Blind Lemon Jefferson was one of the most important, influential and successful of the early bluesmen, a singer, songwriter and guitarist who has been called “The Father Of Texas Blues”.

Blind from birth, Jefferson was one of the earliest and most prominent figures in the blues movement that developed in the Deep Ellum area of Dallas where he started visiting in the early 1910s. It was in Dallas that he met and played with the blues musician Lead Belly. It is probable that he moved to Deep Ellum on a more permanent basis by 1917 and met Aaron Thibeaux Walker, better known as T-Bone Walker. Jefferson taught Walker the basics of playing blues guitar in exchange for Walker’s occasional services as a guide. He was one of the first solo guitarist/vocalists in the commercial recording world, being invited to Chicago in early 1926 to do his first sessions for Paramount. His high-pitched voice and unusual guitar style made him a distinctive performer, writing songs about everyday life and experiences, and his skilful guitar playing and impressive vocal range created opportunities for other solo performers like Charley Patton and Furry Lewis.

This substantial 4CD collection features 87 tracks which were  commercially released on Paramount, as well as titles he made in a brief foray to the Okeh label. Also included are a couple of titles he made as a member of the Paramount All Stars. He wrote and recorded many classics of the genre, all of which are featured here, and the compilation is a comprehensive and definitive showcase for an innovative blues pioneer.

TRACKS