James was born on June 9, 1902, on the Woodbine Plantation where his mother Phyllis worked as a cook; his father, Edward, a guitarist, left the family when James was around five. Inspired by Stuckey, James began playing guitar as a child, and later learned to play organ. In his teens James began working on construction and logging projects across the mid-South, and sharpened his piano skills playing at work camp “barrelhouses.” In 1924 James returned to Bentonia, where he earned his living as a sharecropper, gambler and bootlegger, in addition to performing locally with Stuckey. (Msbluestrail.org, 2018)
*Photo of Skip James (1965) by Bernard Gotfryd/Hulton Archive/Getty Images
James was born on June 9, 1902, on the Woodbine Plantation where his mother Phyllis worked as a cook; his father, Edward, a guitarist, left the family when James was around five. Inspired by Stuckey, James began playing guitar as a child, and later learned to play organ. In his teens James began working on construction and logging projects across the mid-South, and sharpened his piano skills playing at work camp “barrelhouses.” In 1924 James returned to Bentonia, where he earned his living as a sharecropper, gambler and bootlegger, in addition to performing locally with Stuckey. (Msbluestrail.org, 2018)
*Photo copyright Dick Waterman
He returned to Mississippi in the 1940s, but not to the music business. In the 1960s he was "discovered" by several folk-music enthusiasts--including Henry Vestine, later of Canned Heat--and they persuaded him to play at the 1964 Newport Folk Festival in Rhode Island. He was a hit with the audience, and was soon playing gigs in folk clubs, blues clubs and festivals, often with fellow blues icon Mississippi John Hurt. In addition, James recorded two albums for Vanguard Records. (Fob, 2018)
10 Licks (Original Key)
Lick 1. Skip James - ‘Devil Got My Woman’
Lick 2. Skip James - ‘Hard Time Killin' Floor Blues’
Lick 3. Skip James - Special Rider Blues
Lick 4. Skip James - ‘Illinois Blues’
Lick 5. Skip James - ‘Cypress Grove Blues’
Lick 6. Skip James - ‘Back-Water Blues’
Lick 7. Skip James - ‘Look at the People’
Lick 8. Skip James - Sorry For To Leave You
Lick 9. Skip James - Lorenzo Blues
Lick 10. Skip James - Cherry Ball Blues
Licks Transposed
Lick 1. Skip James - Key of C
Lick 2. Skip James - Key of C
Lick 3. Skip James - Key of C
Lick 4. Skip James - Key of C
Lick 5. Skip James - Key of C
Lick 6. Skip James - Key of C
Lick 7. Skip James - Key of C
Lick 8. Skip James - Key of C
Lick 9. Skip James - Key of C
Lick 10. Skip James - Key of C
Backing Track
Skip James Backing Track - Key of C
Essential Listening
Album cover: Apple Music
Skip James - The Very Best of Skip James
Released in 2012.
Features songs such as Devil Got My Woman, Special Rider Blues, Back-Water Blues and Lorenzo Blues.
Album cover: Apple Music
Skip James - The Complete 1931 recordings
Released in 2005.
Features songs such as Yola My Blues Away, Jesus Is a Mighty Good Leader, Drunken Spree and Cherry Ball Blues.
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