Heroes of the Blues Featured Artist: Blind Willie McTell

Blind Willie McTell (1901-1959)

Heroes of the Blues Trading Tees Card #30

Art by R. Crumb Text by Stephen Calt

Born in Thompson, Georgia, in 1901, Willie McTell learned guitar from his mother around 1914 and made his recording debut in 1927 after working as a street singer and medicine show minstrel. Over the next nine years he recorded forty-eight sides for four companies under four different names, sometimes teamed with his wife, Kate McTell. A deft guitarist with a sweet voice, McTell made Library of Congress blues field recordings and postwar records for the R&B market as well. He died in 1959. Blind Willie McTell was inducted into the Blues Foundation Hall of Fame in 1981.

A portion of the proceeds from the sale of this Keep On Truckin' Apparel exclusive t-shirt will be donated to Music Maker Relief Foundation.


Blind Willie McTell, Searching the Desert for the Blues

Heroes of the Blues Featured Musician: Tommy Johnson

Tommy Johnson (1896-1956)
Heroes of the Blues Trading Tees Card #34

Art by R. Crumb Text by Stephen Calt

An outstanding vocalist whose trademark falsetto was widely copied, Tommy Johnson was born around 1896 near Terry, Mississippi. He took up music around 1914 and was influenced by Delta performer Charley Patton, although his guitar playing was far more ragged than his mentor's. Johnson's travels made him a familiar figure throughout the Mississippi Delta. Between 1928 and 1930, he recorded eleven sides, including the popular "Big Road Blues." He died in 1956. Tommy Johnson was inducted into the Blues Foundation Hall of Fame in 1986.


A portion of the proceeds from the sale of this Keep On Truckin' Apparel exclusive t-shirt will be donated to Music Maker Relief Foundation.

Heroes of the Blues Featured Artist: Blind Lemon Jefferson

Blind Lemon Jefferson (1893-1929)

Heroes of the Blues Trading Tees Card #9

Art by R. Crumb Text by Stephen Calt

A native of Wortham, Texas, the legendary Blind Lemon Jefferson worked as a street singer and visited several state in the course of his travels. His successful recording debut in 1926 launched the vogue for country blues. Before his mysterious death in 1929, Jefferson recorded eighty-five sides and established himself as the most popular blues guitarist of his era. An off-beat guitarist known for his free phrasing patterns, he was one of the most inspired singers found in blues. Blind Lemon Jefferson was inducted into the Blues Foundation Hall of Fame in 1980.

A portion of the proceeds from the sale of this Keep On Truckin' Apparel exclusive t-shirt will be donated to Music Maker Relief Foundation.

Heroes of the Blue's Weekly Featured Artist: Reverend Gary Davis

Blind Gary Davis (1896-1972)

Heroes of the Blues Trading Tees Card #24

Art by R. Crumb Text by Stephen Calt

A native of Laurens, South Carolina, Reverend Gary Davis, learned to play the guitar around 1903, at the age of seven. As a street singer, he specialized in gospel songs. When first recorded in 1935, he lived in Durham, North Carolina, and counted the popular Blind Boy Fuller as a protege. Davis magnificent guitar playing earned him an avid following among northern audiences after he moved to New York in the 1940's, and he toured and made numerous records before his 1972 death. Reverend Gary Davis was inducted into the Blues Foundation Hall of Fame in 2009.

A portion of the proceeds from the sale of this Keep On Truckin' Apparel exclusive t-shirt will be donated to Music Maker Relief Foundation.

Reverend Gary Davis - "Death Don't Have No Mercy"
This song was later covered by The Greatful Dead, Dave Von Ronk & Bob Dylan, I think Reverend Davis did it best.

Grateful Dead covers "Death Don't Have No Mercy"

Memphis Minnie's "Kissing in the Dark"

Memphis Minnie's final commercial release from 1953.

Led Zeppelin with Neil Young cover "When the Levee Breaks" original by Memphis Minnie

The Original: When the Levee Breaks by Memphis Minnie and Joe McCoys