Blind Lemon Jefferson: Difference between revisions
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'''"Blind" Lemon Jefferson''' (September, [[1893]] – December, [[1929]]) was an influential [[blues]] [[singer]] and [[guitarist]] from [[Texas]]. He was one of the most popular blues singers of the [[1920s]]. He had an intricate and fast style of guitar playing and a particularly high-pitched voice. He was a founder of the [[Texas blues]] sound and an important influence on the next generation of blues singers and guitarists, including [[Leadbelly]] and [[Lightnin Hopkins]]. |
'''"Blind" Lemon Jefferson''' (September, [[1893]] – December, [[1929]]) was an influential [[blues]] [[singer]] and [[guitarist]] from [[Texas]]. He was one of the most popular blues singers of the [[1920s]]. He had an intricate and fast style of guitar playing and a particularly high-pitched voice. He was a founder of the [[Texas blues]] sound and an important influence on the next generation of blues singers and guitarists, including [[Leadbelly]] and [[Lightnin Hopkins]]. Given this influence, it is unfortunate that many of the details of his life remain shrouded in mystery, perhaps forever. |
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[[Image:BlindLemonEngraving.jpg|right|frame|Blind Lemon Jefferson]] |
[[Image:BlindLemonEngraving.jpg|right|frame|Blind Lemon Jefferson]] |
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He is believed to have been born in Couchman, near [[Wortham, Texas]]. It was long believed that he was born in [[1897]] but research in [[1996]] revealed that he was probably born in September, 1893. He was [[blindness|blind]] or near-blind from a young age, possibly from birth. |
He is believed to have been born in [[Couchman]], near [[Wortham, Texas]]. It was long believed by most that he was born in [[1897]] (although some accounts varied the date by up to ten years) but research in [[1996]] revealed that he was probably born in September, [[1893]]. He was [[blindness|blind]] or near-blind from a young age, possibly from birth; the cause is unknown, as is the reason for the name or nickname "Lemon". |
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Around [[1912]] he began performing at picnics and parties. He also became a street musician, playing in East Texas towns. |
Where, how, and from whom he learned to play guitar and learned his songs is unknown. Around [[1912]] he began performing at picnics and parties. He also became a street musician, playing in East Texas towns. According to his cousin, Alec Jefferson, quoted in the notes for ''Blind Lemon Jefferson, Classic Sides'', |
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:''They was rough. Men was hustling women and selling bootleg and Lemon was singing for them all night... he'd start singing about eight and go on until four in the morning... mostly it would be just him sitting there and playing and singing all night.'' |
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By [[1917]] he had moved to [[Dallas]] where he is reputed to have met and played with [[Leadbelly]], as well as getting married. |
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In December [[1925]] or January [[1926]] he was taken to [[Chicago, Illinois]] to record. He recorded about 100 tracks between 1926 and [[1929]], and had 43 [[gramophone record|record]]s issued, all but one for [[Paramount Records]]. His first release, in around March 1926, ''Booster Blues'' and ''Dry Southern Blues'' was a hit. It was largely due to the popularity of artists such as Blind Lemon Jefferson and contemporaries such as [[Blind Blake]] and [[Ma Rainey]] that Paramount became the leading recording company for the blues in the twenties. Jefferson's earnings enabled him to buy a car and employ chauffeurs. |
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He was the author of many tunes covered by later musicians, including the classic ''[[See That My Grave is Kept Clean]]'', and another, ''Matchbox Blues'', recorded more than thirty years later (albeit in a [[country & western]] version) by the [[Beatles]]. |
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| ⚫ | Jefferson died in Chicago in December 1929. The cause of death is unknown, but it is suggested that he died in a snowstorm, possibly from exposure. Paramount Records paid for the return of his body to Texas by train, accompanied by pianist Will Ezell. He was buried at Wortham Negro Cemetery (now Wortham Black Cemetery). Far from his grave being kept clean, it was unmarked until [[1967]] when a Texas Historical Marker was erected in the general area of his plot, the precise location being unknown. By 1996 the cemetery and marker were in poor condition but a new granite headstone was erected in [[1997]]. |
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Unlike many artists who were "discovered" and recorded in their normal venues, in December [[1925]] or January [[1926]] he was taken to [[Chicago, Illinois]] to record his first tracks. Uncharacteristically, Jefferson's first two recordings from this session were [[gospel]] songs (''I Want to be like Jesus in my Heart'', and ''All I Want is that Pure Religion''), released under the name '''Deacon L. J. Bates'''. This led to a second recording session in March [[1926]], and his first release under his own name, ''Booster Blues'' and ''Dry Southern Blues'', was a hit, leading to the release of the other two songs from that session, ''Got the Blues'' and ''Long Lonesome Blues'', which became a runaway success, with sales in the six figures. He recorded about 100 tracks between 1926 and [[1929]], and had 43 [[gramophone record|record]]s issued, all but one for [[Paramount Records]]; unfortunately, Paramount Records' studio techniques and quality were infamously bad, and the resulting recordings sound no better than if they had been recorded in a hotel room. It was largely due to the popularity of artists such as Blind Lemon Jefferson and contemporaries such as [[Blind Blake]] and [[Ma Rainey]] that Paramount became the leading recording company for the blues in the twenties. He was the author of many tunes covered by later musicians, including the classic ''[[See That My Grave is Kept Clean]]'', and another, ''Matchbox Blues'', recorded more than thirty years later (albeit in a [[country & western]] version) by the [[Beatles]]. |
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Jefferson's earnings enabled him to buy a car and employ chauffeurs (although there is debate over the reliability of this as well); he is known to have done an unusual amount of traveling for the time in the American South, which is reflected in the difficulty of pigeonholing his music into one regional category. He sticks to no musical conventions, varying his [[riff]]s and rhythm and singing complex and expressive lyrics in a manner exceptional at the time for a "simple country blues singer". |
