RL Burnside

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RL Burnside in an appearance in 1998

RL Burnside (actually Robert Lee Burnside , born November 23, 1926 near Oxford , Mississippi , USA , † September 1, 2005 in Memphis , Tennessee ) was an American blues singer who became known for his simple, rough blues.

Life

Burnside was born in 1926 like the blues musician Fred McDowell in the northern Mississippi Delta. He learned to play guitar with McDowell, but also with his neighbors Son Hibbler , Ranie Burnette , Willie Thomas and Jessie Vortis . He was also heavily influenced by John Lee Hooker , Lightnin 'Hopkins and Muddy Waters . Burnside lived in Chicago and Memphis before moving to his Mississippi home in 1959 and opening a small bar where he played his blues. In addition, he sold homemade whiskey and worked as a cotton farmer .

Burnside recorded his first record in 1966 at the age of 40 after meeting the folklore collector George Mitchell . In 1979 his first tour took place, also in Europe. In 1991 he became a professional musician and gave up his job as a farmer. He also toured with the Beastie Boys and The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion in the 1990s . With Jon Spencer he recorded the album A Ass Pocket of Whiskey in 1996 . In 1991 he was seen and heard in the documentary Deep Blues by Robert Mugge . In 2001 he received the Living Blues Award for best male blues artist. In 2004 he performed with the North Mississippi Allstars at the Bonnaroo Festival. The concert was released on CD. He recorded his last record, A Bothered Mind , in 2004 with his long-time label Fat Possum Records .

RL Burnside died on September 1, 2005 at St. Francis Hospital in Memphis of complications from a heart attack and bypass surgery in 2004. He left behind his wife Alice Mae, twelve children and numerous grandchildren.

Discography

  • 1993: Bad Luck City
  • 1994: Too Bad Jim Living Blues Award 1995 Best Blues Album of 1994 (Traditional or Country Blues)
  • 1994: Mississippi Delta Blues Vol. 2 - Blow My Blues Away
  • 1996: A Ass Pocket of Whiskey
  • 1997: Mr. Wizard
  • 1997: Acoustic Stories
  • 1997: Mississippi Blues
  • 1997: Sound Machine Groove
  • 1998: Rollin 'Tumblin'
  • 1998: Come On In
  • 1999: My Black Name A-Ringin '
  • 2000: Wish I Was in Heaven Sitting Down
  • 2000: Mississippi Hill Country Blues
  • 2001: Raw Electric 1979-1980
  • 2001: Giants of Country Blues Guitar - Volume 2
  • 2001: Well Well Well
  • 2001: Burnside on Burnside
  • 2003: Going Down South
  • 2003: No Monkeys on This Train
  • 2003: First Recordings
  • 2003: Burnside's Darker Blues
  • 2004: A Bothered Mind

Web links

personal data
SURNAME Burnside, RL
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Burnside, Robert Lee (real name)
BRIEF DESCRIPTION American blues singer
DATE OF BIRTH November 23, 1926
PLACE OF BIRTH near Oxford , Mississippi , USA
DATE OF DEATH September 1, 2005
Place of death Memphis , Tennessee , USA