Blues Men's Names

[gouranga]

Hi all.

We have been hearing from Forum members about their names and how they came by them.
So, How about, how all the Old and newer Bluesmen and Women of course, got their names?

Can Michael fill us in on many of these great icons of Blues?

Let's have your input folks.
Thanks.

Gouranga

I am sliding better these past few days. Got the snowslip blues and a few black and blues on the old butt.

[blueshome]

Most of the names of the pre-war artists were given by the white record companies, no doubt to add interest, although the "Blind" prenom was common to both blues and old time music. They tied in with the humorous (and politically incorrect ) adverts for the records.
Quite often there would be misunderstandings, eg, Joe Holmes who became King Solomon Hill on the label - it was actually the community he lived in.
Other names were invented to cover contract dodging - Ed Bell bacame Barefoot Bill and Sluefoot Joe. Blind Willie, Blind Sammie, Georgia Bill = Willie McTell.
(In the case of B. Lemon Jefferson, Lemon was his given name (nothing to do with his colour).) The whole thing seemed to end after the 1st phase of recording in the early 30's when the adverts ceased and sales crashed. Some names were carried over but I don't know of many colourful names from artists who first recorded after 1933.