Jim Jackson

b. June 1876 in Hernando (Mississippi)

d. December 18th, 1933 in Memphis (Tennessee)

KANSAS CITY BLUES

Agram

October 1927 - July 1929

COMPLETE RECORDED WORKS

Document

Volume 1 (October 1927 - August 1928)

Volume 2 (August 1928 - February 1930)

D'après les récentes recherches de Bob Eagle et Eric LeBlanc, Jim Jackson serait né en 1876 à Hernando (d'autres sources mentionnent 1884 ou 1890). Il apprend la guitare dans la ferme où il vit. Artiste de rue, musicien itinérant, il participe à plusieurs medicine-shows et minstrel-shows (dont le fameux Rabbit Foot Minstrels). Il fréquente aussi plusieurs musiciens de la scène de Memphis comme "Furry" Lewis, Frank Stokes, Robert Wilkins (natif d'Hernando comme lui) et Gus Cannon. A Memphis, il habite sur Grant Street dans les quartiers nord. Songster typique, Jim est aussi à l'aise dans des Blues que dans des airs traditionnels, du vaudeville ou du music-hall. Repéré en 1927 par le talent-scout H.C. Speir, il signe un contrat d'enregistrement avec Paramount qui le revend immédiatement à Loren Watson (Vocalion). Ses morceaux sont donc édités par Vocalion : "Kansas City Blues" (il en gravera quatre versions distinctes), "Old dog blue", "My monday blues", "I'm gonna start a graveyard on my own", "I'm wild about my lovin'", "I'm gonna move to Louisiana". Il use d'une technique relativement simple, parfois un peu répétitive, à la guitare. En parallèle de ses enregistrements, il tourne aussi dans les états du sud avec les Red Rose Minstrels. Devenu lui-même talent-scout pour Brunswick, il découvre le pianiste Speckled Red (alias Rufus Perryman). Après 1930, il retourne dans sa ville natale d'Hernando et disparait du paysage.

According to recent research by Bob Eagle and Eric LeBlanc, Jim Jackson was born in 1876 in Hernando (other sources mention 1884 or 1890). He learns the guitar in the farm where he lives. A street artist, itinerant musician, he participated in several medicine-shows and minstrel-shows (including the famous Rabbit Foot Minstrels). He also frequents several musicians from the Memphis scene like "Furry" Lewis, Frank Stokes, Robert Wilkins (native of Hernando like him) and Gus Cannon. In Memphis, he lives on Grant Street in the north side of the town. Typical songster, Jim is as comfortable in Blues as in traditional, vaudeville or music-hall tunes. Spotted in 1927 by talent-scout H.C. Speir, he signed a recording contract with Paramount who immediately resold it to Loren Watson (Vocalion). His tracks are issued by Vocalion : "Kansas City blues" (he will cut four distinct versions of this title), "Old dog blue", "My monday blues", "I'm gonna start a graveyard on my own", "I'm wild about my lovin'", "I'm gonna move to Louisiana". He uses a relatively simple technique, sometimes a bit repetitive, on guitar. In parallel of his recordings, he also turns in the southern states with The Red Rose Minstrels. Became a talent-scout for Brunswick, he discovers pianist Speckled Red (aka Rufus Perryman). After 1930, he returned in his hometown of Hernando and disappears from the landscape.