Blues History – September

A Month of Blues History
September

This is the history of the blues – one month at a time.

September 29, 1887 – Lovie [Cora] Austin, American jazz pianist (Down Hearted Blues), born in Chattanooga, Tennessee (d. 1972)

September 24, 1893 – Lemon Henry “Blind Lemon” Jefferson, American blues singer and guitarist, born in Coutchman, Texas (d. 1929)

September 5, 1907 – Sunnyland Slim [Albert Luandrew], American blues pianist, born in Vance, Mississippi (d. 1995)

September 15, 1911 – Silas Hogan, blues singer/guitarist born

September 27, 1912 – W. C. Handy publishes “Memphis Blues”, considered the 1st blues song

September 2, 1914 – Booker T Laury, blues pianist/vocalist born

September 11, 1914 – W. C. Handy “Father of the Blues” publishes his most famous composition “St Louis Blues”

September 3, 1915 – Memphis Slim [John Len Chatman] American blues musician (“Every Day I Have the Blues”), born in Memphis, Tennessee (d. 1988)

September 13, 1922 – Charles Brown, American blues singer and pianist (Merry Christmas Baby), born in Texas City, Texas (d. 1999)

September 6, 1925 – Jimmy Reed, American blues singer (Soulin’, Big Boss Man), born in Dunleith, Mississippi (d. 1976)

September 16, 1925 – [Riley B.] B.B. King, American blues guitarist and singer (The Thrill is Gone), born in Itta Bena, Mississippi (d. 2015)

September 27, 1927 – “Earring” George Mayweather, American blues Harmonica Player, born in Montgomery, Alabama (d. 1995)

September 28, 1928 – Koko Taylor [Cora Walton], American blues singer known as the “Queen of the Blues”, born in Millington, Tennessee (d. 2009)

September 18, 1929 – Louis Myers, American blues guitarist and harmonica player, born in Byhalia, Mississippi (d. 1994)

September 3, 1934 – Freddie King, American blues singer (Hideaway), born in Gilmer, Texas (d. 1976)

September 7, 1934 – Little Milton [James Milton Campbell], American blues singer and guitarist (Grits Ain’t Groceries), born in Inverness, Mississippi (d. 2005)

September 26, 1934 – Dick Heckstall-Smith, English jazz-blues saxophonist, born in Ludlow, Shropshire (d. 2004)

September 25, 1936 – Booba [Roosevelt Melvin] Barnes, American blues guitarist, born in Longwood, Washington County, Mississippi (d. 1996)

September 26, 1937 – Bessie Smith, American blues singer nicknamed the “Empress of Blues” (over 200 songs), dies of injuries sustained in car crash at 43

September 8, 1939 – Guitar Shorty [David William Kearney], American blues musician, born in Houston, Texas

September 23, 1939 – Roy Buchanan, American blues guitarist, born in Ozark, Arkansas (d. 1988)

September 18, 1945 – “Blind” Willie Johnson American blues/spiritual singer and guitarist (b. 1897)

September 16, 1946 – Mamie Smith, American vaudeville singer, dancer and actress (Crazy Blues), dies at 63

September 29, 1958 – “Summertime Blues” by Eddie Cochran peaks at #8

September 5, 1969 – Josh White, American blues, folk and gospel musician, dies at 55

September 14, 1981 – [Walter] Furry Lewis, father of blues, dies at 88 of a heart attack

September 4, 1994 – Louis Myers, American blues guitarist and harmonica player, dies at 64.

September 19, 1995 – Louis “Mr Bo” Collins, blues Singer, dies at 63.

September 21, 1995 – Vernell Townsend, blues/gospel singer, dies at 64.

September 23, 1995 – Booker T Laury, blues pianist/vocalist, dies at 81.

September 18, 1997 – James “Jimmy” Witherspoon, American jump blues singer (Ain’t Nobody’s Business), dies at 77.

September 1, 2005 – R. L. Burnside, American blues musician (Deep Blues), dies at 78 (b. 1926).

September 10, 2005 – Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown, American blues singer (Mary is Fine), dies at 81.

September 16, 2006 – Wedding – Blues guitarist Kenny Wayne Shepherd (29) weds Mel Gibson’s daughter Hannah Gibson at the altar of The Holy Family Church in Malibu.

September 23, 2006 – Etta Baker, American blues guitarist, dies at 93.

September 29, 2018 – Otis Rush, American blues musician (Right Place, Wrong Time), dies from complications from an earlier stroke at 83.