Blues Came To Texas Lopin' Like A Mule -The Influence of Blind Lemon Jefferson:
Today we spotlight Blind Lemon Jefferson and the enormous influence he had on his contemporaries and countless blues artist over the ensuing decades. Although he was not the first male country blues singer/guitarist to record, Blind Lemon Jefferson was the first to succeed commercially and his success influenced previously reluctant record companies to actively seek out and record male country blues players in the hope of finding a similar talent. Throughout the 1920's Lemon spearheaded a boom in ‘race’ record sales that featured male down-home blues singers and such was the appeal of his recordings that in turn they were responsible for inspiring a whole new generation of blues singers. Lemon's influence cast a long shadow among both black and white artists and today's show is in no way comprehensive but does give a snapshot of just how big Lemon's impact was.
Bonus Cuts: Leadbelly -Blind Lemon (Song), Blind Lemon Jefferson - Blind Lemon's Penitentiary Blues, Mance Lipscomb - Easy Rider Blues
http://www.sundayblues.org for playlists, show notes, reviews and more.
