Black Snake Moan

Blind Lemon Jefferson was the first truly successful solo guitar-playing country blues star, and "Black Snake Moan" shows exactly why. Recording for Okeh in March 1927, Jefferson showcased the definitive sound of Texas blues. He didn't just strum chords; he played rapid, fluid, single-note guitar runs that acted as a second voice. Jefferson sang his stark, high-pitched vocal lines, and his guitar immediately answered back in a haunting, conversational call-and-response. This intricate playing style made him a national sensation and laid the foundation for generations of Texas guitar slingers.