Clifford Gibson facts for kids
Clifford "Grandpappy" Gibson (born April 17, 1901 – died December 21, 1963) was an American blues singer and guitarist. He is remembered for his songs "Bad Luck Dice" and "Hard Headed Blues".
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Early Life and Music
Clifford Gibson was born in Louisville, Kentucky, in the United States. In the 1920s, he moved to St. Louis, Missouri, and lived there for the rest of his life. He often played his music in clubs around St. Louis.
Starting His Recording Career
In 1929, Clifford Gibson began making records. He recorded music for two important record companies: QRS and Victor. He was one of the first "urban blues" musicians. This means his music sounded more like city blues, without strong influences from country music.
Gibson's Unique Guitar Style
Clifford Gibson was a skilled guitar player. His style was similar to another famous blues guitarist named Lonnie Johnson. Gibson often used a technique called vibrato, which makes notes waver slightly. He also loved to improvise, meaning he made up parts of his music as he played.
How His Guitar Sounded Different
Gibson's guitar sound was special. He used a capo high up on the guitar neck. This made his guitar sound sharper and brighter. He also used "open tunings," which means he tuned his guitar strings in a different way to create unique sounds. One of his songs, "Don't Put That Thing on Me," talks about hoodoo, which is a type of African American folk belief.
Later Years and Legacy
In 1931, Clifford Gibson played guitar on a song called "Let Me Be Your Side Track" with the famous country singer Jimmie Rodgers. This song was also released by Victor.
Playing in the Streets
After his recordings, Gibson spent many years playing music on the streets of St. Louis. He continued to share his blues music with people for almost three decades.
Return to Recording
Clifford Gibson made new recordings in 1960. He recorded for Little Milton's Bobbin label. He continued to perform for three more years in an area of St. Louis called Gaslight Square. Clifford Gibson passed away in 1963 from a lung illness.
