Skip James

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Skip James
Skip James at the Newport Folk Festival, 1964
Background information
Birth name	Nehemiah Curtis James
Born	(1902-06-09)June 9, 1902 Bentonia, Mississippi, U.S.
Died	October 3, 1969(1969-10-03) (aged 67) Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Genres	Delta blues
Occupation(s)	Musician songwriter preacher
Instrument(s)	Vocals guitar piano
Years active	1931, 1964–1969
Labels	Paramount Storyville Vanguard

Nehemiah Curtis "Skip" James (June 9, 1902 – October 3, 1969)^[1] was an American Delta blues singer, guitarist, pianist and songwriter. AllMusic stated: "Coupling an oddball guitar tuning set against eerie, falsetto vocals, James' early recordings could make the hair stand up on the back of your neck."^[2]

His guitar playing is noted for its dark, minor-key sound, played in an open D-minor tuning with an intricate fingerpicking technique. James first recorded for Paramount Records in 1931, but these recordings sold poorly, having been released during the Great Depression, and he drifted into obscurity.

After a long absence from the public eye, James was rediscovered in 1964 by blues enthusiasts including John Fahey, helping further the blues and folk music revival of the 1950s and early 1960s. During this period, James appeared at folk and blues festivals, gave concerts around the country, and recorded several albums for various record labels. His songs have influenced generations of musicians and have been adapted by numerous artists. He has been hailed as "one of the seminal figures of the blues".^[3]