Blind Blake
108,083 plays (17,595 listeners)
There are at least two artists with the name Blind Blake
1. “Blind” Blake (born Arthur Blake, circa 1893, Jacksonville, Florida; died: circa 1933) was an influential blues singer and guitarist. He is often called “The King Of Ragtime Guitar”. There is only one photograph of him in existence.
Blind Blake recorded about 80 tracks for Paramount Records in the late 1920s and early 1930s. He was one of the most accomplished guitarists of his genre with a surprisingly diverse range of material. His complex and intricate fingerpicking has inspired Reverend Gary Davis, Jorma Kaukonen, Ry Cooder, Ralph Mctell and many others. He is most known for his distinct guitar sound that was comparable in sound and style to a ragtime piano.
Very little is known about his life. His birthplace was listed as Jacksonville, Florida by Paramount Records but even that is in dispute. Nothing is known of his death. Even his name is not certain. During recordings he was asked about his real name and he answered that his name was Blind Arthur Blake which is also listed on some of the song credits, strengthening his case on his real name, although there is a suggestion that his real name was Arthur Phelps.
His first recordings were made in 1926 and his records sold well. His first solo record was “Early Morning Blues” with “West Coast Blues” on the B-side. Both are considered excellent examples of his style. Blake made his last recordings in 1932, the end of his career aided by Paramount’s bankruptcy. It is often said that the later recordings have much less sparkle and, allegedly, Blind Blake was drinking heavily in his later years. It is likely that this led to his early death.
1. “Blind” Blake (born Arthur Blake, circa 1893, Jacksonville, Florida; died: circa 1933) was an influential blues singer and guitarist. He is often called “The King Of Ragtime Guitar”. There is only one photograph of him in existence.
Blind Blake recorded about 80 tracks for Paramount Records in the late 1920s and early 1930s. He was one of the most accomplished guitarists of his genre with a surprisingly diverse range of material. His complex and intricate fingerpicking has inspired Reverend Gary Davis, Jorma Kaukonen, Ry Cooder, Ralph Mctell and many others. He is most known for his distinct guitar sound that was comparable in sound and style to a ragtime piano.
Very little is known about his life. His birthplace was listed as Jacksonville, Florida by Paramount Records but even that is in dispute. Nothing is known of his death. Even his name is not certain. During recordings he was asked about his real name and he answered that his name was Blind Arthur Blake which is also listed on some of the song credits, strengthening his case on his real name, although there is a suggestion that his real name was Arthur Phelps.
His first recordings were made in 1926 and his records sold well. His first solo record was “Early Morning Blues” with “West Coast Blues” on the B-side. Both are considered excellent examples of his style. Blake made his last recordings in 1932, the end of his career aided by Paramount’s bankruptcy. It is often said that the later recordings have much less sparkle and, allegedly, Blind Blake was drinking heavily in his later years. It is likely that this led to his early death.
Top Albums
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Ragtime Guitar's Foremost Fingerpicker
Blind Blake
Buy- Download Album
- Amazon MP3 $8.99
- 7digital $9.99
- iTunes $11.99
- Buy Album
- Amazon $44.99
- eBay Search
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All the Published Sides
Blind Blake Buy- Download Album
- Amazon MP3 $28.98
- 7digital $7.77
- iTunes $49.99
- Buy Album
- Amazon $21.47
- eBay Search
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The Best of Blind Blake
Blind Blake Buy- Download Album
- Amazon MP3 $7.99
- 7digital $9.99
- iTunes $11.99
- Buy Album
- Amazon $10.88
- eBay Search
-
The Very Best Of
Blind Blake Buy- Download Album
- Amazon MP3 $8.99
- 7digital $7.77
- iTunes $9.99
- Buy Album
- Amazon Search
- eBay Search
Top Tracks
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Diddie Wa Diddie
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| 2 |
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Georgia Bound
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| 3 |
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Southern Rag
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| 4 |
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Diddie Wah Diddie
full track
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| 5 |
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Skeedle Loo Doo Blues
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| 6 |
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Sweet Papa Low Down
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| 7 |
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You Gonna Quit Me Blues
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| 7 |
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Blind Arthur's Breakdown
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| 9 |
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Police Dog Blues
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| 10 |
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Chump Man Blues
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| 11 |
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Come on Boys Let's Do That Messin' Around
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| 12 |
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Dry Bone Shuffle
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| 13 |
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Rope Stretching Blues
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| 14 |
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West Coast Blues
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| 15 |
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He's In The Jailhouse Now
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Shoutbox
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daraloglan wrote:
what the hell! look at the similars. is that means blinds are similar?
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Alex181112 wrote:
great musician
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sGarrista- wrote:
this is awesome
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mbeauchez wrote:
Shouldn't this music almost/already be out of copyright?
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almagal wrote:
I don't think there is anyone finer than Blake. Have you tried Blind Willie McTell?
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simillarian wrote:
His guitar playing is phenomenal. I love his ragtime melodies. It works well on guitar. I would like to know more artists who perfected the art of playing ragtime on the guitar. Anyone have any recommendations? I know quite a few similar artist's but no one who can incorporate ragtime so proficiently and well.
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almagal wrote:
Blake is legendary. A style no other man can find.
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drewblue wrote:
Sportin' right hand!
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BabaJack wrote:
What a song and was an starting point for many others to follow.
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yarrrgh wrote:
great voice and brilliant guitar-style, gotta love him.
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Dontlikespam wrote:
Diddy wah Diddy is a Bo Diddley song surely...
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Ciacchi wrote:
lol, Beefheart's version of Diddy Wa Diddy is so different... I doubt it's the same song, but wtf
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CoolJack wrote:
yeah I saw them to amazing!, they are really good quality aswell, not much noise. I can't wait for them to be released on a compilation
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CannedHeat665 wrote:
There are 2 recently disoverd records by Blind Blake night and day blues and to the sun!
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CoolJack wrote:
It's Most likely a Blind Blake cover, I recommend buying the All the published Sides set, has some fantastic recordings on it, especially the more experimental sound he went for in his later recording years.
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Ciacchi wrote:
I heard somewhere that Captain Beefheart, before starting his carreer recorded a song called Diddy Wah Diddy... Any relation to our Diddie Wa Diddie here? And if so does anyone have it?
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benguzman wrote:
Love this man.
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Recent Activity
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steviebird added Blind Blake to steviebird’s library. Tuesday morning
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AristideKlopbk tagged Blind Blake with blind blake, guitare and blues. Monday afternoon
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zwango, FORCEBEWITHYOU, bobrabone and 10 other people added Blind Blake to their libraries. Monday afternoon
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chiptotec tagged Blind Blake with ‘totec radio’. 21 days ago
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le_berger added Blind Blake to le_berger’s library. 22 days ago
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IanAR connected Blind Blake to the group 78 RPMs. 22 days ago
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dvdwheeler2, skleeboy, name-last and 3 other people added Blind Blake to their libraries. 23 days ago
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fake_line tagged Blind Blake with ‘blind musician’. last month
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joricm, heviduty, kingcutt and 2 other people added Blind Blake to their libraries. last month
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TheAbbott tagged Blind Blake with blues and ragtime. last month
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Country Folk Blues
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Pre-War Blues
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Concert Stories
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78 RPMs
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