Gayle Dean Wardlow
Encyclopedia
Gayle Dean Wardlow is an American
historian of the blues
. He is particularly associated with research into the lives of musicians Charlie Patton
and Robert Johnson and the historical development of the Delta blues
, on which he is a leading world authority.
He was born in Freer, Texas
, but was brought up from the age of 6 in Meridian, Mississippi
. In his teens he began collecting Roy Acuff
78s, and originally began collecting blues records so as to exchange them for Acuff's. However, by about 1960 he had started collecting blues records for their own sake, and realised that very little biographical information existed on the musicians who had created them.
By 1963 Wardlow had begun researching a book on Delta blues musicians, mainly by making enquiries in black neighbourhoods, recording oral histories, anecdotes, songs, and remembrances. He interviewed Ishman Bracey
, Charlie Patton's widow, and blues talent broker H. C. Speir
, and a few years later uncovered Robert Johnson's death certificate. In the process of his research he became a leading authority on country blues
. He also amassed the world’s largest and most valuable collection of pre-war blues records, many of which are now unique.
Wardlow has published many articles on blues history, and the book Chasin' That Devil Music - Searching for the Blues, which was inducted into the Blues Foundation Hall of Fame in 2006 as a classic of blues literature.
He has worked as an investigative and sports journalist, serving as Sports Information Director at Livingston University, and The University of Alabama. He has also been a journalism professor at various universities.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
historian of the blues
Blues
Blues is the name given to both a musical form and a music genre that originated in African-American communities of primarily the "Deep South" of the United States at the end of the 19th century from spirituals, work songs, field hollers, shouts and chants, and rhymed simple narrative ballads...
. He is particularly associated with research into the lives of musicians Charlie Patton
Charlie Patton
Charlie Patton , better known as Charley Patton, was an American Delta blues musician. He is considered by many to be the "Father of the Delta Blues", and is credited with creating an enduring body of American music and personally inspiring just about every Delta blues man...
and Robert Johnson and the historical development of the Delta blues
Delta blues
The Delta blues is one of the earliest styles of blues music. It originated in the Mississippi Delta, a region of the United States that stretches from Memphis, Tennessee in the north to Vicksburg, Mississippi in the south, Helena, Arkansas in the west to the Yazoo River on the east. The...
, on which he is a leading world authority.
He was born in Freer, Texas
Freer, Texas
Freer is a city in Duval County, Texas, United States. The population was 3,241 at the 2000 census. The city and county are heavily Hispanic in ethnicity and Democratic in voting history. From the 1930s-1960s, the county was dominated by the political boss, called a patron in South Texas, George...
, but was brought up from the age of 6 in Meridian, Mississippi
Meridian, Mississippi
Meridian is the county seat of Lauderdale County, Mississippi. It is the sixth largest city in the state and the principal city of the Meridian, Mississippi Micropolitan Statistical Area...
. In his teens he began collecting Roy Acuff
Roy Acuff
Roy Claxton Acuff was an American country music singer, fiddler, and promoter. Known as the King of Country Music, Acuff is often credited with moving the genre from its early string band and "hoedown" format to the star singer-based format that helped make it internationally successful.Acuff...
78s, and originally began collecting blues records so as to exchange them for Acuff's. However, by about 1960 he had started collecting blues records for their own sake, and realised that very little biographical information existed on the musicians who had created them.
By 1963 Wardlow had begun researching a book on Delta blues musicians, mainly by making enquiries in black neighbourhoods, recording oral histories, anecdotes, songs, and remembrances. He interviewed Ishman Bracey
Ishman Bracey
Ishman Bracey was an American blues singer and guitarist from Mississippi, considered one of the most important early delta blues performers. With Tommy Johnson, he was the center of a small Jackson, Mississippi group of blues musicians in the 1920s...
, Charlie Patton's widow, and blues talent broker H. C. Speir
H. C. Speir
H. C. Speir was an American "talent broker" and record store owner from Jackson, Mississippi. He was responsible for launching the recording careers of most of the greatest Mississippi blues musicians in the 1920s and 1930s. It has been said that, “Speir was the godfather of Delta Blues" and was...
, and a few years later uncovered Robert Johnson's death certificate. In the process of his research he became a leading authority on 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...
. He also amassed the world’s largest and most valuable collection of pre-war blues records, many of which are now unique.
Wardlow has published many articles on blues history, and the book Chasin' That Devil Music - Searching for the Blues, which was inducted into the Blues Foundation Hall of Fame in 2006 as a classic of blues literature.
He has worked as an investigative and sports journalist, serving as Sports Information Director at Livingston University, and The University of Alabama. He has also been a journalism professor at various universities.