DeFord Bailey

b. December 14th, 1899 in Bellwood (Tennessee)

d. July 2nd, 1982 in Nashville (Tennessee)

HARMONICA SHOWCASE

Matchbox

HARP BLOWERS

Document

April 1927 - October 1928

Petit fils d'esclaves, il apprend l'harmonica dès son plus jeune âge. Alité par une poliomyélite, il occupe ses journées en jouant de l'instrument. DeFord s'installe à Nashville en 1918 et apparait dans diverses émissions radiophoniques sur WDAD. Il figura régulièrement dans l'émission radiophonique Grand Ole Opry - une émission généralement dévolue à la Country Music - sur WSM entre 1927 et 1941. Cette longue collaboration se terminera par son licenciement (il ne pouvait plus jouer ses morceaux suite à un conflit entre BMI et ASCAP). En 1927, il grave une poignée de morceaux seul à l'harmonica à New York pour le label Brunswick. Ceux-ci montrent sa superbe technique virtuose en particulier "Pan american blues", "Up country blues", "Old hen cackle", "The alcoholic blues". Ensuite quelques autres morceaux à Nashville pour le label Victor (l'excellent "Ice water blues"). Indispensable pionnier de l'harmonica blues, DeFord Bailey a exercé une forte influence sur de nombreux bluesmen comme Sonny Terry ou Buster Brown. On peut aussi mentionner que DeFord Bailey jouait de la guitare et du banjo même s'il n'a jamais été enregistré jouant de ces instruments.

Grandson of slaves, he learns harmonica from an early age. Confined to his bed by a polio, he occupies his days playing the instrument. DeFord moved to Nashville in 1918 and appeared in various radio broadcasts on WDAD. He appeared regularly on the radio program Grand Ole Opry - a program usually devoted to Country Music - on WSM between 1927 and 1941. This long collaboration ended with his dismissal (he could not play his songs after a conflict between BMI and ASCAP). In 1927, he made a handful of songs alone on harmonica in New York for the Brunswick label. These titles showcase his superb virtuoso technique especially "Pan american blues", "Up country blues", "Old hen cackle", "The alcoholic blues". Then some more tracks in Nashville for the Victor label (the excellent "Ice water blues"). Indispensable pioneer of the blues harmonica, DeFord Bailey has had a strong influence on many bluesmen like Sonny Terry or Buster Brown. It can also be mentioned that DeFord Bailey played guitar and banjo even though he was never recorded playing these instruments.

THE LEGENDARY DEFORD BAILEY

Tennessee Folklore Society

October 1974 - October 1976