Buddy Moss

Buddy Moss

Eugene "Buddy" Moss (born January 16, 1914 in Jewell, Warren County , Georgia , † October 19, 1984 in Atlanta , Georgia) was an influential American blues guitarist, harmonica player and singer. He is attributed to the Atlanta Blues and is considered the link between Blind Blake and Blind Boy Fuller .

As a child, the son of a small farmer taught himself to play the harmonica. He played at parties in the Augusta area where his family had moved.

In 1928 Moss went to Atlanta, where Curley Weaver and Barbecue Bob became aware of him. He made his first recordings with the Georgia Cotton Pickers in 1930 at the age of 16 .

Moss also taught himself to play the guitar and was soon able to compete with the best. He performed with Barbecue Bob and Blind Willie McTell . In 1933 he made his first solo recordings in New York , accompanied by Fred McMullen and Curley Weaver. With the singer Ruth Willis the three made recordings as the Georgia Browns .

In 1934, Moss 'solo recordings sold better than Weaver and McTell's records, including pieces like Some Lonesome Day , Dough Rollin' Papa and Insane Blues . In 1935 he made recordings with his new partner Josh White .

In the same year Moss was convicted of the murder of his wife and was sent to prison. After his release in 1941, he went to New York with Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee . However, only a few of their joint recordings were published, and the hoped-for success failed to materialize.

Although he continued to perform, Moss had to make a living doing jobs as a farm worker, lift boy, or truck driver. As a musician, he was largely forgotten.

In 1964 Moss was "discovered" again, gave concerts and made new recordings. He has performed at major festivals such as B. at the Newport Folk Festival 1969.

When Buddy Moss died in Atlanta in 1984, he had been forgotten again.

Web links

• Biography at Allmusic Guide (engl.)