Mattie Delaney
| Mattie Delaney | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Mattie Doyle |
| Born |
ca. 1905 south of Tchula, Mississippi, United States |
| Died | Unknown |
| Genres | Delta blues |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, guitarist, songwriter |
| Instruments | Vocals, guitar |
| Years active | Early 1930s |
| Labels | Vocalion |
Mattie Delaney (ca. 1905[1] – unknown) was an American delta blues singer and guitarist. She was active in the 1930s with only two known recordings: "Down the Big Road Blues," and "Tallahatchie River Blues."
Career
Mattie Delaney was probably born Mattie Doyle south of Tchula, Mississippi.[1] Around 1927 she may have moved to Memphis, Tennessee. Contemporary witnesses remember seeing her perform at Swan Lake, Mississippi.[1] She recorded two songs for the Vocalion Records label in February 1930.[2] Her song "Down The Big Road Blues" was a variant of Tommy Johnson's "Big Road Blues".[3] One music journalist noted "Delaney issuing a matter-of-fact report in "Tallahatchie River Blues".[4] She was unusual for a female performer of the time, in that she played guitar accompaniment and sang topical songs. Nothing is known of her life after the recordings.[5]
Two of Delaney's songs were featured on the Mississippi Girls (1928-1931) compilation album, issued in September 1991.[6]
Cover versions
Several cover versions of Delaney's songs have been recorded over the years. These include:
- "Travelin' Blues" - Rory Block (High Heeled Blues) (1981)[7]
- "Tallahatchie River Blues" - Rory Block (When a Woman Gets the Blues) (1995)[8]
- "Down the Big Road Blues" - Lucinda Williams (Car Wheels on a Gravel Road) (1998)[9]
See also
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "Center for Popular Music, Interview by Gayle Dean Wardlow with Henry Austin and Lilly Berry" (PDF). Musicman.mtsu.edu. Retrieved 2014-01-27.
- ↑
- ↑ "Big Road Blues Show 12/2/07: Forgotten Blues Ladies: I Ain't Your Hen Mister Fly Rooster | Big Road Blues". Sundayblues.org. 2007-12-02. Retrieved 2014-01-27.
- ↑ Russell, Tony (1997). The Blues: From Robert Johnson to Robert Cray. Dubai: Carlton Books Limited. p. 211. ISBN 1-85868-255-X.
- ↑ "Mattie Delaney - Goldmine Magazine". Goldminemag.com. 2010-10-12. Retrieved 2014-01-27.
- ↑ Larry Hoffman (1928-02-03). "Mississippi Girls (1928-1931) - Various Artists | Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 2014-01-27.
- ↑ Ron Wynn. "High Heeled Blues - Rory Block | Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 2014-01-27.
- ↑ "When a Woman Gets the Blues - Rory Block | Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 2014-01-27.
- ↑ "Mattie Delaney | Songs". AllMusic. Retrieved 2014-01-27.
External links
- Works by or about Mattie Delaney in libraries (WorldCat catalog)
- Illustrated Mattie Delaney discography
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