconic American classic, “Stack O’Lee Blues.” This song has been recorded and re-interpreted ...

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Skip James – “Cherry Ball Blues”

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Skip James’ recordings are instantly recognizable as much for his peculiar guitar style as for his utterly unique voice. He ...

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Victoria Spivey – “Dope Head Blues”

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Victoria Spivey’s recording career spanned nearly five decades, starting in 1926. She sang with numerous greats including Louis Armstrong and ...

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Blind Willie Johnson – “If I Had My Way I’d Tear The Building Down”

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Blind Willie Johnson’s style blurred the lines between folk/blues and spiritual/gospel musics. His unique vocal growl appears on “If I ...

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Robert Wilkins – “That’s No Way To Get Along”

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In his long career, Robert Wilkins tutored musicians such as Furry Lewis, Memphis Minnie and even Son House, and provided ...

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Tom Dickson – “Labor Blues”

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Tom Dickson’s “Labor Blues” was recorded in Memphis, Tennessee in February of 1928. The message is undiluted by the years, ...

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