Blues Musician. Born in Quitman County, Mississippi, he was a self-taught guitarist and began his itinerant career as a teenager. He toured America's southern states in the company of Robert Nighthawk, Ike Turner and many others. He made his first recordings in 1952, followed a sporadic performing schedule throughout the 1950s and settled in Chicago where he began a more consistent home base. His early work was spread over several of the city's independent labels with success in contemporary blues styles. The guitarist asserted his gifts more fully in the wake of the 1960s blues revival and he became one of the most highly regarded talents. He made a rare UK television appearance on the pioneering music program Ready Steady Go!, performed in concert at London's Royal Albert Hall and toured Europe with the American Folk-Blues Festival. He also completed more albums for several specialist labels and led his own band, Electric Dust. He died of tuberculosis in a Chicago sanatorium in April, 1970.
Blues Musician. Born in Quitman County, Mississippi, he was a self-taught guitarist and began his itinerant career as a teenager. He toured America's southern states in the company of Robert Nighthawk, Ike Turner and many others. He made his first recordings in 1952, followed a sporadic performing schedule throughout the 1950s and settled in Chicago where he began a more consistent home base. His early work was spread over several of the city's independent labels with success in contemporary blues styles. The guitarist asserted his gifts more fully in the wake of the 1960s blues revival and he became one of the most highly regarded talents. He made a rare UK television appearance on the pioneering music program Ready Steady Go!, performed in concert at London's Royal Albert Hall and toured Europe with the American Folk-Blues Festival. He also completed more albums for several specialist labels and led his own band, Electric Dust. He died of tuberculosis in a Chicago sanatorium in April, 1970.
Bio by: John "J-Cat" Griffith
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