Blind Lemon Jefferson was born in 1897 in Texas. The 1890s were a good bunch of years to have been born if you were going to play blues or old-time music. This period produced just about everyone of note - no disrespect intended to Lead Belly (1889) or Uncle Dave Macon (1870). Lemon is just about the slickest, slipperiest, most surprising guitar player and supple singer who ever lived. What a complete irony that his early 78s are in such terrible condition! It’s never stopped me from listening to him, though… far from it.

Everything about Lemon makes me crazy - his voice, his sense of timing, the fluidity of his phrases and the sheer audacity of his ideas. Nobody plays stuff as nutty as some of the runs he came up with and makes it sound so cool. Small wonder that nobody ever seems to have modeled their style after him - maybe Ramblin’ Thomas to some degree. Occasionally you run across individual pieces that evoke one of Lemon’s pieces - usually by imitating the vocal melody. Something like “Sweet Papa Moan” by Furry Lewis, a cover of Lemon’s Black Snake Moan.

There’s always something else to hear in Lemon’s music - always!

Blind Lemon Jefferson - his songs and keys