James Lee Strother (March 1883 – died after 1942?),[1] was an American folk musician active in the 1930s and 1940s.
Virginia Historical Marker near the entrance to the former Virginia State Prison Farm (present-day James River Work Center) describing recordings of performances by Strothers and other inmates of the facility.
He was born in Madison, Virginia. He performed in medicine shows, and, after being blinded in a mine explosion, made a living as a musician, singing and playing guitar and banjo. In 1910, he lived in Baltimore, Maryland, and in 1918 was in Culpeper, Virginia.[1]Alan Lomax recorded several performances by Strothers through his documentation of American music for the Library of Congress. Strothers made his recordings of thirteen songs in June 1936,[2] while imprisoned at the Virginia State Farm for killing his wife, Blanche Green. He was released from prison in 1939.[3] In 1942, he is thought to have been living in Achsar, Madison County, Virginia; there are no records of his death.[1]
Strothers' recordings, some performed with fellow inmate Joe Lee, included both secular songs (including the bawdy "Poontang Little, Poontang Small") and versions of hymns.[2] Influential recordings by Strothers include his versions of "Cripple Creek"[4] and "Good Shepherd", the latter entitled "The Blood-Strained Banders" on the Lomax recording.[5] Strothers's version of "Good Shepherd" was the basis for the Jefferson Airplane's recording on their album Volunteers.
Referencesedit
^ abcEagle, Bob; LeBlanc, Eric S. (2013). Blues - A Regional Experience. Santa Barbara: Praeger Publishers. p. 266. ISBN978-0313344237.
^ abBiography by Steve Leggett, Allmusic.com. Retrieved 27 October 2016
^"Mug Shot Monday: James 'Jimmie' Strother, No. 33927." Virginia State Library.
^"An American Revivalist: Dom Flemons and the Return of the African-American String Band", The Brooklyn Rail
^Wade, Stephen. The Beautiful Music All Around Us: Field Recordings and the American Experience. University of Illinois Press.
April 17, 2024
jimmie, strothers, james, strother, march, 1883, died, after, 1942, american, folk, musician, active, 1930s, 1940s, virginia, historical, marker, near, entrance, former, virginia, state, prison, farm, present, james, river, work, center, describing, recordings. James Lee Strother March 1883 died after 1942 1 was an American folk musician active in the 1930s and 1940s Virginia Historical Marker near the entrance to the former Virginia State Prison Farm present day James River Work Center describing recordings of performances by Strothers and other inmates of the facility He was born in Madison Virginia He performed in medicine shows and after being blinded in a mine explosion made a living as a musician singing and playing guitar and banjo In 1910 he lived in Baltimore Maryland and in 1918 was in Culpeper Virginia 1 Alan Lomax recorded several performances by Strothers through his documentation of American music for the Library of Congress Strothers made his recordings of thirteen songs in June 1936 2 while imprisoned at the Virginia State Farm for killing his wife Blanche Green He was released from prison in 1939 3 In 1942 he is thought to have been living in Achsar Madison County Virginia there are no records of his death 1 Strothers recordings some performed with fellow inmate Joe Lee included both secular songs including the bawdy Poontang Little Poontang Small and versions of hymns 2 Influential recordings by Strothers include his versions of Cripple Creek 4 and Good Shepherd the latter entitled The Blood Strained Banders on the Lomax recording 5 Strothers s version of Good Shepherd was the basis for the Jefferson Airplane s recording on their album Volunteers References edit a b c Eagle Bob LeBlanc Eric S 2013 Blues A Regional Experience Santa Barbara Praeger Publishers p 266 ISBN 978 0313344237 a b Biography by Steve Leggett Allmusic com Retrieved 27 October 2016 Mug Shot Monday James Jimmie Strother No 33927 Virginia State Library An American Revivalist Dom Flemons and the Return of the African American String Band The Brooklyn Rail Wade Stephen The Beautiful Music All Around Us Field Recordings and the American Experience University of Illinois Press Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Jimmie Strothers amp oldid 1127605234, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
