Fred McDowell (January 12 1904 - July 3 1972), called "Mississippi Fred McDowell", was a Delta blues singer and guitar player.
McDowell was born in Rossville, Tennessee, near Memphis. His parents, who were farmers, died when McDowell was a youth. He started playing guitar at the age of 14 and played at dances around Rossville. Wanting a change from ploughing fields, he moved to Memphis in 1926 where he worked in a number of jobs and played music for tips. He settled in Como, Mississippi, about 40 miles south of Memphis, in 1940 or 1941, and worked steadily as a farmer, continuing to perform music at dances, picnics and the like. Initially he played slide guitar using a pocket knife and then a slide made from a beef rib bone, later switching to a glass slide for its clearer sound. He played with the slide on his ring finger.
While commonly lumped under the appellation "Delta Blues singers," McDowell actually may be considered the first of the bluesmen from the North Mississippi region ...
Created by dipity
on Jan 24, 2008
Last updated: 03/10/09 at 01:59 PM
Update Sources
