Fred McDowell

Fred McDowell (January 12, 1904-July 3, 1972), called "Mississippi Fred McDowell" was a blues singer and guitar player.

Related Topics:
January 12 - 1904 - July 3 - 1972

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McDowell was born in Rossville, Tennessee. His parents died when McDowell was young, and he moved often. By the age of 14, he was playing guitar.

Related Topics:
Rossville - Tennessee

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He settled in Como, Mississippi in the 1920s, and worked steadily as a farmer, though he continued to perform musically at various functions: dances, picnics and the like.

Related Topics:
Como - Mississippi - 1920s - Farmer - Dance - Picnic

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The 1950s brought a rising interest in blues music and folk music in the United States, and McDowell was brought to wider public attention, beginning when he was recorded in 1959 by Alan Lomax.

Related Topics:
Blues music - Folk music - 1959 - Alan Lomax

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McDowell's recordings were popular, and he performed often at festivals and clubs. McDowell continued to perform delta blues much as he had for decades, but he sometimes performed on electric guitar rather than acoustic. While he famously declared "I do not play no rock and roll," McDowell was not averse to associating with many younger rock musicians: He coached Bonnie Raitt on slide guitar technique, and was reportedly flattered by The Rolling Stones' rather straightforward, authentic version of his "You Gotta Move" on their 1971 Sticky Fingers album.

Related Topics:
Delta blues - Electric guitar - Rock and roll - Bonnie Raitt - Slide guitar - The Rolling Stones - Sticky Fingers

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McDowell died of cancer in 1972.

Related Topics:
Cancer - 1972

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