Elizabeth Cotten facts for kids

Elizabeth "Libba" Cotten (born January 5, 1895 – died June 29, 1987) was an amazing American musician. She played blues and folk music, sang, and wrote her own songs.

Her Early Life and Music

Elizabeth Nevills was born in Carrboro, North Carolina. She was the youngest of five children in a family that loved music. When she was just seven years old, she started playing her older brother's banjo.

As a young teenager, she bought her own guitar. She quickly began writing her own songs. At age eleven, she wrote a famous song called "Freight Train." This song later became her signature tune.

Around her 15th birthday, Elizabeth married Frank Cotten. They had a daughter named Lillie. For many years, Libba focused on her family and church. She stopped playing music for a long time. The family moved around the USA before settling in the Washington, D.C. area.

Rediscovering Her Talent

About 25 years later, Libba started working as a maid. She worked for the family of Ruth Crawford Seeger and Charles Seeger. They were famous composers and musicians. Being in their musical home reminded Libba of her own love for playing the guitar.

Mike Seeger, a member of the family, heard her play. He recorded her songs, and they were later released as an album. It was called "Folksongs and Instrumentals with Guitar." This album came out on Folkways Records.

Becoming Famous

In the early 1960s, there was a big interest in folk music. This was called the "folk revival." During this time, Libba Cotten started playing shows. She performed with other great musicians like Mississippi John Hurt, John Lee Hooker, and Muddy Waters. She played at famous events such as the Newport Folk Festival. She also performed at the Smithsonian Festival of American Folklife.

Libba kept touring and recording music even when she was in her 80s. In 1984, she won a special award. She received a Grammy Award for "Best Ethnic or Traditional Recording." This was for her album "Elizabeth Cotten Live." Many other artists have covered her songs. These include Peter, Paul, and Mary, Jerry Garcia, Bob Dylan, and Taj Mahal.

Her Music on CD

• Elizabeth Cotten. Freight Train and Other North Carolina Folk Songs and Tunes. Smithsonian Folkways.
• Elizabeth Cotten. Shake Sugaree. Smithsonian Folkways.
• Elizabeth Cotten. Live!. Arhoolie Records.
• Elizabeth Cotten. Vol. 3: When I'm Gone. Folkways Records.

Images for kids

• 

  Bronze statue of Cotten in Libba Cotten Grove, South State St., Syracuse NY.

See also

In Spanish: Elizabeth Cotten para niños