History of Blues- 2. Blind Lemon Jefferson

Blind Lemon Jefferson- The Cornerstone of Country Blues

In the mid 1920's, a new style of American music came to national prominence. The popularity of Country Blues was propelled by the success of Blind Lemon Jefferson.

Dates as to Jefferson's birth vary, but it is generally accepted that Lemon Jefferson was born blind on either September 24 1893 or October 26 1894. He was one of eight children and the birthplace was on his family farm near Coutchman in Freestone County, Texas. His parents, Alex and Clarissa Jefferson, were sharecroppers.

There were few career options for the blind, so he learnt the guitar at a young age and began performing in his late teens, around 1912. Jefferson was influenced by the singing of the local cotton-pickers and guitarists, but he also heard the flamenco-fused playing of Mexican workers, which probably influenced his intricate style of guitar playing.


Blind Lemon Jefferson Meets Leadbelly

He played picnics, houseparties and on the streets of Dallas, where he met Leadbelly. The bluesman was older than Jefferson, but was impressed with his musicianship and the two played together, teaching each other some of what they had learnt. For the next few years he would travel to Mississippi, Oklahoma, Alabama and Louisiana.

In 1925, a Dallas record store owner recognised Jefferson's rare talent and convinced Paramount Records to set up a recording session. The label obliged and even paid for him to journey to their offices in Chicago. Under the pseudonyn of Deacon L.J. Bates, he recorded two spirituals: "I Want to be like Jesus in my Heart" and "All I Want is that Pure Religion".


Blind Lemon Jefferson and Paramount Records

Paramount were pleased and arranged the recording of four more songs, including the hit that gained him national success, "Long Lonesome Blues" (released in May 1926). He went on to record around 100 tracks between 1926 and 1929. Of the 43 tracks issued, 42 of them were for Paramount. His success was instrumental in making paramount a major label in the 1920's.

In 1927, the musician had become disatisfied with his royalties from Paramount and he recorded and released two of his most popular songs-"Black Snake Moan" and "Matchbox Blues" with rival label Okeh. The superior sound quality on these tracks prompted Paramount to re-record new versions of these songs.

In September 1929, Jefferson recorded the last of his tracks with Paramount.


The Death of Lemon Jefferson

A couple of months later, in December, he was found dead in the Chicago snow under mysterious circumstanes. Some say a jealous lover poisoned his coffee, others that his chauffeur crashed the car, killing the artist. Some maintain that he was killed after somebody stole a large cash royalty payment from him. The most accepted theory is that he had a heart-attack and froze in a snowstorm.

Paramount paid for his body to be taken by train back to his Texas home. He was buried in an unmarked grave in Wortham Black Cemetry (now Wortham Negro Cemetry). In 1967, a metal Texas marker was erected close to his burial site. There were still people alive at that time who knew approximately where Jefferson was buried and the marker stood on the spot they pointed to.

By the mid 1990's, the neglected headstone had become dirty and damaged and a new granite marker- paid for by fans, along with a donation to the cemetry- was erected. The stone stands today and the inscription includes a line from one of his songs, "Lord, one kind favour I'll ask of you. See that my grave is kept clean".

In 2007, the cemetry changed its name to the Blind Lemon Memorial Cemetry.


The Legacy of Blind Lemon Jefferson

Blind Lemon Jefferson became one of the most popular blues artists of that time. He has been named the "Father of Texas Blues" and has influenced many, including Leadbelly, Lightnin' Hopkins, Louis Armstrong, Jefferson Airplane and The Beatles".


He had a unique style, with intricate, fast guitar playing that is often vastly different from his vocal lines. His voice is high-pitched and has a two octave range, with lyrics displaying an emotional complexity. He was also the first Country Blues singer to gain a national audience.

History of Blues Music- 1. The Founding of a New Genre

Blues music is at the foundation of nearly all modern popular music, from soul and Hip Hop to rock music and heavy metal.

It is taken that the form "Blues" music evolved from the vocal traditions that the black African-American slaves brought from their homelands such as Mali, Senegal, Ghana and Gambia. As the slaves toiled in the fields they would sing a "call" from one slave and a "response" from a number of others.

The word "Blues" itself was used to describe the Deliriem Tremens and as a synonym for the police. Letters sent by soldiers in the American Civil War have recorded it used in this way. The first copywrited song with the word "Blues" in the title was "Dallas Blues", recorded by Hart Wand in 1912. "Blue" is a feeling of depression and many of the songs are about problems the singer has- often with the law, with women or with alcohol.

W C Handy is accreditted with being the Father of the Blues, not becuse he was the first to play it, but because he was the first to score the music down and get it published. Handy was an educated musician, not like the many others who played in the American South, and in 1912 he published the song "Memphis Blues".

Handy's story of coming across the Blues is that he was waiting for a train in the station of Tutwiler in Mississippi, 1903. He heard the sound of a man running a knife against the strings of his guitar while singing, "Goin' Where the Southern Cross the Dog". Handy descibed the music as unforgettable.

In the early 1920's, "Classical Blues" was popular. It was mainly sung by female artists who often had the music written for them. Mamie Smith's recording of Crazy Blues sent the style to the forefront of entertainment. It cost $1 and sold 75 000 copies in the first month of release.

In the 20's, the classical blues record companies sold exclusively to blacks and the genre was termed "race music". Companies started hunting classical blues artists, leading to the popularity of Bessie Smith, Ma Rainey and Ethel Waters.

The record companies began to make excursions away from the cities and into the South, where they came across "Country Blues" singers such as Blind Lemon Jefferson. The music impressed them and they set about recording it, either by travelling to them with a studio or taking them to their city offices.

Jefferson was one who was taken to the Paramount offices in Chicago to cut a record. The May 1926 release of his "Long Lonesome Blues" marked the rise of Country Blues and set the stage for artists like Blind Willie McTell, Barbeque Bob and Charley Patton.

A new demand for Blues music sparked major record label interest and in the 20's, seven large labels- Paramount, Okeh,Victor, Gennett, Vocalion, Brunswick and Columbia began recording the new music.