HMR Project: History of Music & Modern Recording

Skip James

Birth of the Blues: Skip James

Skip James

Source: WMFU

Delta blues musician Skip James (Nehemiah Curtis James) earned a meager living, alike many early blues musicians, busking on the streets. Born near Bentonia, Mississippi, on 9 June 1902, his major claim to fame may be '22-20 Blues' of 1931 from Roosevelt Sykes' '32-20' of 1930 which Robert Johnson covered in 1936. The British blues rock band, 22-20, was named after James' composition.

James sang in a high voice and first recorded for Paramount Records in Grafton, Wisconsin, circa February 1931. American Music has him putting away 18 sides in February that year beginning with 'Devil Got My Woman' and 'Cypress Grove Blues' (Paramount 13088) followed by Cherry Bail Blues (Paramount 13065) and Illinois Blues (Paramount 13072) .

'Devil Got My Woman' Skip James

James' first-known recording

C Feb 1931 in Grafton WI Matrix L-746-1 Paramount 13088

Composition: James

'Cypress Grove Blues' Skip James

James' second-known recording

C Feb 1931 in Grafton WI Matrix L-747-1 Paramount 13088

Composition: James

'Illinois Blues' Skip James

C Feb 1931 in Grafton WI Matrix L-749-1 Paramount 13072

Composition: James

'22-20 Blues' Skip James

C Feb 1931 in Grafton WI Matrix L-765-1 Champion 50031 / Paramount 13066

Composition: James From Roosevelt Sykes' '32-20' of 1930

James' numerous early records sold poorly, he to fade into obscurity during the Depression. His life for the next three decades is largely undocumented, though Wikipedia has him working in the ministry at times unknown. He apparently continued playing, as he was rediscovered in 1964 by a few blues enthusiasts who found him as able as ever, albeit in a hospital in Tunica, Mississippi. Those were John Fahey, Bill Barth and Henry Vestine. James then performed at the Newport Folk Festival that year. Also starting to record again, he issued his first album, 'Greatest of the Delta Blues Singers', in 1965, all titles his own compositions.