John Adam Estes (born in Ripley, Lauderdale County, Tennessee, January 25, … Read Full Bio ↴John Adam Estes (born in Ripley, Lauderdale County, Tennessee, January 25, 1899 — Brownsville, Haywood County, Tennessee, June 5, 1977) best known as Sleepy John Estes or Sleepy John, was a blues guitarist, songwriter and vocalist.
In 1915, Estes' father, a sharecropper who also played some guitar, moved the family to Brownsville, Tennessee. Not long after, Estes lost the sight of his right eye when a friend threw a rock at him during a baseball game. At the age of 19, while working as a field hand, he began to perform professionally. The venues were mostly local parties and picnics, with the accompaniment of Hammie Nixon, a harmonica player, and James "Yank" Rachell, a guitarist and mandolin player. He would continue to work on and off with both musicians for more than fifty years.
Estes made his debut as a recording artist in Memphis, Tennessee in 1929, at a session organized by Ralph Peer for Victor Records. His partnership with Nixon was first documented on songs such as "Drop Down Mama" and "Someday Baby Blues" in 1935; later sides replaced the harmonica player with the guitarists Son Bonds or Charlie Pickett. He later recorded for the Decca and Bluebird labels, with his last pre-war recording session taking place in 1941. He made a brief return to recording at Sun Studio in Memphis in 1952, recording "Runnin' Around" and "Rats in My Kitchen", but otherwise was largely out of the public eye for two decades.
Estes was a fine singer, with a distinctive "crying" vocal style. He frequently teamed with more capable musicians, like "Yank" Rachell, Hammie Nixon, and the piano player Jab Jones. Estes sounded so much like an old man, even on his early records, that blues revivalists reportedly delayed looking for him because they assumed he would have to be long dead, and because fellow musician Big Bill Broonzy had written that Estes had died. By the time he was tracked down, by Bob Koester and Samuel Charters in 1962, he had become completely blind and was living in poverty. He resumed touring and recording, reunited with Nixon and toured Europe several times and Japan, with a clutch of albums released on the Delmark Records label. His later records are generally considered less interesting than his pre-war output. Nevertheless, Estes, Nixon and Rachell also made a successful appearance at the 1964 Newport Folk Festival.
Bob Dylan mentions Estes in the sleevenotes to Bringing It All Back Home (1965).
Many of Estes' original songs were based on events in his own life or on people he knew from his home town of Brownsville, Tennessee, such as the local lawyer ("Lawyer Clark Blues"), local auto mechanic ("Vassie Williams' Blues"), or an amorously inclined teenage girl ("Little Laura Blues"). "Lawyer Clark Blues" referenced the lawyer, and later judge and senator, Hugh L. Clarke. Clarke and his family lived in Brownsville, and according to the song let Estes 'off the hook' for an offense.
He also dispensed advice on agricultural matters ("Working Man Blues") and chronicled his own attempt to reach a recording studio for a session by hopping a freight train ("Special Agent (Railroad Police Blues)"). His lyrics combined keen observation with an ability to turn an effective phrase.
Some accounts attribute his nickname "Sleepy" to a blood pressure disorder and/or narcolepsy. Others, such as blues historian Bob Koester, claim he simply had a "tendency to withdraw from his surroundings into drowsiness whenever life was too cruel or too boring to warrant full attention".
Estes suffered a stroke while preparing for a European tour, and died on June 5, 1977, at his home of 17 years in Brownsville, Haywood County, Tennessee. Estes is buried at Elam Baptist Church Cemetery in Durhamville, Lauderdale County, Tennessee.
His gravemarker reads:
Sleepy John Estes
".. ain't goin' to worry Poor John's mind anymore"
In Memory
John Adam Estes
Jan. 25, 1899
June 5, 1977
Blues Pioneer
Guitarist – Songwriter – Poet
Sleepy John Estes' epitaph ".. ain't goin' to worry Poor John's mind anymore" was derived from his song, "Someday Baby Blues." "I Ain't Gonna Be Worried No More" was recorded in 1935, and in his song "Drop Down Mama", also recorded in 1935, Sleepy John refers to himself as "Poor John". Estes' grave at Elam Baptist Church Cemetery in Durhamville is located off a country road and at the far end of the cemetery. His grave is adjacent to a small grove of trees, secluded but not hidden.
