Jack Owens (blues singer) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jack Owens
|
|
|---|---|
Owens performing at the Utrecht Blues Estafette, 1995 (photograph: Phil Wight)
|
|
| Background information | |
| Birth name | L. F. Nelson |
| Born | November 17, 1904 Bentonia, Mississippi, U.S. |
| Died | February 9, 1997 (aged 92) Yazoo City, Mississippi, U.S. |
| Genres | Delta blues, Bentonia School, rhythm and blues roots, gospel |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, songwriter, farmer |
| Instruments | Vocals, guitar, piano, fife, fiddle |
| Years active | 1970–1997 |
| Labels | Testament Records (USA), others |
| Associated acts | Skip James |
Jack Owens (born November 17, 1904 – died February 9, 1997) was an American blues singer and guitar player. He came from Bentonia, Mississippi, a small town in the United States. Owens was known for his unique blues style. He played music for many years, even though he was also a farmer.
Contents
About Jack Owens's Life
Jack Owens was born L. F. Nelson. His mother was Celia Owens. His father left the family when Jack was very young. After that, the Owens family raised him. His grandfather, who had eight children, helped take care of him.
Learning Music and Early Life
When he was a child, Jack learned to play the guitar from his father and an uncle. He also learned to play the fife, fiddle, and piano. But the guitar became his favorite instrument.
Owens did not try to become a famous recording artist. He worked as a farmer for most of his life. He also ran a place where people gathered on weekends to listen to music in Bentonia. He preferred to stay at home and play music on his porch.
Discovery and Recording His Music
Jack Owens was not recorded until the 1960s. This was during a time when people became very interested in old blues music again. A music expert named David Evans found Owens in 1966.
Evans noticed that Owens and another blues musician, Skip James, had a similar sound. This sound was special to their area and is called the Bentonia School of blues. They both used a special guitar tuning called open D-minor (DADFAD). However, Owens also tried other tunings that he created himself.
Owens played his guitar and sang. He would stomp his boots to keep the rhythm. This was a common style for some blues players in the Mississippi Delta region. Unlike Skip James, who sang quietly, Owens sang loudly in his normal voice. This made it easy for people at parties to hear him while they danced.
David Evans was excited to find Owens. He made recordings of Jack singing. These recordings were put on Owens's first album, Goin' Up the Country, in 1966. Another album, It Must Have Been the Devil, came out in 1970. Owens made other recordings in the 1960s and 1970s.
Later Years and Recognition
In his later years, Jack Owens traveled to many music festivals. He performed in the United States and Europe. His friend Bud Spires often played the harmonica with him. Owens performed with other famous blues musicians. For example, he played at the Long Beach Blues Festival in 1994. This was a special show honoring Chess Records.
In 1993, Owens received a National Heritage Fellowship. This is a very high award in the United States for folk and traditional artists.
Jack Owens passed away in Yazoo City, Mississippi, in 1997. He was 92 years old. He is buried in Bentonia, Mississippi.
Music Albums (Discography)
- It Must Have Been The Devil (1971, Testament Records)
- Bentonia Country Blues (1979, Albatross Records)
Films About Jack Owens
- Deep Blues (1991), directed by Robert Mugge
