Mississippi Sheiks

The Mississippi Sheiks were a string band from Bolton, Mississippi, centered around the Chatmon family (primarily fiddler Lonnie Chatmon and guitarist Walter Vinson. Active from the late 1920s through the 1930s, they were one of the most commercially successful African American recording acts of the pre-war era, selling millions of records for Okeh. Their 1930 recording of 'Sitting on Top of the World' became one of the most covered songs in blues and country history, recorded by everyone from Howlin' Wolf to Cream to Bob Dylan. The Chatmon family was enormous) at least nine brothers were musicians, and various members recorded under multiple group names.