Blind Blake

American artist Blind Blake, who plays Classic Blues, is remembered for his contributions to the Blues genre. There are several of his most well-known songs, including "Nobody Knows When You're Down And Out," "They're Red Hot," "Police Dog Blues," "Candy Man Blues," "Hastings Street," "Southern Rag," "Georgia," "Georgia Bound," "Diddie Wa Diddie," and "Dry Bone Shuffle."

Blind Blake's music is known for its melancholy and soulful melodies, and "Nobody Knows When You're Down And Out" stands out among these songs for its melancholy and soulful melody. Another well-known song that features his distinctive fingerpicking technique is "Police Dog Blues," which is distinguished by its elaborate and complex rhythms.

The storytelling prowess of Blind Blake's music is renowned for encapsulating the spirit of the Blues subgenre. His compositions frequently address common and human subjects like loss, lonesomeness, and heartache. He is an enduring personality in the blues genre because of his capacity to engage his listeners through his music.

Overall, it is impossible to overestimate Blind Blake's importance to the blues genre. His immortal songs help to carry on his legacy by inspiring and influencing future generations of performers.

Throughout his career, Blind Blake, a renowned ragtime guitarist from Newport News, Virginia, has put out a number of CDs. His most recent CDs are "The Birth of the Blues" (2013), "Cordially Yours" (2023), and "Blind Blake - Ragtime Guitar Legend" (2021).

In "Cordially Yours," Blind Blake exhibits his distinctive ragtime guitar technique and offers listeners a combination of original songs and renditions of well-known blues tunes. Songs like "Midnight Hour Blues" and "That'll Never Happen No More" showcase Blake's outstanding fingerpicking prowess and distinctive vocal delivery.

Some of Blind Blake's most well-known tunes, such as "Diddie Wa Diddie" and "West Coast Blues," are included in the album "Blind Blake - Ragtime Guitar Legend." His remarkable ability to combine jazz, blues, and ragtime into his own unique sound is showcased in the CD.

The 2013 compilation album "The Birth of the Blues" highlights Blind Blake's contribution to the blues genre. Records from the 1920s and 1930s are included, such as "Early Morning Blues" and "He's in the Jailhouse Now."

His most recent recordings are evidence of Blind Blake's enduring legacy in the blues and ragtime genres, and they also demonstrate how his music still inspires and has an impact on performers today.

Throughout his career, Blind Blake collaborated on a number of significant songs, but those with Johnny Dodds that stand out the most include "Hot Potatoes," "South Bound Rag," and "C.C. Pill Blues." These records, which were made in the early 1920s, show off Blake and Dodds' great musical synergy.

The upbeat instrumental song "Hot Potatoes" showcases Dodds' clarinet and Blake's sophisticated guitar skills. The two musicians' improvisations produce a happy and upbeat mood, and they work well together. Another instrumental cut, "South Bound Rag," showcases Dodds' bluesy clarinet and Blake's fingerstyle guitar playing. The duo's virtuoso performances have a strong base in the rhythm section.

Finally, the vocal track "C.C. Pill Blues" has Dodds' deep clarinet and Blake's expressive singing. The song depicts the tale of a man who uses the deadly substance C.C. Pills and experiences negative side effects. The song has clever and moving lyrics by Blake, and Dodds' clarinet gives it a melancholy feel.

Overall, the recordings that Blind Blake made with Johnny Dodds are among the most significant and influential in the annals of traditional blues music. These songs highlight Dodds' talent on the clarinet and Blake's flexibility as a guitarist and singer. The two musicians were able to develop a distinctive and enduring sound that continues to captivate audiences today.