Booker T. Washington "Bukka" White (November 12, 1909 – February 26, 1977) … Read Full Bio ↴Booker T. Washington "Bukka" White (November 12, 1909 – February 26, 1977) was an American Delta blues guitarist and singer.
Born between Aberdeen and Houston, Mississippi, White was a first cousin of B.B. King's mother (White's mother and King's grandmother were sisters). White himself is remembered as a player of National steel guitars. He also played, but was less adept at, the piano.
"Bukka" is a phonetic spelling of Booker White's given name, first used by his second (1937) record label (Vocalion). White started his career playing the fiddle at square dances.
He claims to have met Charley Patton early on, although some doubt has been cast upon this; Regardless, Patton was a large influence on White. White typically played slide guitar, in an open tuning. He was one of the few, along with Skip James, to use a crossnote tuning in E minor, which he may have learned, as James did, from Henry Stuckey.
He first recorded for the Victor Records label in 1930 as Washington White. His recordings for Victor, like those of many other bluesmen, fluctuated between country blues and gospel numbers. His gospel songs were done in the style of Blind Willie Johnson, with a female singer accentuating the last phrase of each line.
Nine years later, while serving time for assault, he recorded for folklorist John Lomax. The few songs he recorded around this time became his most well-known: "Shake 'Em on Down," and "Po' Boy."
Bob Dylan covered his song "Fixin' to Die Blues", which aided a "rediscovery" of White in 1963 by guitarist John Fahey and ED Denson, which propelled him onto the folk revival scene of the 1960s. White had recorded the song simply because his other songs had not particularly impressed the Victor record producer. It was a studio composition of which White had thought little until it re-emerged thirty years later.
White was at one time managed by experienced blues manager Arne Brogger. Fahey and Denson found White easily enough: Fahey wrote a letter to "Bukka White (Old Blues Singer), c/o General Delivery, Aberdeen, Mississippi." Fahey had assumed, given White's song, "Aberdeen, Mississippi", that White still lived there, or nearby. The postcard was forwarded to Memphis, Tennessee, where White worked in a tank factory. Fahey and Denson soon traveled to meet White, and White and Fahey remained friends through the remainder of White's life. He recorded a new album for Denson and Fahey's Takoma Records, whilst Denson became his manager.
White was, later in life, also friends with fellow musician Furry Lewis. The two recorded, mostly in Lewis' Memphis apartment, an album together, Furry Lewis, Bukka White & Friends: Party! At Home.
One of his most famous songs, "Parchman Farm Blues", about the Mississippi State Penitentiary (also known as Parchman Farm) in Sunflower County, Mississippi, was released on Harry Smith's fourth volume of the Anthology of American Folk Music, Vol. 4. The song was covered by The Traits/aka Roy Head and the Traits with Johnny Winter in the late 1960s. His 1937 version of the oft-recorded song, "Shake 'Em On Down," is considered definitive, and became a hit while White was serving time in Parchman.
White died in February 1977 from cancer, at the age of 67, in Memphis, Tennessee. In 1990 he was posthumously inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame (along with Blind Blake and Lonnie Johnson). On November 21, 2011, The Recording Academy announced that "Fixin' to Die Blues" was to be added to its 2012 list of Grammy Hall of Fame Award recipients.
The Led Zeppelin song Hats Off to (Roy) Harper, on the band's 1970 album Led Zeppelin III was based in large part on White's "Shake 'Em on Down." Custard Pie, a song on Led Zeppelin's 1975 album Physical Graffiti, also references "Shake 'Em on Down."
The 1963 recordings of White's song "Shake 'em on Down" and spoken-word piece "Remembrance of Charlie Patton" were both sampled by electronic artist Recoil (mostly a one-man effort by Alan Wilder of Depeche Mode) for the track "Electro Blues For Bukka White" on the 1992 album Bloodline. The song was reworked and re-released on the 2000 EP, "Jezebel".
On January 26, 2010, Eric Bibb released Booker's Guitar (TEL 31756 02) through Telarc International Corporation after becoming inspired by the hidden stories Bibb felt through holding White's famous guitar.
