Mississippi is the state most associated with blues music, but North Carolina also has a rich blues history. The state is known for Piedmont blues, which is characterized by a unique method of guitar fingerpicking. Blind Boy Fuller of Wadesboro was a popular Piedmont blues guitarist. He played for tips outside of tobacco warehouses in Durham during the ’30s.
Etta Baker, another famed fingerpicking guitarist, grew up in Caldwell County. Baker shared her knowledge with artists such as Bob Dylan and Taj Mahal. She lived in Morganton, N.C.
Luke Jordan was a famed blues guitarist and vocalist who lived in Virginia. He recorded several songs in Charlotte before Victor Records moved him to New York.
