Mississippi Fred McDowell facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Fred McDowell
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McDowell in 1972
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| Background information | |
| Born | January 12, 1904 Rossville, Tennessee, U.S. |
| Died | July 3, 1972 (aged 68) Memphis, Tennessee |
| Genres | Hill country blues |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, songwriter |
| Instruments | Vocals, guitar |
| Years active | 1926–1972 |
| Labels | Arhoolie, Testament, Sire, Transatlantic, Infinite Zero, Oblivion, Rounder, Fat Possum |
| Associated acts | Tom Pomposello, Johnny Woods |
Fred McDowell (born January 12, 1904 – died July 3, 1972) was an American musician. He was known by his stage name Mississippi Fred McDowell. He was a talented singer and guitar player who specialized in hill country blues. This type of blues music comes from the northern part of Mississippi.
Contents
Fred McDowell's Musical Journey
Fred McDowell was born in Rossville, Tennessee, in the United States. His parents were farmers. Sadly, they both passed away when Fred was still young.
He started playing the guitar when he was about 14 years old. Soon, he was playing music at local dances in Rossville. People would give him tips for his performances.
In 1926, Fred moved to Memphis to find new work. He worked in a mill that processed cotton. Later, in 1928, he moved to Mississippi to pick cotton. He finally settled in Como, Mississippi, around 1940. For many years, he worked as a full-time farmer. But he always kept playing music on weekends at parties and picnics.
Becoming a Professional Musician
Fred played music for small local groups for many years. Then, in 1959, a music expert named Alan Lomax and his colleague Shirley Collins recorded him. They were traveling to record folk music.
At that time, interest in blues and folk music was growing in the United States. Fred McDowell's recordings caught the attention of music fans and producers. Within a few years, he became a professional musician. He started recording his own albums.
His albums became very popular. He performed at music festivals and clubs all over the world.
Fred's Unique Guitar Style
McDowell continued to play blues music in the style of northern Mississippi. He often used an electric guitar instead of an acoustic one. He was especially famous for his amazing slide guitar playing.
He said he first learned to play slide guitar using a pocketknife. Later, he used a polished beef rib bone. Eventually, he found that a glass slide gave him the clearest sound. He wore this glass slide on his ring finger.
Fred famously said, "I do not play no rock and roll." But he was open to working with younger rock musicians. He even taught Bonnie Raitt how to play slide guitar. He was also happy that The Rolling Stones covered his song "You Gotta Move" on their 1971 album Sticky Fingers.
In 1965, Fred toured Europe with the American Folk Blues Festival. He performed alongside other famous blues artists like Big Mama Thornton and John Lee Hooker.
His Recorded Albums
Fred McDowell's 1969 album, I Do Not Play No Rock 'n' Roll, was special. It was his first album to feature electric guitar. The album also included parts of an interview. In it, he talked about where the blues came from and what love means.
His live album Live at the Mayfair Hotel (released in 1995) was recorded at a concert in 1969. It included his own song "Kokomo Blues." It also featured versions of songs by other blues legends. Music critics at AllMusic said this album might be the best of his live recordings.
Fred McDowell's last album was Live in New York. It was recorded live in November 1971 at a club in New York City.
His version of the folk song "John Henry" from 1969 is on the album Ann Arbor Blues Festival 1969: Vols 1&2, released in 2019.
Later Life and Legacy
Fred McDowell passed away from cancer in 1972. He was 68 years old. He was buried at Hammond Hill Baptist Church in Mississippi.
On August 6, 1993, a special memorial was placed on his grave. It was organized by blues promoter Dick Waterman. The memorial stone, which had Fred's picture on it, was paid for by Bonnie Raitt. This new stone replaced an old one that had his name misspelled and was damaged. The original stone was later given to the Delta Blues Museum in Mississippi.
Fred McDowell was also a Freemason. He was part of Prince Hall Freemasonry. He was buried wearing his Masonic clothes.
See also
In Spanish: Fred McDowell para niños
