Ragtime is an American musical genre which enjoyed its peak popularity between 1899 and 1918. It has had several periods of revival since then but with less effects. Today's story is about a ragtime musician, better, a ragtime-influenced blues musician. He recorded under several names: Blind Arthur Blake, Arthur Blind Blake, Arthur Blake, Gorgeous Weed (oh boy), Billy James, Blind George Martin, in short he's best known as Blind Blake. He was born "somewhere" between 1890 and 1895, he also died "somewhere" between 1933 and 1940. Little or nothing is known about the exact dates, places, circumstances. Besides these doubts, we might say he had a rather short life, isn't it.

He recorded for Paramount and was so popular that they released at least one, and sometimes numerous new records under his name every month. Between 1926 and 1932, he recorded roughly 80 titles for the label. Little is known about his life. Surf around and you'll find out about the many theories and guesses that have been published. But that doesn't matter here. You just want to know what to buy from him, and why. Why? If only for that one superb tune "Hastings Street", a piano/guitar duet that will last forever. That tune and other classics such as "He's in The Jailhouse Now" and "That Will Never Happen No More" can be found on "The Master of Ragtime Guitar", buy that one please. A second one that deserves your attention is "Ragtime Guitar's Foremost Fingerpicker" which duplicates his best guitar rags, but on several numbers he is featured in a supporting role with various vaudeville singers. The presence of the riotous and politically incorrect "Righteous Blues" is a great bonus. That's the kind of guy Papa likes. With a glass of brandy in my hands and the sound of the ambiguous "Too Tight" in the background, I'd say: Diddy Wa Diddy!

The Master of Ragtime Guitar - Indigo 1996
Ragtime Guitar's Foremost Fingerpicker - Yazoo 1990