Skip James
The haunting quality of Nehemiah “Skip” James’s music made him a track record as one of the fantastic early Mississippi bluesmen. Skip James (1902-1969) grew up at the Woodbine Plantation and as a youth discovered to play both guitar and piano.
The music of Skip James and fellow Bentonia guitar players such as Henry Stuckey (1897-1966) and Jack Owens (1904-1997) is frequently identified as a category unto itself. The unique technique is noteworthy for its ethereal noises, open small guitar tunings, bleak styles, falsetto vocals, and tunes that regret the work of the devil. Stuckey discovered among the tunings from Caribbean soldiers while serving in France throughout World War I, and stated that he taught it to James, who went on to end up being the most popular of Bentonia’s artists.
James was born on June 9, 1902, on the Woodbine Plantation where his mom Phyllis worked as a cook; his papa, Edward, a guitar player, left the household when James was around 5. Influenced by Stuckey, James started playing guitar as a youngster, and later on discovered to play organ.
Skip James took a trip to Grafton, Wisconsin, for his historical 1931 session for Paramount Records, which consisted of thirteen tunes on guitar and 5 on piano. James’s records offered improperly, and later on in 1931 he moved to Dallas, where he served as a minister and led a scripture group. He later on lived in Memphis and Tunica County, where he was found in 1964 by blues lovers who convinced him to start carrying out once again.
James transferred to Washington, D. C., and then to Philadelphia to play folk and blues celebrations and clubs. James passed away in Philadelphia on October 3, 1969.
James (1902-1969) grew up at the Woodbine Plantation and as a youth found out to play both guitar and piano. James was born on June 9, 1902, on the Woodbine Plantation where his mom Phyllis worked as a cook; his papa, Edward, a guitar player, left the household when James was around 5. Influenced by Stuckey, James started playing guitar as a kid, and later on found out to play organ. James moved to Washington, D. C., and then to Philadelphia to play folk and blues celebrations and clubs.
