ROBERT BELFOUR

Biography

Robert "Wolfman" Belfour (September 11, 1940 – February 24, 2015) was an acclaimed American blues guitarist and singer, celebrated for his powerful, hypnotic style rooted in the North Mississippi Hill Country blues tradition. Born in Red Banks, Mississippi, Belfour learned guitar from his father, Grant Belfour, and further developed his craft under the guidance of local blues legends. After his father's death when Robert was thirteen, he balanced music with helping his family, eventually moving to Memphis, Tennessee in 1959, where he worked in construction for 35 years while playing music on the side.

Belfour's professional music career began late in life, gaining local recognition in Memphis through performances on Beale Street in the 1980s. His breakthrough came in the 1990s when musicologist David Evans recorded him for the compilation "The Spirit Lives On: Deep South Country Blues and Spirituals in the 1990s." This exposure led to a recording contract with Fat Possum Records, resulting in his debut album "What's Wrong With You" (2000) and the follow-up "Pushin' My Luck" (2003), both of which received critical acclaim. Belfour's music is characterized by a deeply percussive guitar attack, use of alternate tunings, and a droning, syncopated rhythm that distinguishes Hill Country blues from Delta blues.

Despite starting his recording career late, Belfour became a respected figure in the blues world, performing at festivals in the US and Europe and serving as a vital link to the rural blues traditions of Mississippi. His legacy endures as one of the last authentic voices of the Hill Country blues, influencing a new generation of roots musicians and earning recognition as a cultural treasure.

Fun Facts

• Belfour worked in construction for 35 years before launching his professional music career in earnest.
• He was known for his sharply dressed, debonair appearance during performances.
• Belfour's guitar style is noted for its percussive attack, alternate tunings, and hypnotic, droning rhythms distinctive to Hill Country blues.
• He was featured on the recipient roster of the Music Maker Relief Foundation, which supports aging blues musicians.

Musical Connections

Mentors/Influences

• Grant Belfour - Robert's father and first guitar teacher, who introduced him to blues music in childhood. (Early informal instruction) [1940s–1953]
• Otha Turner - Local blues musician who provided further tutelage in Hill Country blues. (Informal mentorship) [1950s]
• R. L. Burnside - Influential Hill Country blues guitarist and mentor. (Informal mentorship, shared musical tradition) [1950s–1960s]
• Junior Kimbrough - Profound influence on Belfour's style and approach to blues guitar. (Informal mentorship, shared musical tradition) [1950s–1960s]

Key Collaborators

• Mose Vinson - Collaborated in live performances and local blues scenes. (Live performances) [1980s–1990s]
• David Evans - Musicologist who recorded and promoted Belfour's music, including on the influential compilation album. ("The Spirit Lives On: Deep South Country Blues and Spirituals in the 1990s") [1990s]

Artists Influenced

• Younger Hill Country blues musicians - Belfour's recordings and performances inspired a new generation to explore and preserve Hill Country blues. (Influence evident in contemporary Hill Country blues recordings and festival performances) [2000s–2010s]

Discography

Albums

Top Tracks

1. Hill Stomp (Pushin' My Luck)
2. Pushin' My Luck (Pushin' My Luck)
3. My Baby's Gone (What's Wrong with You)
4. Breaking My Heart (Pushin' My Luck)
5. I Got My Eyes on You (Pushin' My Luck)
6. Go Ahead On (Pushin' My Luck)
7. You Got Me Crying (Pushin' My Luck)
8. Black Mattie (What's Wrong with You)
9. Sweet Brown Sugar (Pushin' My Luck)
10. What's Wrong with You (What's Wrong with You)

External Links

• Spotify
• Wikipedia