Delta Blind Billy, or Blind Billy, was an American Delta blues artist and outlaw.[1] As a traveling bluesman in Mississippi, he performed with his contemporaries Arthur Big Boy Crudup and Papa Charlie McCoy.[2] One of his notable songs, "Hidden Man Blues", was an early variant of "Man of Constant Sorrow", with the following lyric: "Man of sorrow all my days / Left the home where I been raised."[3] He recorded his version of "Man of Constant Sorrow" in the 1930s.[4] His play on "Man of Constant Sorrow" suggests he traveled extensively, possibly through Appalachia. He is known for recording songs about being an outlaw, despite being legally blind.[5] Delta Blind Billy is not to be confused with the earlier musician, Blind Billy, who was a former slave.[6]

Legacy

Blind Billy is referred to by the Italian media magazine LEFT as "the master of an entire generation of musicians."[7] Many versions of "Man of Constant Sorrow" have been released and it remains a popular song in folk/bluegrass circles.[8] The modern R&B artist Adia Victoria released the song, "Sea of Sand", referencing Delta Blind Billy in the chorus.[9] Italian Artists Vittorio Giacopini and Valerio Billeri released an album and short story with illustrations on the "mysterious delta bluesman" Delta Blind Billy.[10] Their album, La Trasfigurazione di Delta Blind Billy, peaked at number 50 on the Italian iTunes chart.

References

  1. ↑ "Watch Delta Blind Billy Video". Ovguide.com. Archived from the original on 2014-07-14. Retrieved 2012-05-05.
  2. ↑ "In praise of ... Delta bluesmen | Comment is free". The Guardian. 2007-09-26. Retrieved 2012-05-05.
  3. ↑ Zinn, Xavier (2011). Bob Dylan's Songs of the 1960s. Websters Digital Service. p. 32. ISBN 978-1240939824
  4. ↑ Margotin, Philippe; Guesdon, Jean-Michel (2015). Bob Dylan All the Songs: The Story Behind Every Track. Black Dog and Leventhal. pp. 51–52.
  5. ↑ "Delta Blind Billy / Waitin Round For you Woman : Delta Blind Billy : Free Download & Streaming : Internet Archive". Archive.org. 2001-03-10. Retrieved 2012-05-05.
  6. ↑ "African–American History Month 2008 at the Library of Virginia". Lva.virginia.gov. Retrieved 2014-06-14.
  7. ↑ Giacopini, Vittorio (12 July 2020). "Delta Blind Billy, un eroe da romanzo". Left.it. Retrieved 22 October 2020.
  8. ↑ "Behind The Song: "Man Of Constant Sorrow"". Americansongwriter.com. 2011-06-30. Retrieved 2019-05-10.
  9. ↑ Rhoades, Lindsey. "Adia Victoria | Baby's All Right | Music, Blues, Gothic, Singer-Songwriter | New York News, Food, Culture and Events". The Village Voice. Retrieved 2016-12-18.
  10. ↑ "La trasfigurazione di Delta Blind Billy - in crowdfunding su Eppela". Eppela.com. Retrieved 22 October 2020.
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