Bman's Blues Report

Fiddlin’ Joe Martin (8 January 1900–2 November 1975) was a blues musician who played mandolin on Son House's, Alan Lomax inspired recording sessions in 1941. He was born in Edwards, Mississippi, and died in Walls, Mississippi Martin learned guitar and trombone as a boy, later adding mandolin and bass fiddle (hence his nickname). He switched to washboard and drums in the 40s after damaging his hands in a fire. He worked with many Delta blues singers, including Charley Patton, Willie ‘Hambone’ Newbern, Johnnie Temple, Memphis Minnie, Willie Brown and Son House, recording with the last two for the Library of Congress in 1940. Martin played drums for Howlin’ Wolf until Wolf moved north, but his most enduring association was with Woodrow Adams; he appeared on all Adams’ recordings, and they worked Mississippi juke joints together until Martin’s death. If you support live Blues acts, up and coming Blues talents and want to learn more about Blues news and Fathers of the Blues, Like...