We can never "capture" all of the great talents and songs of blues history.  Instead, we're going to feature some of them in our "limited" discography and provide some personal views from our Members about selected Artists. We encourage you to further research the Artists and their contributions to this great American Art Form

Tampa Red Whittaker

Born Hudson Whittaker 1904 Smithville GA Known as the "Guitar Wizard", Tampa was credited with bridging the gap between country/urban blues slide and single string guitar playing beginning Chicago in the 1930's.

Prior to this he and "Georgia Tom" Dorsey (1899 Villa Ricca GA) had produced a huge hit in 1928 titled "Tight Like That"."Georgia Tom" later went on to form his own gospel music publishing company and penned gospel classics such as "Precious Lord" and "Peace in the Valley".

Tampa Red {who a young Mr Frank Edwards followed around the streets of Florida to learn and observe) was part of the first wave of blues guitarists to migrate to Chicago in the 1930's.Along with "Big Bill" Broonzy,Scrapper Blackwell,Lonnie Johnson,and Robert Nighthawk, the nucleus of Chicago blues guitar was formed.

Tampa's "When Things Go Wrong,It Hurts Me Too" later becomes Elmore James "It Hurts Me Too" and he also wrote "Don't You Lie to Me" among may others. So the slide lineage of Elmore,Muddy,Hound Dog Taylor,JB Hutto,Little Ed,Smokin' Joe Kubeck,Ry Cooder,Sonny Landreth...etc began with Tampa Red

Merry Blues to Y'all...Larry "blunatic" Stotts