Uploaded by sambobla on Jan 22, 2011
Born July 3, 1893, Teoc (Carroll County) MS
Died November 2, 1966, Grenada, MS
John's father was Isom Hurt and his mother was Mary Jan McCain. John was one of 3 children. He and his wife, Jessie, had 14 children. (Source: Blues Who's Who- A Biographical Dictionary of the Blues Singers by Sheldon Harris, published by Da Capo Paperbacks)
Mississippi John Hurt's quiet dignity, humor, superb guitar style, and his tender and expressive voice made him the most popular artist of traditional country blues re discovered by the public in the sixties.
John was not a real blues man but was a collector of popular songs who arranged them to entertain his neighbors on Saturday evenings.
Mississippi John never pursued success. In 1928 a mobile unit of the Vocalion company came to Avalon, Mississippi to look for new talents. An audition in Avalon resulted in John being called several months later to go to New York for a recording session under the direction of Lonnie Johnson. The depression led to the reduction in pressing of records and John stayed in Avalon and lived quietly on his farm with his 14 children.
Guided by the words of one of the titles recorded in 1928 by Hurt, "Avalon My Home Town", the folklorist Tom Hoskins decided in 1963 to go to Avalon. He met Hurt, who was shocked to see that someone remembered his 1928 recordings that had brought him only twenty dollars a song.
John Hurt's new career lasted only three years, but at Newport Festival, on college campuses, and in the folk clubs of Washington D.C., he displayed his talents as storyteller, entertainer, and singer. He overwhelmed the public with his outstanding mastery of the guitar.(Source: Encyclopedia of the Blues by Gerard Herzhaft, 1992 University of Arkansas Press)
91 videosYouTube Mix for Mississippi John Hurt- 2:50
Mississippi John Hurt - All Night Long.wmvby sambobla548 views
- 2:05
Mississippi John Hurt - Hey, Honey, Right Away.wmvby sambobla529 views
- 3:15
Sam Cooke - Change is gonna come.wmvby sambobla124,580 views
- 4:52
Mississippi John Hurt - Joe Turner Blues.wmvby sambobla640 views
- 2:55
Mississippi John Hurt - Wise and Foolish Virgins (Tender Virgins).wmvby sambobla663 views
- 2:19
Mississippi John Hurt - Shortnin' Bread.wmvby sambobla826 views
- 4:37
Mississippi John Hurt - Make Me a Pallet on the Floor.wmvby sambobla714 views
- 2:02
Mississippi John Hurt - Funky Butt.wmvby sambobla1,897 views
- 4:11
Mississippi John Hurt - Louis Collins.wmvby sambobla2,398 views
- 2:14
You Are My Sunshine by Mississippi John Hurtby emryanne57,075 views
- 7:42
Mississippi John Hurt - The Ballad Of Stagger Leeby JTgrimteam39,083 views
- 3:36
Mississippi John Hurt - Hot Time in the Old Town Tonight.wmvby sambobla1,948 views
- 3:59
C.C. Rider - Mississippi John Hurtby avishan8430,903 views
- 3:39
Mississippi John Hurt Make Me a Pallet on the Floorby scmo08245,723 views
- 3:09
Do Lord Remember Me Mississippi John Hurtby leanannsidhe14,791 views
- 2:23
Mississippi John Hurt's Nobody's Businessby pjkeane301 views
- 4:24
Mississippi John Hurt - Payday.wmvby sambobla4,014 views
- 3:18
Mississippi John Hurt: "Here Am I, Oh Lord, Send Me (Don't You Hear My Saviour Calling?)"by enslaved2God17,990 views
- 2:26
Mississippi John Hurt - It Ain't Nobody's Businessby sosiopat23,382 views
- 1:31
Mississippi John Hurt - Spider, Spiderby 9thWardBluezBox2,592 views
first time hearing this song and it's givin' me chills......
jdallen6104 1 month ago
you know what is amazing about hurt he sounds just the same when he got older as he did in his prime
shannonandsheila1 5 months ago
LOVE HIM..
montreemtx 7 months ago