Etta Baker (1913-2006)
Etta Baker is dead and that makes it a sad day for music lovers.
If you are not a fan of guitar music in general and blues guitar in particular, you have probably never hear of Etta. Living in Morganton, NC and raising nine children while working at a textile plant, Etta was the foremost performer of the Piedmont Blues style of guitar picking. Listening to her play, it was difficult to believe that one woman with one guitar could make that much music at one time. But, she could, and, when playing exceptionally well, folks like Eric Clapton say they are "one-diming it" in reference to her famous tune, One Dime Blues.
Etta continued to play right up to her death. I never heard her play live and I now rue the missed opportunity to see her at Merlefest last year.
Her music lives on through a few recordings that are still available today.
You can hear Etta play One Dime Blues (my favorite), Railroad Bill, Mint Julep and John Henry on the Internet.
Thanks for the music, Etta.
If you are not a fan of guitar music in general and blues guitar in particular, you have probably never hear of Etta. Living in Morganton, NC and raising nine children while working at a textile plant, Etta was the foremost performer of the Piedmont Blues style of guitar picking. Listening to her play, it was difficult to believe that one woman with one guitar could make that much music at one time. But, she could, and, when playing exceptionally well, folks like Eric Clapton say they are "one-diming it" in reference to her famous tune, One Dime Blues.
Etta continued to play right up to her death. I never heard her play live and I now rue the missed opportunity to see her at Merlefest last year.
Her music lives on through a few recordings that are still available today.
You can hear Etta play One Dime Blues (my favorite), Railroad Bill, Mint Julep and John Henry on the Internet.
Thanks for the music, Etta.
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