Delta Blind Billy, or Blind Billy, was an American Delta blues artist and outlaw. [1] As a traveling bluesman in Mississippi, he performed with his contemporaries Arthur Big Boy Crudup and Papa Charlie McCoy. [2] One of his notable songs, "Hidden Man Blues", was an early variant of " Man of Constant Sorrow", with the following lyric: "Man of sorrow all my days / Left the home where I been raised." [3] He recorded his version of " Man of Constant Sorrow" in the 1930s. [4] His play on "Man of Constant Sorrow" suggests he traveled extensively, possibly through Appalachia. He is known for recording songs about being an outlaw, despite being legally blind. [5] Delta Blind Billy is not to be confused with the earlier musician, Blind Billy, who was a former slave. [6]
Legacy
Blind Billy is referred to by the Italian media magazine LEFT as "the master of an entire generation of musicians." [7] Many versions of " Man of Constant Sorrow" have been released and it remains a popular song in folk/bluegrass circles. [8] The modern R&B artist Adia Victoria released the song, "Sea of Sand", referencing Delta Blind Billy in the chorus. [9] Italian Artists Vittorio Giacopini and Valerio Billeri released an album and short story with illustrations on the "mysterious delta bluesman" Delta Blind Billy. [10] Their album, La Trasfigurazione di Delta Blind Billy, peaked at number 50 on the Italian iTunes chart.
References
- ^ "Watch Delta Blind Billy Video". Ovguide.com. Archived from the original on 2014-07-14. Retrieved 2012-05-05.
- ^ "In praise of ... Delta bluesmen | Comment is free". The Guardian. 2007-09-26. Retrieved 2012-05-05.
- ^ Zinn, Xavier (2011). Bob Dylan's Songs of the 1960s. Websters Digital Service. p. 32. ISBN 978-1240939824
- ^ Margotin, Philippe; Guesdon, Jean-Michel (2015). Bob Dylan All the Songs: The Story Behind Every Track. Black Dog and Leventhal. pp. 51–52.
- ^ "Delta Blind Billy / Waitin Round For you Woman : Delta Blind Billy : Free Download & Streaming : Internet Archive". Archive.org. 2001-03-10. Retrieved 2012-05-05.
- ^ "African–American History Month 2008 at the Library of Virginia". Lva.virginia.gov. Retrieved 2014-06-14.
- ^ Giacopini, Vittorio (12 July 2020). "Delta Blind Billy, un eroe da romanzo". Left.it. Retrieved 22 October 2020.
- ^ "Behind The Song: "Man Of Constant Sorrow"". Americansongwriter.com. 2011-06-30. Retrieved 2019-05-10.
- ^ Rhoades, Lindsey. "Adia Victoria | Baby's All Right | Music, Blues, Gothic, Singer-Songwriter | New York News, Food, Culture and Events". The Village Voice. Retrieved 2016-12-18.
- ^ "La trasfigurazione di Delta Blind Billy - in crowdfunding su Eppela". Eppela.com. Retrieved 22 October 2020.