Kentucky Blues History

Sylvester Weaver

Sylvester Weaver was the first blues guitarist to record both solo and as an accompanist with a singer. That historic recording was made on October 24, 1923, in the O'Keh studios in the New York. Weaver and Sarah Martin, Louisville's classic blues singer, recorded "Longing For Daddy Blues" and "I've Got To Go And Leave My Daddy Behind."

Sylvester was back in the studio again on November 2 to record two instrumentals, "Guitar Blues" and "Guitar Rag." "Guitar Rag" was influential in the country market; Texas twin fiddler Bob Wills recorded an arrangement by pedal steel master Leon MacAuliffe as "Steel Guitar Rag."

Sylvester went on to record over 50 cuts for O'Keh, often as an accompanist for Martin or as a soloist. He also made some recordings with guitarist Walter Beasley and singer Helen Humes.

His innovative guitar style mixed the styles of Georgia/Piedmont, ragtime and slide. He occasionally played banjo. Weaver died of cancer in Louisville in 1960 at age 63. When his unmarked gravesite was located at the Louisville Cemetery, monies were raised by the Kentuckiana Blues Society for a headstone.

Billy Vaughn

Born in Glasgow, Kentucky, in 1919, as Richard Smith Vaughn, Billy Vaughn is credited with being one of the top most popular orchestra leaders and pop music arrangers of the 1950s and early 60s.

In 1952, he organized the musical group, the Hilltoppers, with Jimmy Sacca, Don McGuire and Seymour Spiegelman. Their song, Trying, became a hit record, and the group enjoyed almost a decade of success. Billy would leave the group to become the musical director for Dot Records, in Gallatin, Tennessee. Billy formed an orchestra, and became Dot Records top moneymaker with hits like Melody of Love and Sail Along Silvery Moon, which sold over 3 million copies, and which also featured what would be his trademark twin sax sound. Billy Vaughn became the first American artist to be awarded a gold record in Europe and the first musician to receive a platinum record for achieving sales well over 3 million.

Sam Bush

Sam Bush (b. April 13, 1952 in Bowling Green, Kentucky) was a founding member of the New Grass Revival and has been called a modern day Bill Monroe. He is often referred to as "the father of newgrass."

Attending the Fiddlers Convention at Union Grove, North Carolina in 1970, Bush overheard the pioneering progressive bluegrass band the New Deal String Band. Inspired by their rock-flavored approach to bluegrass, he formed the New Grass Revival in 1971.

The group was successful enough to have the group's name become a generic label: "newgrass."

Lionel Hampton

(1908-2002) Born in Louisville, KY. Recipient of the Governor's Lifetime Achievement Award. Undisputed King of the Vibraphone for well over half the century. Hampton formed his own big band in the early 1940s with hit records such as: Sunny Side of the Street, Central Avenue Breakdown, Flying Home, and Hamps Boogie-Woogie.

In addition to his still popular and often performed compositions Midnight Sun, King David Suite, and Blues Suite, Hampton received many coveted awards and honors such as; the Official American Goodwill Ambassador, seventeen Honorary Doctorates, the Gold Medal of Paris, Kennedy Center Honors Award and National Medal of the Arts from the White House in 1997.

John Brim

John Brim was a fixture in the Chicago blues scene of the 50's. Although his musical career began long before and has continued for 5 decades, 1950 through 1956 saw Brim involved with the cream of Chicago's working and recording musicians. In no less than 35 recordings for a half dozen labels, John Brim solidified his place in blues history with classics such as Ice Cream Man, Rattlesnake and Tough Times.

John Brim was born April 10th, 1922 near Hopkinsville, Kentucky. His interest in the blues started soon thereafter. Influenced by the records of Tampa Red, Peetie Wheatstraw, and Big Bill Broonzy, Brim started to teach himself harmonica.

By late 1945, Brim decided to take his voice and guitar to Chicago. Almost immediately he met and began working with John Lee Sonny Boy Williamson and Dr. Clayton. Brim also reunited with Homer Wilson. During the next 5 years, Brim met and worked with the founding members of the Chicago blues scene, as well as the "old guard" that was still influencing the younger artists. Muddy Waters, Little Walter, Willie Mabon, Memphis Minnie, Big Bill Broonzy, Tampa Red, Earl Hooker, and Big Maceo all crossed paths with Brim during this time.

Mose Rager

Mose Rager was born April 2, 1911 in the small Ohio County, Kentucky community of Smallhaus on the Green River. Mose was a barber, and a coal miner, and for some reason never sought the fame other, perhaps less talented people found. He did play with Grandpa Jones, Curly Fox, and Texas Ruby on the road, but he preferred to stay home with his family.

His most famous protege, Merle Travis, never failed to give credit for what he had learned from him. Mose also performed with Merle at the Smithsonian in Washington, DC.

Mose died May 14, 1986, but his "licks" live on, where ever a thumb picker mimics this legend---and his students are many.

In 1992, the city of Drakesboro and his friends dedicated a park in his honor on Highway 176 in front of his home and renamed the highway Mose Rager Boulevard. A fountain honoring the "four legends" is nearby.

Kentucky Blues History Videos

Ernest Hogan

Ernest Hogan (his real name was Reuben Crowders) was a native of Bowling Green, Kentucky. His first big hit was the first of a new genre of music, which he coined "ragtime", in 1895.

Scott Joplin was quick to pick up the ragtime style in his 1898 composition, Maple Leaf Rag. However, it was Ernest Hogan who went on to become the world's most popular black entertainer of his time. He was the first black entertainer to produce (and star in) a New York Broadway show, The Oyster Man, in 1909.

Ben R Harney

"Ragtime's Father" and "Jazz Originator" are terms used to describe Benjamin Robertson Harney. One newspaper article published about 1928 claims "If any one man can be held responsible for this much-mooted 'jazz age' the distinction goes to an humble vaudeville pianist and comedian, Ben R. Harney, the originator of ragtime music from which jazz and modern syncopation was derived..." "At the height of his fame, Ben Harney was of such importance in New York that he was permitted to 'desecrate' the sacred confines of the Metropolitan opera house with his ragtime piano playing on the same program with Lillian Russell and other noted stars giving a benefit performance there." For a time Ben R. Harney was among the highest paid head liners in vaudeville.

Arnold Schultz

Bill Monroe fused the influences of his two childhood mentors, Uncle Pen Vandiver and Arnold Schultz. Uncle Pen played the fiddle, and had a rich repertoire of songs and melodies that Monroe was to draw from throughout his career. His fiddle-playing techniques became an intricate part of Monroe's style of mandolin playing. Arnold Schultz was a black country blues player who Monroe would see whenever he came through Rosine, Kentucky. Through his influence, Monroe spiced his playing with blue notes and blues licks. The fusion of these influences created a unique and unmistakable style.

Bill Monroe

William Smith Monroe, (September 13, 1911 to September 9, 1996)(born, Rosine Kentucky) developed the style of music known as bluegrass, which takes its name from his band, the "Blue Grass Boys," named for Monroe's home state of Kentucky. Monroe's performing career spanned 60 years as a singer, instrumentalist, composer and bandleader. He is often referred to as "the father of bluegrass."

Bill Monroe credits two Kentucky musicians with giving him the elements of bluegrass. His Uncle "Pen" Vandiver, and black bluesman, Arnold Schulz.

KY Blues In Schools

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Follow the links with each Kentucky artists segment to find out more about Kentuckians who gave us musical innovations now known worldwide.