Blind Lemon Jefferson (1897-1929). First Country Blues Star

First recording star of country blues, Texan musician Blind Lemon Jefferson was born blind. From a young age, he lived as a street musician, living on handouts and friends hospitality.[8]  His first recording was released in 1926. He went on to record not only blues but also Ragtime. He also recorded church music under the pseudonym: The Reverend L. J. Bates.[9]

Like many other Race Record artist, Blind Lemon Jefferson was denied any royalties from his recordings and died in complete destitution.[10]

Charley Patton: (ca. 1881-1934)

Patton is considered one of the early pioneers of the Mississippi Delta blues. [11]  He was a charismatic figure. His performance was characterized by a rasping voice, and the use of strong danceable rhythms. His musical act included rapping on the body of his guitar and throwing it into the air.[12]  His musical style differs from the Delta blues musicians. Patton’s vocal quality is more nasal and clearer, his guitar accompaniments are sparser in textures and less rhythmically steady. His guitar playing subordinated to his vocal performance. Patton uses the guitar as an extension of his voice rather than as an accompaniment. He also uses single string passages on his guitar to answer the vocal lines in a call-and-response style.[13]

Son House: (1902-1988)

Son House was one of the pivotal figures of rural blues. A former disciple of Charley Patton, he became a major influence in musicians like Robert Johnson and Muddy Waters. Because of his career as a preacher, Son House abandoned the blues. He was rediscovered later by Alan Lomax in 1941. At that time, Son House was recorded by Lomax for the Library of Congress.

Robert Johnson:

Robert Johnson is probably the most mysterious artist in the history of Blues. He lived and worked in the Delta, virtually in obscurity outside the Delta region. Robert Johnson recorded in Texas: San Antonio in 1936 and Dallas in 1937. [14]

Jonhson’s vocal and instrumental performances captured the essence of all Delta blues qualities. His voice was charged with an outstanding range of emotions which carried over his guitar playing.[15]  His performance are characterized by his heightened speech, a highly effective rough and untrained vocal timbre, a vocal melody line that moves freely over the rhythmic base, and a call-and-response style between the voice and a guitar that plays both: accompaniment and solo responses.[16]

Lead Belly: (born Huddie Ledbetter) (1888-1949)

Lead Belly was one of the main exponents of African American music. More than a blues musician, Lead Belly was considered a songster. This was due to his versatility performing blues, spirituals, pop, prison songs, dance tunes and folk ballads. Born in Louisiana, he traveled to Texas where he learned the blues from Blind Lemon Jefferson. Led Belly possessed a bad temper that run him into several legal troubles. He was sentenced to prison twice, both times, he was granted pardons because of his musical abilities. During his second term in jail, in Louisiana, Led Belly was discovered by Alan Lomax, folklorist for the Library of Congress, who assisted Led Belly obtaining a pardon from the governor of Louisiana.[17]  After that, Led Belly moved to New York where he performed regularly in nightclubs partnering with bluesmen like Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee. In addition to his recording for the Library of Congress, Led Belly recorded for Folkway Records and other labels.[18]