Horace Sprott facts for kids
Horace Sprott (born February 2, 1899 – died around 1992) was a talented American songster and harmonica player from Alabama. He was known for his unique musical style and had his music recorded in the 1950s, sharing traditional sounds with a wider audience.
Who Was Horace Sprott?
Horace Sprott was born on the Sprott Plantation in Perry County, Alabama. His mother, Bessie Ford, had been a slave before he was born. He took the name "Sprott" from the place where he grew up. There was some confusion about his exact birth year because it wasn't officially recorded back then. However, researchers now believe he was born in 1899, based on old records.
Horace's Early Life and Music
Horace left home when he was a teenager. He worked different jobs in places like Louisiana and Mississippi before returning to Alabama, where he got married. He taught himself to play the guitar and the harmonica. He loved to sing many different kinds of songs, including work songs (songs sung while working), spirituals (religious songs), and the blues (a style of music that often expresses feelings).
His Music Gets Recorded
In 1954, a researcher and writer named Frederic Ramsey met Horace Sprott in Marion, Alabama. Ramsey was very impressed by Horace's singing, especially because he often sang without any instruments. He also loved the variety of songs Horace knew.
Ramsey recorded Horace Sprott's music during seven different sessions. These recordings were later released as "field recordings" (music recorded outside of a studio) on volumes 2, 3, and 4 of a series called Music of the South by Folkways Records in 1955.
Horace even performed on TV in 1956! However, he never became a full-time professional musician. His music and stories were also a big part of Ramsey's book, Been Here and Gone, which was published in 1960 and shared stories from Ramsey's trips through the South.
Later Years
Horace Sprott was still living in Marion, Alabama, in 1990. It is believed that he passed away in the early 1990s.
