Eddie Mapp
Encyclopedia
Eddie Mapp was an American
country blues
harmonicist. He is best known for his accompaniment on record
of both Barbecue Bob
and Curley Weaver
.
, Walton County
, Georgia
. He relocated in 1922 to Newton County
, where he met the guitar
player, Curley Weaver
. Although he did not sing, Mapp was noted in Newton County as a harmonica virtuoso with a unique style, who often performed for tips on the street. In 1925 Weaver and Mapp left for Atlanta
. The twosome played at country dances, then Weaver together with Barbecue Bob
and his brother Charlie Hicks
formed a group with Mapp, and continued to play locally.
In 1929, and billed as the Georgia Cotton Pickers, they recorded for the Atlanta based QRS label
. Mapp also cut one solo track, "Riding the Blinds", the same year. None of the songs sold well.
In November 1931, Mapp was discovered stabbed on an Atlanta street corner. His death certificate recorded that the brachial artery
in his left arm had been severed, and gave his age as twenty. No one was charged with his murder. The certificate also noted his employment as 'musician', unusual at the time for a coroner
to acknowledge Mapp's status.
, released in 1994, on Document Records
(DOCD-5110), provided the most complete discography of Mapp's work. It was entitled Georgia Blues 1928-33. The track listing included the following pieces which featured Mapp's music. Curley Weaver with Eddie Mapp - "No No Blues"; "It's The Best Stuff Yet"; Eddie Mapp and Guy Lumpkin - "Decatur Street Drag"; "Riding The Blinds"; Slim Barton, Eddie Mapp and James Moore - "I'm Hot Like That"; "Careless Love"; "Wicked Travelin' Blues"; "It's Tight Like That"; "Poor Convict Blues"; Eddie Mapp, James Moore and Guy Lumpkin - "Where You Been So Long" (1929); Slim Barton and Eddie Mapp - "Fourth Avenue Blues" (1929)
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
country blues
Country blues
Country blues is a general term that refers to all the acoustic, mainly guitar-driven forms of the blues. It often incorporated elements of rural gospel, ragtime, hillbilly, and dixieland jazz...
harmonicist. He is best known for his accompaniment on record
Gramophone record
A gramophone record, commonly known as a phonograph record , vinyl record , or colloquially, a record, is an analog sound storage medium consisting of a flat disc with an inscribed, modulated spiral groove...
of both Barbecue Bob
Barbecue Bob
Robert Hicks, better known as Barbecue Bob was an early American Piedmont blues musician. His nickname came from the fact that he was a cook in a barbecue restaurant. One of the two extant photographs of Bob show him playing his guitar while wearing a full length white apron and cook's hat.-Early...
and Curley Weaver
Curley Weaver
Curley James Weaver was an American blues musician, also known as Slim Gordon.-Early years:He was born in Covington, Georgia, United States, and raised on a farm near Porterdale...
.
Biography
Mapp was born in Social CircleSocial Circle, Georgia
Social Circle is a city in Walton County, extending into Newton County, in the U.S. state of Georgia, approximately 45 miles east of Atlanta, and approximately four miles due north of access to Interstate 20....
, Walton County
Walton County, Georgia
Walton County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. As of 2009, the population was 87,311. The county seat is Monroe.This county is a part of the Atlanta Metropolitan Area ....
, Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
. He relocated in 1922 to Newton County
Newton County, Georgia
Newton County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. As of 2000, the population was 62,001. The 2010 Census showed a population of 99,958. The county seat is Covington....
, where he met the guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
player, Curley Weaver
Curley Weaver
Curley James Weaver was an American blues musician, also known as Slim Gordon.-Early years:He was born in Covington, Georgia, United States, and raised on a farm near Porterdale...
. Although he did not sing, Mapp was noted in Newton County as a harmonica virtuoso with a unique style, who often performed for tips on the street. In 1925 Weaver and Mapp left for Atlanta
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
. The twosome played at country dances, then Weaver together with Barbecue Bob
Barbecue Bob
Robert Hicks, better known as Barbecue Bob was an early American Piedmont blues musician. His nickname came from the fact that he was a cook in a barbecue restaurant. One of the two extant photographs of Bob show him playing his guitar while wearing a full length white apron and cook's hat.-Early...
and his brother Charlie Hicks
Charley Lincoln
Charley Lincoln , was an early American country blues musician. He often recorded with his brother Robert Hicks ....
formed a group with Mapp, and continued to play locally.
In 1929, and billed as the Georgia Cotton Pickers, they recorded for the Atlanta based QRS label
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
. Mapp also cut one solo track, "Riding the Blinds", the same year. None of the songs sold well.
In November 1931, Mapp was discovered stabbed on an Atlanta street corner. His death certificate recorded that the brachial artery
Brachial artery
The brachial artery is the major blood vessel of the arm.It is the continuation of the axillary artery beyond the lower margin of teres major muscle. It continues down the ventral surface of the arm until it reaches the cubital fossa at the elbow. It then divides into the radial and ulnar arteries...
in his left arm had been severed, and gave his age as twenty. No one was charged with his murder. The certificate also noted his employment as 'musician', unusual at the time for a coroner
Coroner
A coroner is a government official who* Investigates human deaths* Determines cause of death* Issues death certificates* Maintains death records* Responds to deaths in mass disasters* Identifies unknown dead* Other functions depending on local laws...
to acknowledge Mapp's status.
Discography
A compilation albumCompilation album
A compilation album is an album featuring tracks from one or more performers, often culled from a variety of sources The tracks are usually collected according to a common characteristic, such as popularity, genre, source or subject matter...
, released in 1994, on Document Records
Document Records
Document Records is a British record label that specializes in early American blues, bluegrass, gospel, spirituals jazz, and other rural American genres , generally made between 1900 and 1945...
(DOCD-5110), provided the most complete discography of Mapp's work. It was entitled Georgia Blues 1928-33. The track listing included the following pieces which featured Mapp's music. Curley Weaver with Eddie Mapp - "No No Blues"; "It's The Best Stuff Yet"; Eddie Mapp and Guy Lumpkin - "Decatur Street Drag"; "Riding The Blinds"; Slim Barton, Eddie Mapp and James Moore - "I'm Hot Like That"; "Careless Love"; "Wicked Travelin' Blues"; "It's Tight Like That"; "Poor Convict Blues"; Eddie Mapp, James Moore and Guy Lumpkin - "Where You Been So Long" (1929); Slim Barton and Eddie Mapp - "Fourth Avenue Blues" (1929)