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Jack Owens, Bentonia, MS 1995
Born in 1904, bluesman Jack Owens was a
musician contemporary with many of the first generation to record although
he didn't make his recording debut until late in life. His music consisted
primarily of songs made famous by his childhood friend, Skip James. Owens
methodically picked out songs such as "Devil Got My Woman" and "Killing
Floor Blues" in a minor key while singing in his haunting falsetto. Unlike
James, Owens never left the Bentonia area with his music until the last
10 years of his life when he played across America and Europe. He was also
a recipient of a National Heritage fellowship award given by the federal
government for his work in keeping folk traditions alive. For years afterward
until his death, Owens kept the entire $10,000 prize hidden in a pouch
under his shirt. |
RealAudio:
Bill Steber
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