1. Blind Lemon Jefferson 24/09/1893 – 19/12/1929

2. One of seven children, born blind in Texas to a farming family and became a well known “Texas Blues” artist. As a teenager Lemon travelled frequently to Dallas where he met and played with Lead Belly. By 1917 he was a known resident street performer East Texas. He was influenced by folk singers and cotton pickers and local guitarists, some of which were of Mexican descent who worked in some flamenco patterns into their playing. “They were rough. Men were hustling women and selling bootleg, and Lemon was singing for them all night” 1925 Texas talent scout helped him make a demo Then he signed to Paramount Records Through 1925-29 he recorded around 100 songs Early Years

3. What makes Lemon Jefferson Unique?  He is self accompanied, writing his own original material although he also enjoyed playing folk repertoire.  His old fashioned sound and confident musicianship that made it easy to market his music. His skilful guitar and impressive vocal range opened doors for new generation male solo blues; he showcased what men can do which can be so different from the norm for the female blues artists.  He has a unique and powerful sound  His music inhibited and represented the classical sounds of everyday life: transport, farming… It is a reflection of his interest in mechanical things.  He did an unusual amount of travelling in the American South.  His first two recordings were gospel songs under the name Deacon L. J. Bates. Which lead to recording his own songs under his own name. This showed the distrust with record labels about taking a risk with a strong unusual male vocalist with his own original material. Their attitude is very “test the water before they jump straight in” which must have made loyalty an issue for Lemon Jefferson

4. Was He Really Blind?  241 visual references in over 90 songs “I am an invisible man” “And its tough to see a man go to the rock and almost starve and die” Tin Cup Blues 1929  Born blind: census the year he was born claiming a BS meaning Blind Son.  There are only 2 known photographs of him but in both he is wearing glasses.  Why would a travelling musician, Blind and low on funds wear glasses?  He was known to carry a gun, how would he know where to shoot if he was blind?  A deterrent to scare off people?  An excuse for sympathy? Would he get gigs out of guilt or a minority vote?

5. Death: December 1929 It is rumoured that when he was found dead his hand was frozen gripping the neck of his guitar. No one knows how he died:  Rumours of being poisoned by a jealous lover  Heart attack while disorientated in a snow storm  Attacked by a dog and left in the cold  Killed during a robbery His grave was unmarked until 1967 which is ironic considering one of his well known songs: “See that my grave is kept clean” Precise location still unknown, a stone was created in the “general area” of his burial place. By 1996, the cemetery and marker were in poor condition, but a new granite headstone was erected in 1997. In 2007, the cemetery's name was changed to Blind Lemon Memorial Cemetery and his grave is kept clean by a cemetery committee in Wortham, Texas.

6. Lifetime Achievements  Named Father of the Texas Blues  Is in The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame: One of his songs made it into the top 500songs that shaped Rock and Roll history: 1927- The Matchbox Blues  Featured Musician on a State of Texas License Plate  BB King named him one of his biggest influences

7. Matchbox Blues/ Vs Matchbox Blind Lemon Jefferson I'm settin' here wonderin' would a matchbox hold my clothes I'm settin' here wonderin' would a matchbox hold my clothes I ain't got so many matches but I got so far to go Girl 'cross town wanna be my teddy bear Girl 'cross town wanna be my teddy bear Put a string on me and I'll follow you everywhere [Got] a peg leg woman man she can't hardly get outdoors I say a peg leg woman just can't hardly get outdoors I [left]... [eight o'clock] last night... [I'm sellin'] jellyroll I don't see why these women treats me so mean I don't see why these gals treat me so mean Sometime I think I'm some man these women ain't never seen Lord I got up this morning with my sho' 'nuff on my mind Got up this mornin' same thing on my mind The woman I love she keep a good man workin' all the time Now tell me mama who may your manager be Now tell me who may your manager be Reason I ask so many questions can't you make 'rangements for me http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i3GEDqkJeVs Beatles I said I'm sitting here watching matchbox hole in my clothes I said I'm sitting here wondering matchbox hole in my clothes I ain't got no matches but I sure got a long way to go I'm an old poor boy I'm a long way from home I'm an old poor boy and I'm a long way from home I've never been happy cause everything I ever did was wrong Well, if you don't want my peaches honey please don't shake my tree If you don't want any of those peaches http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IoFKtR-M88A

8. See That My Grave is Kept Clean  Covers by:  Bob Dylan, Merl Saunders Jerry Garcia John Kahn and Bil Vitt, John Hammond, BB King, Peter Paul & Mary, Kelly Joe Phelps  The Original: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5S8Rjwwo2g4 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5S8Rjwwo2g4  Most well known cover by Bob Dylan: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iEX3gLE1IeM http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iEX3gLE1IeM

9. Where I Got The Info  http://wkarrer.webs.com/blindlemonjefferson.htm http://wkarrer.webs.com/blindlemonjefferson.htm  http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=6142078 http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=6142078  http://www.allmusic.com/artist/blind-lemon-jefferson-mn0000050205 http://www.allmusic.com/artist/blind-lemon-jefferson-mn0000050205  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blind_Lemon_Jefferson http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blind_Lemon_Jefferson