BLUESMEN As part of this Save Our History project, participants in our Lighthouse Heritage and Arts program from the D. M. Smith Middle School in Cleveland, Mississippi, interviewed six Blues musicians. The students received training in how to conduct an oral history interview and developed a series of questions they hoped would reveal something about the lives of each Bluesman. They interviewed some performers in their own homes and others on the campus of Delta State University. These interviews were then transcribed. Highlights of the interviews appear on the following pages, and the complete transcriptions can also be downloaded. All of these Bluesmen have recorded professionally and information about their careers and biographies can be found on the web. |
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James “T-Model” Ford (1924 - ) was born in Forest, Mississippi, but now resides in Greenville. Although he did not begin playing until he was 58, he has released several albums and has toured the United States and Europe extensively. He counts Howlin’ Wolf and Muddy Waters has some of his influences, and plays with similar energy. |
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Jimmy “Duck” Holmes (1947- ) Born a share cropper’s son, Holmes operates The Blue Front Café in Bentonia. This is one of the last surviving small town jukes in the Delta, and was recently placed on the Mississippi Blues Heritage Trail by the Mississippi Blues Commission. Holmes has recorded two CD’s. |
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Monroe Jones (1939 - ) is a guitarist from Cleveland, Mississippi. When he was 17 he moved to Chicago to play the Blues, and by the time he moved back to the Delta in 1971 he had played with Sonnyboy Williams, Rice Miller, B.B. King, Muddy Waters, Otis Rush, Freddie King, Buddy Guy, and Howlin’ Wolf. Pat Thomas |
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Pat Thomas (1960 - ) is a Blues musician and folk artist. He was born in Yazoo City but has lived almost his entire life in Leland. His father is the Delta Bluesman James “Son” Thomas, who was internationally known for his music and his artwork. “Son” Thomas made skulls and out clay and human teeth, and Pat’s artwork (and music) are clearly influenced by his father. |
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“Cadillac” John Nolden (1927 - ) is a Bluesman from Sunflower County. In his early career is was primarily a vocalist in gospel groups, including the Four Nolden Brothers and the Four Stars. He began to play the Blues, and the harmonica, after his wife left him. He currently reguralry plays and tours with Bill Abel, and the two released Crazy About You in 2000. Bill Abel (1963 - ) was born and raised in Belzoni, MS, and learned to play the Blues from the local musicians he has known his entire life, including Paul “Wine” Jones. Bill has played extensively in the United States and Europe, and in addition to peforming with “Cadillac” John, he has also performed with Honey Boy Edwards, T-Model Ford, Sam Carr, David Lee Durham, Monroe Jones, and Big George Brock. |
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