finetune artist: Bukka White

b. Booker T. Washington White, 12 November 1906, Houston, Mississippi, USA, d. 26 February 1977, Memphis, Tennessee, USA. White learned guitar and piano in his teens, and hoboed from 1921, playing blues with artists such as George "Bullet" Williams. In the mid-30s White was a boxer and baseball pitcher. He recorded for Victor Records in 1930, a largely unissued session including spirituals and the first of his breakneck train imitations. Returning to Vocalion Records in 1937, he recorded his composition "Shake 'Em On Down" and was given the misspelt billing which he always disliked. By the time "Shake 'Em On Down" was a hit, White had been imprisoned in Parchman Farm for assault. There, he recorded two songs for the Library of Congress, and claimed to have had an easy time as a prison musician. However, when he recorded commercially again in 1940, he was clear that he had been traumatized by his experience. The result was a remarkable series of recordings obsessed with prison, trains, drink and death. The songs were poetic, complete and coherent, often with deep insights into their topics, their heavy vocal delivery perfectly complemented by fierce, percussive slide guitar.

Listen to Bukka White at Finetune.

(2006) The Sonet Blues Story
(1940) The Complete Bukka White

Parchman Farm Blues
Shake 'Em On Down
Baby Please Don't Go
Black Train Blues
Aberdeen Mississippi Blues