HMR Project: History of Music & Modern Recording

Buddy Moss

Birth of the Blues: Buddy Moss

Buddy Moss

Born in Jewell, Georgia, on 16 January 1914, Eugene "Buddy" Moss was four years old when his family took him to Augusta where he was raised until he began to busk in Atlanta perhaps by 1928. Moss was sixteen when he began recording blues on the 7th and 8th of December, 1930, in Atlanta with Curley Weaver and Robert Hicks (Barbecue Bob) as the Georgia Cotton Pickers: 'Diddle-Da-Diddle', 'I'm On My Way Down Home', et al.

'She's Coming Back Some Cold Rainy Day'

Buddy Moss (harmonica) w the Georgia Cotton Pickers

7 Dec 1930 in Atlanta Matrix 151106-2 Columbia 14577-D

Guitar / vocal: Barbecue Bob Guitar: Curley Weaver

Composition: ?

Moss didn't record again for a couple of years, that on January 17 of 1933 to support Ruth Willis on several unissued tracks followed by 'Cold Country Blues' with backing by Fred McMullen and 'Prowling Woman' supported by Weaver. Further titles went down between them on the 18th and 19th including as the Georgia Browns on 'It Must Have Been Her' and 'Who Stole De Lock?', et al. He found himself partnering on multiple titles in 1935 with Josh White.

'Decatur Street 81' Buddy Moss (harmonica) w the Georgia Browns

19 Jan 1933 in NYC Matrix 12949-1

Banner 32785 / Melotone M12720 / Oriole 8239 / Perfect 0242 / Romeo 5239 / Vocalion 1740

Guitar / vocal: Fred McMullen Guitar: Curley Weaver

Composition: ?

'B & O Blues No.2' Buddy Moss (guitar / vocal) w Curley Weaver (guitar)

14 Sep 1933 in NYC Matrix 14064-1

Melotone M12808 / Oriole 8273 / Perfect 0259 / Romeo 5273

Composition: Blind Willie Mctell [Bandcamp] Referring to the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad

'Back to My Used to Be' Buddy Moss (guitar / vocal) w Curley Weaver (guitar)

18 Sep 1933 in NYC Matrix 14031-2 Unissued

See 'Atlanta Blues 1933' on JEMF 106 / 1979

Composition: ?

'Dough Rolling Papa' Buddy Moss (guitar / vocal)

8 Aug 1934 in NYC Matrix 17985-1

Melotone M13399 / OKeh 05626 / Oriole 8467 / Perfect 0325 / Romeo 5467

Composition: ?

'Undertaker Blues' Buddy Moss (guitar / vocal) w Josh White (guitar)

21 Aug 1934 in NYC Matrix 17985-1

Conqueror 8677 / Melotone 6-04-56 / Oriole 6-04-56 / Perfect 6-04-56 / Vocalion 04380

Composition: ?

Moss' career was halted in 1935 by a six-year prison term for shooting his wife and killing her. Upon release he made a number of recordings in New York City with Brownie McGhee and Sonny Terry, such as titles on October 22, 1941, to include 'You Need a Woman' (others on that date unissued). They were joined by Oh Red and/or Robert Young on washboard.

'Struggle Buggie' Buddy Moss (guitar / vocal)

23 Oct 1941 in NYC Matrix 31586-1 OKeh 06679

Possibly Oh Red and Robert Young on percussion and washboard

Composition: Clinton Walker

Moss continued to perform as he took up various menial jobs for the next couple decades. His career saw revival in 1963 he was recorded by George Mitchell at the home of the latter's mother in Atlanta. Those weren't issued, but can be found on 'The George Mitchell Collection' by Fat Possum Records FP1052-2 as of 2006. He was encouraged in the resumption of his musical career upon a backstage meeting with his old partner, Josh White, at one of the latter's concerts in 1964. American Music finds him recording again on 4 May 1966 in Nashville and 10 June 1966 in Washington DC joined by Jeff Espina at guitar and harmonica on both occasions, John Jackson in June. He played the Newport Folk Festival in 1969 as well as the John Henry Festival in Princeton, West Virginia. American Music traces Moss to as late as October of 1975, 1976 and 1978 at the Celebration of Traditional Music at Berea College in Kentucky.