Bo Weavil Jackson (James Jackson aka Sam Butler)
Source: Michael Messer
Bo Weavil Jackson (James Butler?) was possibly born in Birmingham or somewhere in the Carolinas. Nor is his birthdate known, estimated sometime between 1890 and 1900. Before there was a gospel genre which didn't arrive until the thirties, sacred music had been a large portion of the repertoire of early blues musicians including Jackson. Bo Weavil is said to have been busking the streets of Birmingham when he was discovered to the result of several recordings made in Chicago circa August 1926 for Paramount: 'You Can't Keep No Brown' / 'Pistol Blues' (Paramount 12389), 'When the Saints Come Marching Home' / 'I'm on My Way to the Kingdom Land' (Paramount 12390) and 'Why Do You Moan' / 'Some Scream High Yellow' (Paramount 12423). Those were followed by tracks as Sam Butler for Vocalion on September 30 in New York City: 'You Can't Keep No Brown' / 'Devil and My Brown Blues', 'Heaven Is My View' / 'Christians Fight On' and 'Poor Boy Blues' / 'Jefferson County Blues'. Jackson then disappeared, ne'er to be heard from again such that is there no more record of his death than his birth.
'Pistol Blues' Bo Weavil Jackson
Jackson's first-known recording
C Aug 1926 in Chicago Matrix 2675-3 Paramount 12389
Composition: Harry Charles
'Some Scream High Yellow' Bo Weavil Jackson
C Aug 1926 in Chicago Matrix 2677-2 Paramount 12423
Composition: ?
'You Can't Keep No Brown' Bo Weavil Jackson
C Aug 1926 in Chicago Matrix 2678-2 Paramount 12389
Composition: ?
'When the Saints Come Marching Home' Bo Weavil Jackson
C Aug 1926 in Chicago Matrix 2680-1 Paramount 12390
'I'm On My Way To The Kingdom Land' Bo Weavil Jackson
Aka 'I'm On My Way' / 'I'm On My Way To Canaan Land'
C Aug 1926 in Chicago Matrix 2681-2 Paramount 12390
Composition: Anonymous traditional possibly of the Underground Railroad
'Poor Boy Blues' Bo Weavil Jackson as Sam Butler
30 Sep 1926 in NYC Matrix E-3872/73W Vocalion 1057
Composition: Harry Charles
'Jefferson Country Blues' Bo Weavil Jackson as Sam Butler
30 Sep 1926 in NYC Matrix E-3874/75W Vocalion 1057
Composition: Harry Charles
'Christians Fight On, Your Time Ain't Long' Bo Weavil Jackson as Sam Butler
30 Sep 1926 in NYC Matrix E-3878/79W Vocalion 1056
Composition: Harry Charles / F. Bradshaw
Sources & References for Bo Weavil Jackson:
Eugene Chadbourne (All Music)
VF History (notes)
Audio: Internet Archive
Recordings: Catalogs: Discogs
Recordings: Compilations:
Complete Recordings in Chronological Order (Matchbox Records MSE 203 / 1982)
Recordings: Sessions:
DAHR (1926 / Jackson as Sam Butler)
Stefan Wirz (1926 / American Music)
Authority Search: VIAF
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