K. C. Douglas facts for kids

Quick facts for kids K. C. Douglas
Background information
Born	(1913-11-21)November 21, 1913 Sharon, Mississippi, U.S.
Died	October 18, 1975(1975-10-18) (aged 61) Berkeley, California, U.S.
Genres	Blues
Instruments	Guitar vocals
Years active	1940–1975

K. C. Douglas (born November 21, 1913 – died October 18, 1975) was an American blues singer and guitarist. He was known for his unique guitar style and powerful voice. He played a type of music called rural blues.

K. C. Douglas's Music Career

Douglas was born in Sharon, Mississippi. His full first name was simply "K. C." He moved to Vallejo, California, in 1945. There, he worked in naval shipyards. By 1947, he was playing blues music in the San Francisco and Oakland areas.

K. C. Douglas was inspired by another blues musician, Tommy Johnson. Douglas had worked with Johnson in Jackson, Mississippi, in the early 1940s. He even adapted Johnson's song "Canned Heat Blues" for his own albums. These albums were called A Dead Beat Guitar and the Mississippi Blues and Big Road Blues.

In 1948, K. C. Douglas and his trio made their first recording. It was a song called "Mercury Boogie." This song was later renamed "Mercury Blues." Other musicians on the recording included Sidney Maiden on harmonica. Many famous artists have covered this song. These include Steve Miller, Ry Cooder, and Dwight Yoakam. A version by Alan Jackson in 1992 became a big hit on the US country music charts. Even the Ford Motor Company bought the rights to the song. They used it in a TV commercial.

In the early 1960s, Douglas recorded music for Chris Strachwitz. Most of these recordings were released on Strachwitz's Arhoolie Records label. They also appeared on the Prestige Bluesville label. In 1961, Douglas played guitar on Sidney Maiden's album, Trouble An' Blues. This brought the two musicians back together after they first played in the 1940s.

Douglas performed at the San Francisco Blues Festival in 1973 and 1974. He also formed a band of four musicians. They played in areas like the East Bay, Modesto, and Stockton.

K. C. Douglas passed away from a heart attack in Berkeley, California, in October 1975. He was buried in the Pleasant Green Cemetery in Sharon, Mississippi.

Influence on Other Musicians

When K. C. Douglas was in his thirties, he worked at a garage. While there, he taught blues guitar to a young man named Steve Wold. Steve Wold is now a well-known musician who performs as Seasick Steve. He was the grandson of Douglas's employer.

Selected Music Recordings

Singles

The other side of the "Mercury Boogie" record featured a song by Sidney Maiden.

Albums