Musician Search Assignment

East Coast Piedmont Blues Musicians 
(North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Virginia)

Reference Sources

1. All music guide to the blues, 3rd ed. UNCA REFERENCE ML156.4.B6 A55 2003. Also on the Web at: http://www.allmusic.com
2. The Blackwell guide to blues records. Ed. by Paul Oliver. Cambridge, MA : Blackwell Reference, 1989. UNCA REFERENCE ML156.4.B6 B6 1989 
3. Guinness encyclopedia of popular music, 2nd ed. Ed. by Colin Larkin. New York: Stockton Press, 1995. UNCA REFERENCE ML 102 .P66 G84 1995 v.1-6
4. Harris, Sheldon. Blues who's who : a biographical dictionary of Blues singers. New Rochelle, N.Y. : Arlington House, 1979. UNCA REFERENCE ML102.B6 H3
5. Hart, Mary L., Brenda M. Eagles, and Lisa N. Howorth. The blues : a bibliographical guide. Intro. by William Ferris. New York : Garland, 1989. UNCA REFERENCE ML128.B49 B14 1989
6. Herzhaft, Gerard. Encyclopedia of the blues. Fayetteville : University of Arkansas Press, 1992. UNCA REFERENCE ML102.B6 H39 1992
7. Santelli, Robert. The big book of blues : a biographical encyclopedia. New York : Penguin, 1993. UNCA GENERAL ML102.B6 S26 1993
8. Stambler, Irwin, and Lydon Stambler. Folk and blues : the encyclopedia. New York: St. Martin's, 2001. UNCA REFERENCE ML 102 .F66 S74 2001

Course Reserves

1. Bastin, Bruce. Red River blues : the blues tradition in the Southeast. Urbana : University of Illinois Press, 1986. ML3521 .B39 1986
2. Cohn, Lawrence, et al. Nothing but the blues : the music and the musicians. New York : Abbeville Press, 1993. ML3521 .N68 1993
3. Oliver, Paul. The story of the blues. Philadelphia : Chilton, 1969. ML3561.J3 O47
4. Charters, Samuel. Country blues. New York: Da Capo Press, 1975. ML3556.C475 C7 1975

Outline

(See also Web Template)

I. Musician’s Name: Luke Jordan (other names or nicknames in parenthesis)

II.  Born: Jan. 28, 1892, Appomattox County or Campbell County, VA
     Died: June 25, 1952, Lynchburg, VA

III. Instrument: Guitar

IV. Biographical sketch

Example:

The blues of Luke Jordan "had a beautiful sweetness and a kind of wry wistfulness that made them unforgettable," according to Samuel Charters in Sweet as the Showers of Rain. Research by Bruce Bastin tells us that Luke Jordan was an important figure in and around Lynchburg, Virginia, highly regarded for his seemingly effortless, cleanly-picked guitar style. Although very few African American blues musicians from this region managed to record, Jordan was discovered by Victor Records around the age of 35. He traveled to Charlotte, North Carolina, in August 1927 to record several sides for that label. His records sold well and Victor decided to bring him to New York for two further sessions in November 1929. Of the total of 10 tracks that he recorded, eight saw release, and only six are in known existence today. Of his most memorable recordings to appear on CD reissues: "Church Bells Blues," "Pick Poor Robin Clean," and "Cocaine Blues." These recordings feature not only a skillfully-picked Gibson guitar, but also an intriguing tenor voice with a certain clear and delicate quality. Most recently, the James River Blues Society has recognized Luke Jordan as a important figure in Virginia blues by erecting a historical marker in his honor in downtown Lynchburg.

V. Books on this person

Resources to consult:

Library Catalog

WorldCat

Examples:

Bastin, Bruce. Red River Blues: The Blues Tradition in the Southeast. Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 1986.

Charters, Samuel Barclay. Sweet as the Showers of Rain. Oak Publications, 1977. Contained in the reprint The Blues Makers. New York: Da Capo Press, 1991.

Kimball, Gregg D. Old Dominion Songsters: Traditional Blues in Virginia. Lynchburg, VA: James River Blues Society, 2002. (brochure)

Lornell, Kip. Virginia's Blues, Country & Gospel Records, 1902-1943: An
Annotated Discography. Lexington : University Press of Kentucky, 1989.

Oliver, Paul, ed. The Blackwell Guide to Blues Records. Cambridge, MA: Blackwell Reference, 1989. (brief mention)

VI. Articles on this person

Resources to consult:

Hart, Mary L., Brenda M. Eagles, and Lisa N. Howorth. The blues : a bibliographical guide. Intro. by William Ferris. New York : Garland, 1989. UNCA REFERENCE ML128.B49 B14 1989

International Index of Music Periodicals (IIMP). Electronic Resource.

Humanities Full Text. Electronic Resource.

Example:

Kent, Don. "On the Trail of Luke Jordan." Blues Unlimited 66 (October 1969): 4-6.

VII. Key recordings on CD

Resources to consult:

All Music Guide to the Blues, 3rd. edition. UNCA REFERENCE ML156.4.B6 A55 2003.

All Music Guide online. <http://www.allmusic.com>

Examples:

Various Artists. East Coast Blues. Catfish 178

Various Artists. Raggin' the Blues: Essential East Coast Blues. Indigo 2044

Various Artists. The Songster Tradition: Complete Works, 1927-1935. Document 5045

Various Artists. Virginia Traditions: Western Piedmont Blues. Global Village 1003

VIII. Other media (videos, DVDs, etc.)

Resources to consult:

Library Catalog

WorldCat

IX. Web sites

Resources to consult:

Google, AlltheWeb, Teoma

Examples:

Dead Blues Guys. Accessed 15 Sept. 2003 <http://www.deadbluesguys.com/>

James River Blues Society. Accessed 15 Sept. 2003 <http://www.jamesriverblues.org/>

Virginia Roots Music: Creating and Conserving Tradition. The Library of Virginia. Accessed 15 Sept. 2003 <http://www.lva.lib.va.us/whoweare/exhibits/rootsmusic/>

X. Image or photograph

Images in books and on the Web are often protected by copyright. You will need to get permission to use the work of another person. Your instructor can help you with this. Please include your email to the copyright owner, and his or her response.

XI. Sound file (MP3)

Extra credit: You may be able to secure permission use a sound clip (.mp3 file). Your instructor will help you with this.

Return to Course Syllabus.

Last updated 22 November 2003. Comments to Bryan Sinclair, sinclair@bulldog.unca.edu