Mississippi Fred McDowell

Biography

Mississippi Fred McDowell, born Fred McDowell in Rossville, Tennessee, likely in 1906, was the son of farmers who both died while he was young. He began playing guitar at age 14, performing at local dances and events around Rossville, and later moved to Memphis in 1926, working various jobs while playing music for tips. In 1928, he relocated to Mississippi to pick cotton and eventually settled in Como, Mississippi around 1940, where he spent decades as a farmer, performing music at local gatherings on weekends.

McDowell's career as a professional musician began late. In 1959, folklorist Alan Lomax and Shirley Collins recorded him during their Southern Journey field trip, bringing his distinctive North Mississippi hill country blues to wider attention. His music, characterized by raw vocals and innovative slide guitar—often played with a glass slide on his ring finger—blended influences from Tennessee guitarists, Delta blues, and local juke joint rhythms. Spirituals were also central to his repertoire, notably "You Got to Move," which gained international recognition when covered by the Rolling Stones. In the 1960s, McDowell transitioned to electric guitar, becoming one of the first country blues musicians to do so.

McDowell toured and recorded prolifically in his final years, becoming a key figure in the 1960s blues revival and influencing generations of musicians. He remained true to his roots, famously declaring, "I do not play no rock and roll, just the straight, natural blues." Diagnosed with cancer in 1971, he continued performing until shortly before his death in Memphis on July 3, 1972. His legacy endures as a foundational artist in North Mississippi hill country blues, celebrated for his powerful slide guitar technique and authentic style.

Fun Facts

• McDowell initially played slide guitar using a pocket knife and later a beef rib bone before switching to a glass slide for a clearer sound.
• He did not record commercially until age 53, despite being active as a musician for over three decades.
• McDowell famously declared, "I do not play no rock and roll," emphasizing his commitment to traditional blues.
• He is buried at Hammond Hill Baptist Church cemetery between Como and Senatobia, Mississippi, where a memorial was placed in 1993.

Musical Connections

Mentors/Influences

• Local Tennessee guitarists - McDowell learned guitar techniques and musical styles from musicians in his hometown of Rossville, Tennessee. (Early repertoire and performance style) [1918–1926]

Key Collaborators

• Alan Lomax - Folklorist who first recorded McDowell, helping launch his professional career. (Southern Journey field recordings)
• Shirley Collins - British folk singer who assisted Alan Lomax in field recordings. (Southern Journey field recordings)

Artists Influenced

• Bonnie Raitt - Raitt learned slide guitar techniques directly from McDowell and cites him as a major influence. (Slide guitar style on early albums) [1970s–present]
• The Rolling Stones - Their cover of "You Got to Move" was inspired by McDowell's original recording. (Sticky Fingers (1971))
• Dan Auerbach (The Black Keys) - Auerbach’s slide guitar technique is heavily influenced by McDowell’s style. (The Black Keys' blues-influenced albums) [2000s–present]

Discography

Albums

Top Tracks

1. You Gotta Move (You Gotta Move)
2. Shake 'Em on Down (Shake 'Em on Down)
3. Good Morning Little Schoolgirl (Good Morning Little School Girl)
4. Going Down to the River (Mama Says I'm Crazy)
5. Write Me a Few Lines (You Gotta Move)
6. Kokomo Blues (You Gotta Move)
7. You Got to Move (Steakbone Slide Guitar)
8. When You Get Home, Please Write Me a Few of Your Lines (Remastered Version) (Going Down to the River - Mississippi Fred McDowell 1959)
9. Louise (You Gotta Move)
10. What's the Matter Now? - Remastered (I'll Meet You On That Other Shore: Alan Lomax’s "Southern Journey," 1959–1960)

External Links

• Spotify
• Wikipedia
• MusicBrainz

Tags: #blues, #delta-blues, #hill-country-blues