In 1991, Estes was posthumously inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame.
In 1915, Estes' father, a sharecropper who also played some guitar, moved the family to Brownsville, Tennessee. Not long after, Estes lost the sight of his right eye when a friend threw a rock at him during a baseball game. At the age of 19, while working as a field hand, he began to perform professionally. The venues were mostly local parties and picnics, with the accompaniment of Hammie Nixon, a harmonica player, and James "Yank" Rachell, a guitarist and mandolin player. He would continue to work on and off with both musicians for more than fifty years.
Estes made his debut as a recording artist in Memphis, Tennessee in 1929, at a session organized by Ralph Peer for Victor Records. His partnership with Nixon was first documented on songs such as "Drop Down Mama" and "Someday Baby Blues" in 1935; later sides replaced the harmonica player with the guitarists Son Bonds or Charlie Pickett. He later recorded for the Decca and Bluebird labels, with his last pre-war recording session taking place in 1941. He made a brief return to recording at Sun Studio in Memphis in 1952, recording "Runnin' Around" and "Rats in My Kitchen", but otherwise was largely out of the public eye for two decades.
Estes was a fine singer, with a distinctive "crying" vocal style. He frequently teamed with more capable musicians, like "Yank" Rachell, Hammie Nixon, and the piano player Jab Jones. Estes sounded so much like an old man, even on his early records, that blues revivalists reportedly delayed looking for him because they assumed he would have to be long dead, and because fellow musician Big Bill Broonzy had written that Estes had died. By the time he was tracked down, by Bob Koester and Samuel Charters in 1962, he had become completely blind and was living in poverty. He resumed touring and recording, reunited with Nixon and toured Europe several times and Japan, with a clutch of albums released on the Delmark Records label. His later records are generally considered less interesting than his pre-war output. Nevertheless, Estes, Nixon and Rachell also made a successful appearance at the 1964 Newport Folk Festival.
Bob Dylan mentions Estes in the sleevenotes to Bringing It All Back Home (1965).
Many of Estes' original songs were based on events in his own life or on people he knew from his home town of Brownsville, Tennessee, such as the local lawyer ("Lawyer Clark Blues"), local auto mechanic ("Vassie Williams' Blues"), or an amorously inclined teenage girl ("Little Laura Blues"). "Lawyer Clark Blues" referenced the lawyer, and later judge and senator, Hugh L. Clarke. Clarke and his family lived in Brownsville, and according to the song let Estes 'off the hook' for an offense.
He also dispensed advice on agricultural matters ("Working Man Blues") and chronicled his own attempt to reach a recording studio for a session by hopping a freight train ("Special Agent (Railroad Police Blues)"). His lyrics combined keen observation with an ability to turn an effective phrase.
Some accounts attribute his nickname "Sleepy" to a blood pressure disorder and/or narcolepsy. Others, such as blues historian Bob Koester, claim he simply had a "tendency to withdraw from his surroundings into drowsiness whenever life was too cruel or too boring to warrant full attention".
Estes suffered a stroke while preparing for a European tour, and died on June 5, 1977, at his home of 17 years in Brownsville, Haywood County, Tennessee. Estes is buried at Elam Baptist Church Cemetery in Durhamville, Lauderdale County, Tennessee.
His gravemarker reads:
Sleepy John Estes
".. ain't goin' to worry Poor John's mind anymore"
In Memory
John Adam Estes
Jan. 25, 1899
June 5, 1977
Blues Pioneer
Guitarist – Songwriter – Poet
Sleepy John Estes' epitaph ".. ain't goin' to worry Poor John's mind anymore" was derived from his song, "Someday Baby Blues." "I Ain't Gonna Be Worried No More" was recorded in 1935, and in his song "Drop Down Mama", also recorded in 1935, Sleepy John refers to himself as "Poor John". Estes' grave at Elam Baptist Church Cemetery in Durhamville is located off a country road and at the far end of the cemetery. His grave is adjacent to a small grove of trees, secluded but not hidden.
