Born in 1893 in Avalon, Mississippi, John Smith Hurt, known professionally as Mississippi John Hurt, grew up as a sharecropper. He taught himself to play the guitar at the age of nine, developing a unique fingerpicking style that became his signature sound.
In 1928, Hurt recorded several songs for the Okeh label. However, these recordings didn’t sell well, and when the company went bankrupt during the Great Depression, Hurt returned to his quiet life in Avalon.
Fast forward to 1952, when two of Hurt’s songs, “Frankie” and “Spike Driver Blues,” were included in the influential “Anthology of American Folk Music.” This compilation introduced Hurt’s music to a new generation, and other artists began performing his songs.
A turning point came in 1963 when, at the age of 70, Hurt was “rediscovered” by folk music enthusiast Tom Hoskins. Hoskins had stopped in Avalon hoping to find the artist behind the 1928 recordings. He made Hurt prove himself by recording a few songs.
This rediscovery led to a late-career renaissance for Hurt. He relocated to Washington D.C., recorded three albums for Vanguard Records, and became a fixture on the college and folk music circuits and played the Newport Folk Festival and “The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson.”
What sets Hurt apart is his smooth fingerpicking technique and his almost delicate singing style. His approach to the blues is uniquely beguiling, offering a softer, more introspective take compared to many other Mississippi bluesmen.
“Avalon Blues,” comes from those original 1928 sessions:
Avalon, my hometown, always on my mind
Avalon, my hometown, always on my mind
Pretty mama’s in Avalon, want me there all the time
YouTube: https://youtu.be/ZovrGHVb1SY?si=SORFKwm26UbAp64k
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/track/1jzg5z4FHxBMJS8yCRlQEf?si=ecb6df0d65c247e8