Skip James facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Skip James
Skip James at the Newport Folk Festival, 1964
Background information
Birth name	Nehemiah Curtis James
Born	(1902-06-09)June 9, 1902 Bentonia, Mississippi, U.S.
Died	October 3, 1969(1969-10-03) (aged 67) Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Genres	Delta blues
Occupation(s)	Musician songwriter preacher
Instruments	Vocals guitar piano
Years active	1931, 1964–1969
Labels	Paramount Storyville Vanguard

Nehemiah Curtis "Skip" James (born June 9, 1902 – died October 3, 1969) was an American blues musician. He was a singer, guitarist, pianist, and songwriter. Many people thought he was a very talented blues guitarist.

His guitar playing was special because it often sounded dark and deep. He used a unique way of tuning his guitar and a special fingerpicking style. Skip James first recorded music in 1931. But these records did not sell well because it was during the Great Depression. He then became less known.

After many years, Skip James was found again in 1964 by people who loved blues music. This helped bring back interest in blues and folk music. During this time, James played at music festivals and concerts. He also recorded more albums. His songs have inspired many musicians over the years. He is known as one of the most important blues musicians ever.

Biography

Early Life and Music

Nehemiah Curtis James was born on June 9, 1902, in Bentonia, Mississippi. His mother worked as a cook. His father later became a preacher.

When he was young, James listened to local musicians. He learned to play the guitar from Henry Stuckey. His mother bought him his first guitar for $2.50. As a teenager, he also started playing the organ.

In 1919, James left Bentonia. He worked on road construction in the early 1920s. He wrote one of his first songs, "Illinois Blues," about his experiences working. He started playing his guitar in a special tuning called open D-minor.

Recording Music in the 1930s

In 1931, Skip James had an audition for a record company. He traveled to Grafton, Wisconsin, to record for Paramount Records. His songs from 1931 are very unique among blues recordings from that time. These recordings made him famous as a musician.

James recorded different kinds of music. He recorded blues songs, spiritual songs, and his own original songs. One of his most famous songs is "I'm So Glad." Other important songs from his 1931 recordings include "Hard Time Killing Floor Blues" and "Devil Got My Woman."

The Great Depression began just when his records came out. Because of this, his records did not sell well. He stopped playing blues music and became a choir director in his father's church. He later became a minister.

Rediscovery and Later Years

For 33 years, Skip James did not record any music. He was not well-known to most people. In 1964, some blues fans found him in a hospital in Tunica, Mississippi. Finding Skip James again helped start the blues revival in the United States.

In July 1964, James played at the Newport Folk Festival. This was his first performance in over 30 years. He then recorded more albums and played at many events. He passed away from cancer on October 3, 1969, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was 67 years old.

More of Skip James's music has been released since he passed away. His 1931 recordings and his 1960s concerts are now available on many CDs. The British rock band Cream recorded his song "I'm So Glad." This earned James a lot of money, which was a big help to him. The English band 22-20s was named after his song "22-20 Blues."

In 2004, a film called The Soul of a Man featured Skip James's music. His song "Hard Time Killing Floor Blues" was also in the 2000 movie O Brother, Where Art Thou?.

Skip James was honored with a special marker on the Mississippi Blues Trail in his hometown of Bentonia. In 2020, his song "Devil Got My Woman" was added to the Grammy Hall of Fame.

Musical Style

Instruments and Sound

When Skip James recorded in 1931, he often played a 12-string Stella guitar that was set up as a six-string. In the 1960s, he played guitars like the Gibson J-185 and Martin D-18.

James often played his guitar using a special tuning called open D-minor. This gave his 1931 recordings a very deep sound. His fingerpicking style was fast and clear. He used the whole guitar to create heavy, repeating bass lines. His playing style was more like the Piedmont blues from the East Coast than the Delta blues from his home state of Mississippi.

The Bentonia Blues Style

Skip James is sometimes linked to the "Bentonia School" of blues music. This is a special style of playing blues. Some people believe this style came from Bentonia, Mississippi.

A writer named Stephen Calt said that this "school" was not really a style that started in Bentonia. He thought that musicians like Jack Owens learned their style from James. Whether this was a true "school" of music is still discussed. Today, Jimmy "Duck" Holmes is one of the last musicians who plays in this Bentonia style. He learned it from Henry Stuckey, who also taught Skip James.

Discography

Paramount Records, 1931

Later Recordings, 1964–1969

Even though he was not in good health, James recorded several albums from 1964 to 1969. He often played his old songs from 1931, along with traditional music and spirituals. He also wrote new blues songs about his illness. Here are some of his later recordings:

• Greatest of the Delta Blues Singers (1964)
• She Lyin' (1964; first released in 1996)
• Today! (1966)
• Devil Got My Woman (1968)
• I'm So Glad (1978)
• Live: Boston, 1964 & Philadelphia, 1966 (1994)
• Skip's Piano Blues, 1964 (1998)
• Blues from the Delta, with two new recordings (1998)
• The Complete Early Recordings of Skip James – 1930 (1994)
• The Complete Bloomington, Indiana Concert, March 30, 1968 (1999)
• Skip's Guitar Blues, 1964(?) (1999)
• Studio Sessions: Rare and Unreleased, 1967 (2003)
• Hard Time Killing Floor Blues (2003)
• Heroes of the Blues: The Very Best of Skip James (2003)
• Hard Time (2003)
• Cypress Grove Blues (2004)
• Hard Time Killin' Floor (2005)

See also

In Spanish: Skip James para niños