Skip James

Nehemiah Curtis "Skip" James (born 1902 near Bentonia, Mississippi) recorded seminal sessions for Paramount in 1931, was rediscovered in 1964, recorded for Vanguard in the 1960s, and died in 1969.

Recorded 18 tracks in February 1931 for Paramount in Grafton, Wisconsin; notable for a high falsetto, minor-key guitar arrangements and three-fingered fingerpicking; also recorded piano tracks; rediscovered in 1964 and performed at the Newport Folk Festival; recorded for Vanguard before his death in 1969. "I'm So Glad" was later covered by Cream.

Reviews emphasize Skip James's unique, haunting falsetto and minor-key, three-fingered fingerpicking. They highlight his 1931 Paramount sessions (collected on Special Rider Blues - Early Recordings 1931), his piano tracks, and his 1960s rediscovery and Vanguard recordings. Overall the reception is admiring and celebratory.

For:Blues enthusiasts, guitarists, music historians, collectors of early American recordings