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“Although he was supposed to be completely blind, I still believe he could see a little bit. If he couldn’t, he darn sure could feel his way ’round — the old wolf!” – blues singer Victoria Spivey on Texas bluesman “Blind” Lemon Jefferson, whose birthday it is today. /1 
Born in 1893, he got his start playing on street corners in Dallas. He traveled around the Delta, playing wherever would have him. (Legend has it T-Bone Walker was his guide, and he paid him in guitar lessons. I like the legend.) /2
Lemon Jefferson and the legendary Lead Belly were friends, and Lead Belly wrote a song in tribute called the “Blind Lemon Blues”. Here Lead Belly is playing it, with opening remarks about their friendship. /3
A talent scout heard Blind Lemon and brought him up to Chicago to record a couple of songs. That “couple” turned into 100+ songs. He became famous on a national level (practically unheard of for bluesmen at that time). /4
Sadly, Jefferson died at 36, an event still cloaked in mystery. His dead body was found on the street on Chicago after a harsh snowstorm. It was thought he might have had royalty money in his pocket from his recordings and someone jumped him. Nobody really knows though. /5
His most famous song has the heart-stopping title “See That My Grave Is Kept Clean.” /6
Those are the words on his gravestone in Wortham, Texas.
Fans raised the money for the stone. /theend #BOTD
Fans raised the money for the stone. /theend #BOTD
