Carolina Blues

History

North and South Carolina were crucial centers of Piedmont blues, especially through Durham’s recording orbit and musicians who moved among town streets, tobacco districts, and revival stages. Blind Boy Fuller, Rev. Gary Davis, Sonny Terry, Brownie McGhee, Etta Baker, and Pink Anderson defined much of the sound, and later revivals in both Carolinas helped keep this region-specific expression from being flattened into a generic “country blues” tag.

Defining artists

• Blind Boy FullerSpotifyYouTube
• Rev. Gary DavisSpotifyYouTube
• Sonny TerrySpotifyYouTube
• Brownie McGheeSpotifyYouTube
• Etta BakerSpotifyYouTube
• Pink AndersonSpotifyYouTube

Essential listening

• Step It Up and Go — Blind Boy FullerSpotifyYouTube
• Cocaine Blues — Rev. Gary DavisSpotifyYouTube
• Lost John — Sonny TerrySpotifyYouTube
• Sportin' Life Blues — Brownie McGheeSpotifyYouTube
• One Dime Blues — Etta BakerSpotifyYouTube
• Every Day in the Week Blues — Pink AndersonSpotifyYouTube

Sources

• North Carolina Music Office on Blind Boy Fuller
• Music Maker Foundation, “Discover the Piedmont Blues”
• Smithsonian on John Cephas and regional Piedmont geography
• Britannica, Etta Baker