In 1991, Estes was posthumously inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame.
Rats in My Kitchen
Sleepy John Estes Lyrics
We have lyrics for these tracks by Sleepy John Estes:
Black Gal Swing Black gal, she took a knife Scared my brown to death If…
Black mattie blues Ooh, black Mattie Where did you sleep last night? Wit'ch yo …
Clean Up At Home I wash my clothes, I hang 'em by the fire Get…
Divin' Duck Blues Divin' Duck Blues Trk 3 3: 16 Sleepy John Estes (John Adams…
Everybody Oughta Make a Change Now, change in the ocean, change in the deep blue…
Floating Bridge (MUSIC) "Floating Bridge" was written And originally perform…
Lawyer Clark Blues Now got an office in town, residence out on Seventy…
Little Sarah Little Sarah Trk 4 Dsc 1 3:06 Sleepy John Estes (James 'Yank…
Mail Man Blues Ev'ry Monday mo'nin People, the insurance man knockin' on my…
My Black Gal Black gal, she took a knife Scared my brown to death If…
My Black Gal Blues Black gal, she took a knife Scared my brown to death If…
new someday baby I don't care how long you gone I don't care how…
Policy Man Blues Ev'ry Monday mo'nin People, the insurance man knockin' on my…
Poor John Blues Now rather be dead Sleepin' in a hollow log Now ruther be…
Registration Day Blues Rainy day, rainy day Ya oughta hear my baby sing the…
Someday Baby I don't care how long you gone I don't care how…
Stack O' Dollars Stack O' Dollars Trk 14 2:53 Sleepy John Estes (James Estes)…
Street car blues Street Car Blues Trk 10 3:04 Sleepy John Estes (John Adam…
Sweet Mama I said you were a dear sweet mama But I ain't…
T-Bone Steak Blues Say you talkin' 'bout your red ripe tomatoes I'm crazy bout…
The Girl I Love Now, I'm goin' to Brownsville an Take that right hand road N…
The girl i love she got log curly hair Now, I'm goin' to Brownsville an Take that right hand road …
The Girl I Love She Got Long Curly Hair Now, I'm goin' to Brownsville an Take that right hand road N…
Watcha doin' I married my baby Married her for myself Then if I's…
Watcha Doin'? I married my baby Married her for myself Then if I's…
we all gotta go sometime VIctor Nimekam na moto–oh Moto moto–oh (Dj Venji) Dance to …
Whatcha Doin' I married my baby Married her for myself Then if I′s gon'…
Working Man Blues Ev'ry Monday mo'nin People, the insurance man knockin' on my…
You should'nt do that I went back to Ohio But my city was gone…
You Shouldn't Do It I went back to Ohio But my city was gone…
You Shouldn't Do That I went back to Ohio But my city was gone…
The lyrics are frequently found in the comments by searching or by filtering for lyric videos
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Shane Davis
I first heard this track on a Sun records boxed set back in 1999 when I checked it out from a library and I wish I could have been at this session !
pastblasting
They just don't make musicians or music like this any more. It's a shame.
Dag Ingebrigtsen
On Delmark !
Lonesome Lou
I was a soldier in Germany back '73. This album was at the Recreation Center soI thought I'd give it a listen. What an eyeopener!!!...People in America lived in these conditions!?!...It really broke my heart. Enough said. I'm getting
emotional recalling these vivid scenes.
pastblasting
In my experience it was mainly black people. My mother used to have me take "stuff" we didn't want or need anymore to a poor black neighborhood and give it away. People would chase you down the street, wanting you to give it to them. I helped a guy carry some things into his house and it was an eye opener for me. One room with a light bulb hanging from a wire in the middle of it. No running water and no toilet. They had one water faucet outside in the neighborhood that everyone could use to get water. It was difficult to believe people had to live like that, but that was the black experience back then.
pastblasting
I forgot, it also had a dirt floor.
Miss Holley King
LOVE!
vinnie venus
His style is reflective of blind willie Johnson.
And
That's complimentary.
L.Loksteudler
Awesome
pastblasting
Glad you enjoyed it.