Ed Bell

Ed Bell was perhaps one of the most important pre-war blues artist to emerge from Alabama. Recording under his own name and pseudonyms 'Slue Foot Joe' and 'Barefoot Bill' for Paramount and Columbia between 1927 and 1930, he played with hypnotic intensity featuring sharp treble runs and alternating basslines. His 'Mamlish Blues' remains a cornerstone of the Alabama blues tradition, distinct from the neighboring Delta and Piedmont styles.