Guitar (fingerpicking)
SKU: MB.30844M
An Autobiography of
Nehemiah Skip James.
Composed by Nehemiah Skip
James. Theory and
Reference, Squareback
saddle stitch. Style.
Book and online audio.
132 pages. Mel Bay
Publications, Inc
#30844M. Published by Mel
Bay Publications, Inc
(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.
<
span style=font-family:
Arial;> 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.
James Beck
