BLIND ARVELLA GRAY

                             

Blind Arvella Gray (January 28, 1906 – September 7, 1980) was an American blues, folk and gospel singer and guitarist.

His birth name was James Dixon, and he was born in Somerville, Texas, United States.] He spent the latter part of his life performing and busking folk, blues and gospel music at Chicago's Maxwell Street flea market and at rapid-transit depots. In the '60s, he recorded two singles for his own Gray label including "Freedom Rider" backed with "Freedom Bus."

Gray's only album, 1973's The Singing Drifter was reissued on the Conjuroo record label in 2005. The re-issue producer was Cary Baker , who wrote the liner notes for the original Birch Records vinyl LP.

Gray died in Chicago, Illinois in September 1980, at the age of 74

Info : WIKIPEDIA 

The story of John Henry is traditionally told through two types of songs: ballads, commonly referred to as "The Ballad of John Henry", and work songs known as hammer songs, each with wide-ranging and varying lyrics. Some songs, and some early folk historian research, conflate the songs about John Henry with those of John Hardy, a West Virginian outlaw. Ballads about John Henry's life typically contain four major components: a premonition by John Henry as a child that steel-driving would lead to his death, the lead-up to and the results of the race against the steam hammer, Henry's death and burial, and the reaction of John Henry's wife.

Songs featuring the story of John Henry have been recorded by many blues, folk, and rock musicians of different ethnic backgrounds. Many notable musicians have recorded John Henry ballads, including: Hugh Laurie, Johnny Cash, Mississippi John Hurt,Joe Bonamassa, Furry Lewis, Big Bill Broonzy,Pink Anderson Fiddlin' John Carson,Uncle Dave Macon, J. E. Mainer, Leon Bibb, Lead Belly,[ Woody Guthrie, Paul Robeson, Pete Seeger,Van Morrison,] Bruce Springsteen, Gillian Welch, the Drive-By Truckers, Cuff the Duke, ] Ramblin' Jack Elliott,Merle Travis, Justin Townes Earle, Harry Belafonte and Jerry Lee Lewis....... 

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