Etta Baker, influential piedmont style blues guitarist died Saturday September 23rd, she was 93. Born in 1913 she was a textile mill worker most of her life until she became a professional musician at age 60. Her versions of “Railroad Bill” and “One-Dime Blues” included on the 1956 compilation album “Instrumental Music of the Southern Appalachians” sparked the interest of the then growing folk revival.
She became a popular performer at folk festivals around the world and influenced a generation of performers. She received the Folk Heritage Award from the North Carolina Arts Council in 1989, the National Endowment for the Arts’ National Heritage Fellowship in 1991.
There are numerous articles on the web but the one in the Charlotte Observer seems most complete.
The Back Porch News covers American folk music and related genres including bluegrass, blues and alternative country. We also bring in a dash of world music from time to time.Read more about us including where to send music for review.
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