Contents
Acknowledgments
Prologue
Introduction
Sylvester Weaver: The First Blues Guitarist on Record
Papa Charlie Jackson: Six-String Stylist, Flat-Picking Pioneer
Blind Lemon Jefferson: Popular from Coast to Coast
Blind Blake: King of Ragtime Blues Guitar
Blind Willie McTell: Atlanta’s 12-String King
Blind Willie Johnson: Sublime Gospel Blues
Lonnie Johnson: The Era’s Most Influential Blues Guitarist
Mississippi John Hurt: Songster and Bluesman
Tampa Red: “The Guitar Wizard”
Notes
Index
Jas Obrecht is an award-winning music journalist and former editor of Guitar Player magazine. He has written for Rolling Stone, Living Blues, Blues Revue, and many other publications. His books include Rollin' and Tumblin': The Postwar Blues Guitarists and Blues Guitar: The Men Who Made the Music.
"Jas Obrecht eloquently describes the pioneers and shows how they
defined the sound of blues guitar for future generations."—William
Ferris, author of Give My Poor Heart Ease: Voices of the
Mississippi Blues"Jas Obrecht has long been recognized for his
writing on the blues and he shows a keen grasp of both the music of
these guitar masters and the life experiences that shaped their
blues. No other book has been written with this particular focus,
and Obrecht offers material that will be new even to readers who
have been familiar with this music for many years."—Jim O’Neal,
founding co-editor, Living Blues magazine
"Early Blues: The First Stars of Glues Guitar shines a light on an
era of blues history that warrants historical and critical
examination. Obrecht does not disappoint; he has delivered a
tightly focused and meticulously researched study of the first
generation of blues guitar heroes."—Living Blues Magazine
"If you have the slightest interest in blues, guitar, or
traditional American music, do not hesitate and purchase this book
as soon as you can. It is a textual and visual treat, something
that all too seldom comes our way and Jas Obrecht, as expected, has
done a brilliant job. You'll not only be proud to have this volume
on your bookshelf, you will undoubtedly wear out the pages by
constantly referring to it for the endless amount of information
and enjoyment that it provides."—Lawrence Cohn, producer of
Grammy-winning Robert Johnson: The Complete Recordings and author
of Nothing But the Blues
"If you love the blues you owe yourself a journey into its
primordial years. No question, Early Blues is a fine place to begin
exploring this rich, complex American music."—Vintage Guitar
"Blues aficionados will find the material familiar and inspiring
and it will prompt one to reference recordings perhaps long
unheard. For the serious blues novice as well as long time
fans."—Cadence Jazz & Blues Magazine
"It’s not merely a book for guitarists, though any serious
guitarist would benefit greatly from Obrecht’s depth of knowledge
and the superb detail he provides regarding guitar models, tunings,
chord progressions and the like for each of his chosen subjects.
His erudition on such matters illuminates and entertains in a way
that few books of this sort do."—Vivascene
"Any reader can count on a well-written, well-researched and very
readable account of the ground it covers, thoroughly worthy of
attention on that basis."—Blues & Rhythm
"This book is a must for anyone serious about the
blues."—CHOICE
"[An] excellently researched book that will delight blues
fans."—Jive Talk
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