Blind Lemon Jefferson

Lemon Henry Jefferson was the first major male star of recorded blues and the founding father of Texas blues guitar. Born blind (or nearly so) in rural east Texas, he performed on the streets of Dallas's Deep Ellum district and at country suppers and dances throughout the region. His recordings for Paramount beginning in 1926 (including 'Black Snake Moan,' 'Matchbox Blues,' 'See That My Grave Is Kept Clean,' and 'Long Lonesome Blues') were massive commercial successes that helped establish Paramount as a leading race records label. His guitar playing featured elaborate single-string runs and an improvisatory freedom that was revolutionary for the time, influencing T-Bone Walker, Lightnin' Hopkins, B.B. King, and essentially every subsequent Texas blues guitarist. He froze to death on the streets of Chicago in December 1929 under mysterious circumstances, at the height of his commercial popularity.