Mance Lipscomb facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mance Lipscomb
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in the 1960s
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Beau De Glen Lipscomb or Bowdie Glenn Lipscomb |
| Born | April 9, 1895 Navasota, Texas, United States |
| Died | January 30, 1976 (aged 80) Navasota, Texas |
| Genres | Blues, Folk |
| Years active | 1960–1976 |
Mance Lipscomb (born April 9, 1895 – died January 30, 1976) was an amazing American musician. He was a blues singer, a guitar player, and a "songster." A songster is someone who knows and plays many different kinds of songs. Mance was born near Navasota, Texas. His real name was Beau De Glen Lipscomb. When he was young, he got the nickname Mance. It came from the word emancipation, which means being set free.
Contents
Mance Lipscomb's Life Story
Mance Lipscomb was born on April 9, 1895. His father was born into slavery in Alabama. His mother was part African American and part Native American. Mance had to leave school after third grade. He worked in the fields with his mother to help his family.
For most of his life, Mance worked as a farmer in Texas. His mother bought him a guitar. He taught himself to play by watching and listening to others. He became a very skilled musician. He played regularly at local parties. He called these "Saturday night suppers."
Until about 1960, Mance mostly played music in his local area. This was around Navasota, Texas. He was not well-known outside of his community.
Becoming a Famous Musician
In 1960, Mance Lipscomb was discovered. Two people, Mack McCormick and Chris Strachwitz, found him. This happened during a time when people were very interested in country blues music.
Mance recorded many albums. These albums included blues, ragtime, and folk music. Most of his records were released by Strachwitz's Arhoolie Records. Mance sang and played his acoustic guitar. He had a special guitar style called "dead-thumb" finger-picking. He also had a very expressive voice. He improved his skills by playing with a blind musician named Sam Rogers.
His first album was called Texas Songster (1960). Mance played many different types of songs. He played old songs like "Sugar Babe." This was the first song he ever learned. He also played popular songs like "Shine On, Harvest Moon" and "It's a Long Way to Tipperary."
In 1961, he recorded another album called Trouble in Mind. This album was released by Reprise Records. In May 1963, he performed at the first Monterey Folk Festival in California. Other famous folk artists like Bob Dylan and Peter, Paul and Mary were also there.
Unlike many other blues musicians, Mance Lipscomb did not record music when he was younger. His life and music are well-documented. He wrote an autobiography called I Say Me for a Parable. It was published after he passed away. There is also a short documentary film about him. It is called A Well Spent Life (1971) by Les Blank.
After he was discovered, Mance Lipscomb became very important. He was a big part of the American folk music revival in the 1960s. He often performed at folk festivals and blues clubs. A famous club he played at was the Ash Grove in Los Angeles, California. People loved his singing and guitar playing. They also enjoyed his stories and his wise advice.
Mance Lipscomb passed away in Navasota, Texas, in 1976. This was two years after he had a stroke. He is buried in Oakland Cemetery in Navasota.
Films About Mance Lipscomb
- A Well Spent Life (1971). This is a documentary directed by Les Blank and Skip Gerson.
- The Blues Accordin' to Lightnin' Hopkins (1970). This film was also directed by Les Blank.
Remembering Mance Lipscomb
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- An annual Navasota Blues Festival is held to honor him.
- On August 12, 2011, a bronze sculpture of Mance was revealed. It is in Mance Lipscomb Park in Navasota. The statue was made by artist Sid Henderson. It shows Mance playing his guitar while sitting on a bench. Fans can sit next to him and play their own guitars.
See also
In Spanish: Mance Lipscomb para niños
- List of blues musicians
- List of country blues musicians
- List of guitarists by genre
- List of people from Texas