White's song "Parchman Farm Blues" was recorded by Jeff Buckley, which was released posthumously on the bonus disc of Buckley's album, Grace: Legacy Edition.
Born between Aberdeen and Houston, Mississippi, White was a first cousin of B.B. King's mother (White's mother and King's grandmother were sisters). White himself is remembered as a player of National steel guitars. He also played, but was less adept at, the piano.
"Bukka" is a phonetic spelling of Booker White's given name, first used by his second (1937) record label (Vocalion). White started his career playing the fiddle at square dances.
He claims to have met Charley Patton early on, although some doubt has been cast upon this; Regardless, Patton was a large influence on White. White typically played slide guitar, in an open tuning. He was one of the few, along with Skip James, to use a crossnote tuning in E minor, which he may have learned, as James did, from Henry Stuckey.
He first recorded for the Victor Records label in 1930 as Washington White. His recordings for Victor, like those of many other bluesmen, fluctuated between country blues and gospel numbers. His gospel songs were done in the style of Blind Willie Johnson, with a female singer accentuating the last phrase of each line.
Nine years later, while serving time for assault, he recorded for folklorist John Lomax. The few songs he recorded around this time became his most well-known: "Shake 'Em on Down," and "Po' Boy."
Bob Dylan covered his song "Fixin' to Die Blues", which aided a "rediscovery" of White in 1963 by guitarist John Fahey and ED Denson, which propelled him onto the folk revival scene of the 1960s. White had recorded the song simply because his other songs had not particularly impressed the Victor record producer. It was a studio composition of which White had thought little until it re-emerged thirty years later.
White was at one time managed by experienced blues manager Arne Brogger. Fahey and Denson found White easily enough: Fahey wrote a letter to "Bukka White (Old Blues Singer), c/o General Delivery, Aberdeen, Mississippi." Fahey had assumed, given White's song, "Aberdeen, Mississippi", that White still lived there, or nearby. The postcard was forwarded to Memphis, Tennessee, where White worked in a tank factory. Fahey and Denson soon traveled to meet White, and White and Fahey remained friends through the remainder of White's life. He recorded a new album for Denson and Fahey's Takoma Records, whilst Denson became his manager.
White was, later in life, also friends with fellow musician Furry Lewis. The two recorded, mostly in Lewis' Memphis apartment, an album together, Furry Lewis, Bukka White & Friends: Party! At Home.
One of his most famous songs, "Parchman Farm Blues", about the Mississippi State Penitentiary (also known as Parchman Farm) in Sunflower County, Mississippi, was released on Harry Smith's fourth volume of the Anthology of American Folk Music, Vol. 4. The song was covered by The Traits/aka Roy Head and the Traits with Johnny Winter in the late 1960s. His 1937 version of the oft-recorded song, "Shake 'Em On Down," is considered definitive, and became a hit while White was serving time in Parchman.
White died in February 1977 from cancer, at the age of 67, in Memphis, Tennessee. In 1990 he was posthumously inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame (along with Blind Blake and Lonnie Johnson). On November 21, 2011, The Recording Academy announced that "Fixin' to Die Blues" was to be added to its 2012 list of Grammy Hall of Fame Award recipients.
The Led Zeppelin song Hats Off to (Roy) Harper, on the band's 1970 album Led Zeppelin III was based in large part on White's "Shake 'Em on Down." Custard Pie, a song on Led Zeppelin's 1975 album Physical Graffiti, also references "Shake 'Em on Down."
The 1963 recordings of White's song "Shake 'em on Down" and spoken-word piece "Remembrance of Charlie Patton" were both sampled by electronic artist Recoil (mostly a one-man effort by Alan Wilder of Depeche Mode) for the track "Electro Blues For Bukka White" on the 1992 album Bloodline. The song was reworked and re-released on the 2000 EP, "Jezebel".
On January 26, 2010, Eric Bibb released Booker's Guitar (TEL 31756 02) through Telarc International Corporation after becoming inspired by the hidden stories Bibb felt through holding White's famous guitar.
White's song "Parchman Farm Blues" was recorded by Jeff Buckley, which was released posthumously on the bonus disc of Buckley's album, Grace: Legacy Edition.