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As his fame grew, so did the tales regarding his life, often personally involving the teller. [[T-Bone Walker]] states that as a boy, he was employed by Jefferson to lead him around the streets of Dallas; he would have been of the appropriate age at the time. A Paramount employee told biographer [[Orrin Keepnews]] that Jefferson was a womanizing sloppy drunk; on the other hand, Jefferson's neighbor in Chicago, [[Romeo Nelson]], reports him as being "warm and cordial" and singer [[Rube Lacy]] states that Jefferson would never play on a Sunday, "even if you give me two hundred". He is claimed to have earned money wrestling, which is further claimed as proof that he was not blind at the time (somewhat of a ''non sequitur''). [[Victoria Spivey]] elliptically credits Jefferson as someone who "could sure ''feel'' his way around". |
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| ⚫ | Jefferson died in Chicago in December 1929. The cause of death is unknown, but it is suggested that he died in a snowstorm, possibly from exposure. Paramount Records paid for the return of his body to Texas by train, accompanied by pianist Will Ezell. He was buried at Wortham Negro Cemetery (now Wortham Black Cemetery). Far from his grave being kept clean, it was unmarked until [[1967]] when a Texas Historical Marker was erected in the general area of his plot, the precise location being unknown. By 1996 the cemetery and marker were in poor condition but a new granite headstone was erected in [[1997]]. |
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== External link == |
== External link == |
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Revision as of 20:02, 18 November 2005
"Blind" Lemon Jefferson (September, 1893 – December, 1929) was an influential blues singer and guitarist from Texas. He was one of the most popular blues singers of the 1920s. He had an intricate and fast style of guitar playing and a particularly high-pitched voice. He was a founder of the Texas blues sound and an important influence on the next generation of blues singers and guitarists, including Leadbelly and Lightnin Hopkins. Given this influence, it is unfortunate that many of the details of his life remain shrouded in mystery, perhaps forever.
He is believed to have been born in Couchman, near Wortham, Texas. It was long believed by most that he was born in 1897 (although some accounts varied the date by up to ten years) but research in 1996 revealed that he was probably born in September, 1893. He was blind or near-blind from a young age, possibly from birth; the cause is unknown, as is the reason for the name or nickname "Lemon".
Where, how, and from whom he learned to play guitar and learned his songs is unknown. Around 1912 he began performing at picnics and parties. He also became a street musician, playing in East Texas towns. According to his cousin, Alec Jefferson, quoted in the notes for Blind Lemon Jefferson, Classic Sides,
- They was rough. Men was hustling women and selling bootleg and Lemon was singing for them all night... he'd start singing about eight and go on until four in the morning... mostly it would be just him sitting there and playing and singing all night.
By 1917 he had moved to Dallas where he is reputed to have met and played with Leadbelly, as well as getting married.
Unlike many artists who were "discovered" and recorded in their normal venues, in December 1925 or January 1926 he was taken to Chicago, Illinois to record his first tracks. Uncharacteristically, Jefferson's first two recordings from this session were gospel songs (I Want to be like Jesus in my Heart, and All I Want is that Pure Religion), released under the name Deacon L. J. Bates. This led to a second recording session in March 1926, and his first release under his own name, Booster Blues and Dry Southern Blues, was a hit, leading to the release of the other two songs from that session, Got the Blues and Long Lonesome Blues, which became a runaway success, with sales in the six figures. He recorded about 100 tracks between 1926 and 1929, and had 43 records issued, all but one for Paramount Records; unfortunately, Paramount Records' studio techniques and quality were infamously bad, and the resulting recordings sound no better than if they had been recorded in a hotel room. It was largely due to the popularity of artists such as Blind Lemon Jefferson and contemporaries such as Blind Blake and Ma Rainey that Paramount became the leading recording company for the blues in the twenties. He was the author of many tunes covered by later musicians, including the classic See That My Grave is Kept Clean, and another, Matchbox Blues, recorded more than thirty years later (albeit in a country & western version) by the Beatles.
Jefferson's earnings enabled him to buy a car and employ chauffeurs (although there is debate over the reliability of this as well); he is known to have done an unusual amount of traveling for the time in the American South, which is reflected in the difficulty of pigeonholing his music into one regional category. He sticks to no musical conventions, varying his riffs and rhythm and singing complex and expressive lyrics in a manner exceptional at the time for a "simple country blues singer".
As his fame grew, so did the tales regarding his life, often personally involving the teller. T-Bone Walker states that as a boy, he was employed by Jefferson to lead him around the streets of Dallas; he would have been of the appropriate age at the time. A Paramount employee told biographer Orrin Keepnews that Jefferson was a womanizing sloppy drunk; on the other hand, Jefferson's neighbor in Chicago, Romeo Nelson, reports him as being "warm and cordial" and singer Rube Lacy states that Jefferson would never play on a Sunday, "even if you give me two hundred". He is claimed to have earned money wrestling, which is further claimed as proof that he was not blind at the time (somewhat of a non sequitur). Victoria Spivey elliptically credits Jefferson as someone who "could sure feel his way around".
Jefferson died in Chicago in December 1929. The cause of death is unknown, but it is suggested that he died in a snowstorm, possibly from exposure. Paramount Records paid for the return of his body to Texas by train, accompanied by pianist Will Ezell. He was buried at Wortham Negro Cemetery (now Wortham Black Cemetery). Far from his grave being kept clean, it was unmarked until 1967 when a Texas Historical Marker was erected in the general area of his plot, the precise location being unknown. By 1996 the cemetery and marker were in poor condition but a new granite headstone was erected in 1997.