Blackwell, Francis 'Scrapper' b. February 21, 1903 d. October 7, 1962 Francis "Scrapper" Blackwell was born February 21, 1903 in Syracuse, North Carolina. Well known for his work with pianist Leroy Carr in the 1930's, and his solo recordings between 1928 and 1935. He had a distinguishing style so near jazz as it was to the blues. He was an exceptional guitarist with a technique that was ahead of it's time. Blackwell left music for about 20 years when Leroy Carr died in 1935, but he reappeared towards end of the 1950's. He recorded two albums for the Prestige/...[Read More] (Bio by: K.A.O.S. in Los Angeles) New Crown Cemetery, Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana, USA
Gaither, Bill 'Little Bill' b. April 21, 1910 d. October, 1970 Blues Musician. Real name William Gaither. A native of Belmont, Kentucky, he is remembered not only as a talented blues guitarist and singer, but also for his association with early blues pianist Leroy Carr, and for his hundreds of sides he recorded for the Decca, Okeh, and Arhoolie Record Labels between 1931 and 1941. Born in 1910 (some sources say 1905 or 1908), he was a close personal friend of Carr's when he began recording with him under the name of Leroy's Buddy in the early 1930s. After'...[Read More] (Bio by: K) New Crown Cemetery, Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana, USA
Montgomery, Wes (John Leslie) b. March 6, 1923 d. June 15, 1968 Jazz Guitarist. Wes Montgomery took up the guitar in 1943 and found his talent. He joined the Lionel Hampton Big Band in 1948 and toured with the band for two years as the lead guitarist. He developed his unique thumb-strumming style which allowed him to play an enormous variety of musical embellishments. After touring with the Hampton band, he returned to Indianapolis and formed the Wes Montgomery Trio with his brothers, Monk (William Howard Montgomery) and Buddy (Charles F. Montgomery). The...[Read More] (Bio by: Rick France) New Crown Cemetery, Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana, USA
Rachell, James 'Yank' b. March 16, 1910 d. April 9, 1997 Musician. Born in Brownsville, Tennessee, he was blues mandolinist whose career as a performer spanned nearly seventy years. He bought his first mandolin at age 8, an although he was a capable guitarist and singer, he was a master on the mandolin dubbed an "elder statesman of the blues". He performed with artist to include Sleepy John Estes, Hammie Nixon, Taj Mahal and his song "She Caught the Katy" is considered a blues standard. In his later years he suffered from arthrisit, but he still...[Read More] (Bio by: John "J-Cat" Griffith) New Crown Cemetery, Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana, USA
b. February 21, 1903 d. October 7, 1962