Georgia Skin Game
Bukka White Lyrics
We have lyrics for these tracks by Bukka White:
1963 Isn't 1962 Blues Aloha ay Aloha ay Aloha oha ay How′d you like to spend Chri…
Aberdean Mississippi Blues I was over in Aberdeen On my way to New Orlean I…
Aberdeen Mississippi Aberdeen Mississippi 2:33 Trk 9 Bukka…
Aberdeen Mississippi Blues I was over in Aberdeen On my way to New Orlean I…
Army Blues Army Blues 3:06 Trk 17 Bukka White…
Atlanta Special Judge gimme me life this morn'in Down on Parchman Farm Judge…
Baby Please Don't Go Baby, please don't go Baby, please don't go Baby, please don…
Black Crepe Blues Black gal, she took a knife Scared my brown to death If…
Black Train My heart is filled with pain I believe I′ll take the…
Bukka Jitterburg Swing Hey-eee, come on you women Let's a do the the jitterbug…
Columbus Mississippi Blues I was over in Aberdeen On my way to New Orlean I…
District Attorney Blues District Attorney sho' is hard on a man He will take…
Drunk Man Blues Drunk Man's Blues 4: 01 Trk 16 Bukka White (Booker T.…
Fixin To Die Feelin' funny in my mind Lord, I believe I'm fixin'…
Fixin to Die Blues I'm lookin' funny in my eyes and I believe I'm…
Fixin' to Die Feelin' funny in my mind Lord, I believe I'm fixin'…
Fixin' to Die Blues I'm lookin' funny in my eyes and I believe I'm…
Fixin´To Die Feelin' funny in my mind Lord, I believe I'm fixin'…
Good Gin Blues Here come old Todd Walker Full in good gin Good mornin' fri…
High Fever I'm taken down with the fever, and it won't let…
I Am In The Heavenly Way I Am In A Heavenly Way 3: 50 Trk 19 Bukka…
I Am The Heavenly Way I am in a heavenly way Travelin′ on from day to…
Parchman Farm Judge gimme me life this morn'in Down on Parchman Farm Judge…
Pinebluff Arkansas Whoo, well, I got a little woman in Pinebluff, Arkansas, She…
Please Baby, please don't go Baby, please don't go Baby, please don…
Poor Boy Long Way from Home Poor Boy Long Way From Home 2: 21 Trk 21 Bukka…
Poor Boy Long Ways From Home Poor boy a long way from home Poor boy I′m a…
Promise True and Grand I have read of the promise true and grand A wonderful…
Rememberance of Charlie Patton Always wanted to be like old Charlie Patton. Long ago when…
Remembrance Of Charley Patton Always wanted to be like old Charlie Patton Long ago when…
Shake 'em All Down Baby please don't go, Baby please don't go, Baby please…
Shake Em on Down Baby please don't go, Baby please don't go, Baby please…
shake on down Baby please don't go, Baby please don't go, Baby please…
Shake' Em On Down Baby please don't go, Baby please don't go, Baby please…
shake´em on down Baby please don't go, Baby please don't go, Baby please…
Sic 'em Dogs On Says, "I'm goin' downtown and tell the Chief poli' you…
Single Man Blues When a man gets trouble in his mind He wanna sleep…
Special Steam Lines That's that fast Special Streamline Leavin' outta Memphis, T…
Special Stream Line Hey Dad, I'm sorry to leave my home Mm-mm-mm Lord, Lord, L…
Special Streamline Hey Dad, I'm sorry to leave my home Mm-mm-mm Lord, Lord, Lor…
Strange Place Blues I'm a stranger at this place and I'm lookin' for…
Streamline Special Hey Dad, I'm sorry to leave my home Mm-mm-mm Lord, Lord, Lor…
The Aberdeen Blues I was over in Aberdeen On my way to New Orleans I…
the atlanta special Judge gimme me life this morn'in Down on Parchman Farm Judge…
The Panama Limited It's this old soul, you know Time she left Chicago, you…
To Die Blues I'm lookin' funny in my eyes and I believe I'm…
When Can I Change My Clothes When Can I Change My Clothes? 2:58 …
When Can I Change My Clothes? When Can I Change My Clothes? 2:58 Trk 12 Bukka White…
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