Mississippi John Hurt

737,453 plays (82,294 listeners)
In your library (0 plays)

61 shouts

Add to my Library Share

“Mississippi” John Hurt was Born July 3, 1893, Teoc (Carroll County) MS and died November 2, 1966, Grenada, MS.
John’s father was Isom Hurt and his mother was Mary Jan McCain. John was one of 3 children. He and his wife, Jessie, had 14 children.
Mississippi John Hurt’s quiet dignity, humor, superb guitar style, and his tender and expressive voice made him the most popular artist of traditional country blues re-discovered by the public in the sixties.

John arranged classic American folk and blues songs to entertain his neighbors on Saturday evenings.

Mississippi John never pursued success. In 1928, a mobile unit of the Vocalion company came to Avalon, Mississippi to look for new talents. An audition in Avalon resulted in John being called several months later to go to New York for a recording session under the direction of Lonnie Johnson. The depression led to the reduction in pressing of records and John stayed in Avalon and lived quietly on his farm with his 14 children.

Guided by the words of one of the titles recorded in 1928 by Hurt, “Avalon My Home Town”, the folklorist Tom Hoskins decided in 1963 to go to Avalon. He met Hurt, who was shocked to see that someone remembered his 1928 recordings that had brought him only twenty dollars a song.

John Hurt’s new career lasted only three years, but at Newport Festival, on college campuses, and in the folk clubs of Washington D.C., he displayed his talents as storyteller, entertainer, and singer. He overwhelmed the public with his outstanding mastery of the guitar.

Tagged as:

blues, delta blues, folk, classic blues, acoustic
See more…

Similar Artists

Top Albums

Avalon Blues: The Complete 1928 OKeh Recordings
Mississippi John Hurt
Buy
- Download Album
- Amazon MP3 $8.99
- 7digital Search
- iTunes Search
- Buy Album
- Amazon $3.11
- eBay Search
Rediscovered
Mississippi John Hurt
Buy
- Download Album
- Amazon MP3 $9.49
- 7digital Search
- iTunes $9.99
- Buy Album
- Amazon $12.77
- eBay Search
Last Sessions
Mississippi John Hurt
Buy
- Download Album
- Amazon MP3 Search
- 7digital Search
- iTunes Search
- Buy Album
- Amazon $11.98
- eBay Search
1928 Sessions
Mississippi John Hurt
Buy
- Download Album
- Amazon MP3 $9.49
- 7digital Search
- iTunes $9.99
- Buy Album
- Amazon $9.88
- eBay Search

Top Tracks

1	Frankie full track	282
2	Louis Collins full track	213
3	Spike Driver Blues full track	199
4	Avalon Blues full track	190
5	Candy Man Blues full track	159
6	Nobody's Dirty Business full track	146
7	Ain't No Tellin' full track	144
8	Candy Man full track	136
9	Big Leg Blues full track	113
10	Coffee Blues full track	103
11	Monday morning Blues full track	85
12	Blessed Be the Name full track	78
13	Richland Woman Blues full track	77
14	Got the Blues (Can't Be Satisfied) full track	76
15	Make Me A Pallet On Your Floor full track	68

Shoutbox

Leave a comment. Log in to Last.fm or sign up (it’s free).

SOLOMUSIKA wrote:
Saturday morning

Unique....*♫♪ ♫♪ ♥♥♥

View Profile | Leave SOLOMUSIKA a shout
reebty wrote:
last month

This guy is truly the father of modern hardcore. Apparently his string of distortion pedals is on display at the town hall in Avalon, Mississippi.

View Profile | Leave reebty a shout
leekpie wrote:
September 2009

Man I love blues, you guys should check out Blueshammer if you love Authentic Blues.

View Profile | Leave leekpie a shout
SeattleJQueen wrote:
August 2009

He feels like that friendly grandpa that every child would love to have. At least I know I would. <3

View Profile | Leave SeattleJQueen a shout
Smirnon wrote:
August 2009

what's your problem. chill out, listen to more Mississippi John Hurt as you clearly haven't done enough

View Profile | Leave Smirnon a shout
almagal wrote:
May 2009

First of all, the description says John Hurt is not a real bluesman. That's bullshit. And secondly, why are you fuckin' whores postin' all this shit on Mr. Hurt's artists page. Go and fuckin' wait on the street corner like the rest of the whores.

View Profile | Leave almagal a shout
kblazewski wrote:
May 2009

so good.

View Profile | Leave kblazewski a shout
RadekRomanik wrote:
May 2009

it's really great. It's simple, but there is so much music in it. Fantastic.

View Profile | Leave RadekRomanik a shout
bcwilliamson wrote:
April 2009

what a man. love the story about him going to newport folk festival. some of you people might like to check out my music of a similar era... http://www.last.fm/music/B.C.+Williamson god bless

View Profile | Leave bcwilliamson a shout
Daisie700 wrote:
April 2009

i bet you got to be kiddin' guys.....what you taking 'bout??!

View Profile | Leave Daisie700 a shout
ruttie88 wrote:
April 2009

If you are serious that you should be very proud =)

View Profile | Leave ruttie88 a shout
EENIAC wrote:
March 2009

he is my grand-grandfather!

View Profile | Leave EENIAC a shout
jwilson94115 wrote:
March 2009

John Hurt raised the bar. I can listen to him all day and not be bored.

View Profile | Leave jwilson94115 a shout
slidingwolf wrote:
March 2009

Can't be bettered

View Profile | Leave slidingwolf a shout
biologica wrote:
March 2009

RIP John Hurt, take care sir

View Profile | Leave biologica a shout
fab4peace wrote:
March 2009

hurt us!

View Profile | Leave fab4peace a shout
bandgeekmafia78 wrote:
March 2009

this guy is cool.

View Profile | Leave bandgeekmafia78 a shout
vodenapushka wrote:
February 2009

r'n'r!

View Profile | Leave vodenapushka a shout
brickd wrote:
February 2009

Beautiful singing and guitar playing. His rustic voice is full of character and charm.

View Profile | Leave brickd a shout
ToTheMoonAlice wrote:
February 2009

truly amazing.

View Profile | Leave ToTheMoonAlice a shout