Blind Lemon Jefferson

Blind Lemon Jefferson

Lemon Henry "Blind Lemon" Jefferson (September 24, 1893 – December 19, 1929) was an American blues and gospel singer-songwriter and musician. He was one of the most popular blues singers of the 1920s and has been called the "Father of the Texas Blues". Due mainly to his high-pitched voice and the originality of his guitar playing, Jefferson's performances were distinctive. His recordings sold well, but he was not a strong influence on younger blues singers of his generation, who could not imitate him as easily as they could other commercially successful artists. Later blues and rock and roll musicians, however, did attempt to imitate both his songs and his musical style.

Birth and Death Data: Born September 24, 1893 (Coutchman), Died December 12, 1929 (Chicago)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1927 - 1938

Roles Represented in DAHR: vocalist, guitar, composer, lyricist

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings

Company	Matrix No.	Size	First Recording Date	Title	Primary Performer	Description	Role
Columbia	W143480	10-in.	2/16/1927	The black snake moan	Martha Copeland	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano	composer, lyricist
Columbia	W145348	10-in.	12/9/1927	Long lonesome blues	Rube Lacy	Male vocal solo ("blues singer"), with guitar	composer, lyricist
OKeh	W80523	10-in.	3/14/1927	Black snake moan	Blind Lemon Jefferson	Male vocal solo, with guitar	instrumentalist, guitar, composer, lyricist, vocalist
OKeh	W80524	10-in.	3/14/1927	Match box blues	Blind Lemon Jefferson	Male vocal solo, with guitar	instrumentalist, guitar, composer, lyricist, vocalist
OKeh	W80525	10-in.	3/14/1927	'Stillery blues	Blind Lemon Jefferson	Male vocal solo, with guitar	vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar
OKeh	W80526	10-in.	3/14/1927	Woman's labor man	Blind Lemon Jefferson	Male vocal solo, with guitar	vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar
OKeh	W80527	10-in.	3/14/1927	My easy rider	Blind Lemon Jefferson	Male vocal solo, with guitar	vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar
OKeh	W80528	10-in.	3/14/1927	Elder Green's in town	Blind Lemon Jefferson	Male vocal solo, with guitar	vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar
OKeh	W80529	10-in.	3/14/1927	English stop time	Blind Lemon Jefferson	Male vocal solo, with guitar	vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar
OKeh	W80536	10-in.	3/15/1927	Laboring man away from home	Blind Lemon Jefferson	Male vocal solo, with guitar	vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar
Brunswick	DAL663	10-in.	12/1/1938	Match box blues	Roy Newman and his Boys	Male vocal solo, with violin and 2 guitars	composer, lyricist
Gennett	15664	10-in.	9/24/1929	Bed spring blues	Blind Lemon Jefferson	Male vocal solo, with guitar	vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar
Gennett	15665	10-in.	9/24/1929	Yo yo blues	Blind Lemon Jefferson	Male vocal solo, with guitar	vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar
Gennett	15666	10-in.	9/24/1929	Mosquito moan	Blind Lemon Jefferson	Male vocal solo, with guitar	vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar
Gennett	15667	10-in.	9/24/1929	Southern woman blues	Blind Lemon Jefferson	Male vocal solo, with guitar	vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar
Gennett	15668	10-in.	9/24/1929	Bakershop blues	Blind Lemon Jefferson	Male vocal solo, with guitar	instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist
Gennett	15669	10-in.	9/24/1929	Pneumonia blues	Blind Lemon Jefferson	Male vocal solo, with guitar	vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar
Gennett	15670	10-in.	9/24/1929	Long distance moan	Blind Lemon Jefferson	Male vocal solo, with guitar	vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar
Gennett	15671	10-in.	9/24/1929	That crawlin' baby blues	Blind Lemon Jefferson	Male vocal solo, with guitar	vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar
Gennett	15672	10-in.	9/24/1929	Fence breakin' yellin' blues	Blind Lemon Jefferson	Male vocal solo, with guitar	vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar
Gennett	15673	10-in.	9/24/1929	Cat man blues	Blind Lemon Jefferson	Male vocal solo, with guitar	vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar
Gennett	15674	10-in.	9/24/1929	The cheaters spell	Blind Lemon Jefferson	Male vocal solo, with guitar	vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar
Gennett	15675	10-in.	9/24/1929	Bootin' me 'bout	Blind Lemon Jefferson	Male vocal solo, with guitar	vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Jefferson, Blind Lemon," accessed April 16, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/104663.

Jefferson, Blind Lemon. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved April 16, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/104663.

"Jefferson, Blind Lemon." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 16 April 2024.