SKU: MB.30844M

ISBN 9781513464268. 8.75 x 11.75 inches.

Skip James was one of the most influential early Bluesmen, but his importance as a stylist remained undiscovered until he was brought out of a long retirement by the Folk/Blues revival of the early 1960â??s. Born in 1902 and raised in Bentonia, Nehemiah Curtis James was brought up in a religious family: his father was a bootlegger who reformed and became a Baptist preacher. Skip learned piano in school but picked up guitar from his friend Henry Stuckey. In 1931 Skip was picked up by a scout for Paramount Records and he cut 26 tracks, of which 18 were released, in a two day session at their Grafton, Wisconsin studios. These recordings presented a unique and haunting genius that influenced legendary bluesmen as Robert Johnson, Kansas Joe McCoy and Johnny Temple. But the recordings sold poorly, having been released during the Great Depression, and he drifted into obscurity.

We have included as online downloads Skipâ??s 1931 recordings. The crackling sound of these rare recordings cannot obscure the brilliance of this seminal Blues master.

After over 30 yearâ??s retirement from music, Skip was rediscovered by Blues enthusiasts Bill Barth, John Fahey and Henry Vestine. They persuaded Skip to appear at the Newport Folk Festival in 1964, where his renditions of his old songs were still powerful and moving. His performances as well as his old and new recordings influenced a generation of new musicians: Eric Clapton, Alan Wilson of Canned Heat, Cream, Deep Purple, Chris Thomas King, Alvin Youngblood Hart, Derek Trucks, Beck, Big Sugar, John Martyn, Lucinda Williams and Rory Block to name a few.

Books on legendary Blues musicians written by white musicologists tend to offer a subjective perspective on how the artists felt, thought or reacted. A tainted picture is captured that has more to do with the writerâ??s social and musical experiences. This autobiography is different. The words, thoughts and feelings come directly from the artistâ??s lips. This is the story of Nehemiah â??Skipâ? James told by Nehemiah â??Skipâ? James.

SKU: MB.30779M

ISBN 9781513462691. 8.75 x 11.75 inches.

This book presents three of the greatest ragtime blues guitar players from the 1920s-1940s. They all possessed what Rev. Gary Davis called that sportinâ?? right hand. Each could sing the blues or play a dance instrumental. They favored first-position chords but produced incredible textures and rhythms from these easy left-hand fingerings. There are years of exciting fingerpicking challenges in these pages. But what fun it will be once you can play these tunes!

BIG BILL BROONZY Big Bill Blues â?¢ At the Break of Day â?¢ Friendless Blues â?¢ Shuffle Rag â?¢ Worrying You off My Mind Bull Cow Blues â?¢ Five Feet Five

BLIND BLAKE Georgia Bound â?¢ Back Biting Bee Blues â?¢ Cold Hearted Mama Blues â?¢ Ice Man Blues â?¢ Righteous Blues â?¢ Tootie Blues Rope Stretchinâ?? Blues â?¢ Sea Board Stomp â?¢ Walkinâ?? Across the Country â?¢ What a Lowdown Place the Jailhouse Is

BLIND BOY FULLER Baby, I Donâ??t Have to Worry â?¢ Careless Love â?¢ Georgia Ham Mama â?¢ Keep Away From My Woman Somebodyâ??s Been Playing With That Thing â?¢ Why Donâ??t My Baby Write To Me (I Got A Woman Crazy For Me) Sheâ??s Funny That Way â?¢ Jivinâ?? Woman Blues

HOW TO USE THIS BOOK 1) Listen over and over to the original recordings available via the download link for this collection. 2) Get a program that can control digital audio files. Use this with the transcriptions and the recordings. 3) Be patient!! Practice, practice and practice some more!!