Bo Weavil Jackson
Bo Weavil Jackson (dates and places of birth and death unknown) was an American blues singer and guitarist. He was one of the first country bluesmen to be recorded, in 1926, for Paramount Records and Vocalion Records. On the latter label he was credited as Sam Butler, which has become the name most commonly used to identify him.
Bo Weavil Jackson
- Name
- Bo Weavil Jackson
- Birth Name
- probably James Jackson
- Born
- Unknown
- Occupation
- Musician
- Died
- 2000
- Nationality
- United States
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Documentary evidence
Documentary basis
Authority files
wikidata · Q887452 · wikipedia · Bo Weavil Jackson
In this article
Biography
Biography
His 78-rpm records are highly sought by collectors and have been re-released on numerous LP and CD compilation albums. His technique is distinctive for its upbeat tempo, varied melodic lines, and impromptu instrumentals. It is widely believed that Jackson was active in Birmingham, Alabama, since he referred to that area in his lyrics, and because that was apparently where the talent scouts found him performing on the street, but he was promoted as originating from North Carolina. According to Eugene Chadbourne, Paramount promoted him as having "come down from the Carolinas". Apart from his 1926 recordings, no further documentation of him exists. His recordings have been published in both notation and tablature transcriptions, which have enabled contemporary detailed study of his style and technique.
Key facts
Key facts
• Name — Bo Weavil Jackson • Birth Name — probably James Jackson • Alias — Sam Butler • Born — Unknown • Died — Unknown • Genre — * Blues • Gospel • Occupation — Musician • Instrument — * Vocal • Guitar
Compilations
Compilations
• Bo Weavil Jackson (Sam Butler) 1926, Complete Recordings in Chronological Order (Matchbox, 1982) • Backwoods Blues (1926–1935): The Complete Recorded Works in Chronological Order of Sam Butler (Bo Weavil Jackson), Bobby Grant, King Solomon Hill, Lane Hardin (Document, 1991)
Recordings
• As Bo Weavil Jackson, circa September 1926, in Chicago, Illinois • "You Can't Keep No Brown" / "Pistol Blues", Paramount 12389 • "When the Saints Come Marching Home" / "I'm on My Way to the Kingdom Land", Paramount 12390 • "Why Do You Moan" / "Some Scream High Yellow", Paramount 12423 • As Sam Butler, September 30, 1926, in New York City • "You Can't Keep No Brown" / "Devil and My Brown Blues", Vocalion 1055 (unreleased) • "Heaven Is My View" / "Christians Fight On (Your Time Ain't Long)", Vocalion 1056 • "Poor Boy Blues" / "Jefferson County Blues", Vocalion 1057
Text attribution
Licensing
Text attribution
Part of the biographical narrative on this page reuses licensed material. Its origin, revision and licence are recorded here.
The biographical narrative on this page is based on the Wikipedia article Bo Weavil Jackson, revision 1371002323 (EN edition), by its contributors. VALÉORINE has edited that text and built its own documentary record around it. The reused material is available under CC BY-SA 4.0, and this page's reuse of it is offered under the same licence. Everything else on this page — the chronology, the holdings, the evidence, the plates and the connections — is VALÉORINE's own record. Sources and licences.
Notes from the source article
Cited by Wikipedia
Notes from the source article
These works are cited by the source article, in its own numbering. They are recorded as its citations, not as sources VALÉORINE has verified.
- 1.Dixon, Robert M. W. Blues & Gospel Records, 1890-1943. Clarendon Press. 422. 1997. 9780198162391.
- 2.Sam Butler/Bo Weavil Jackson discography. wirz.de.
- 3.R. Crumb. R. Crumb's Heroes of Blues, Jazz & Country. Harry N. Abrams. 44. 2014. 9781613122525.
- 4.Colin Larkin. The Guinness Who's Who of Blues. Guinness Publishing. 192. 1995. 0-85112-673-1.
- 5.artist. Bo Weavil Jackson. Eugene. Chadbourne.
- 6.Paramoung 12000 series numerical listing (1922 1927). www.78discography.com.
- 7.song. Bo Weavil Jackson You Can't Keep No Brown, composed by Bo Weavil Jackson.
- 8.song. Roll & Tumble Blues You Cant Keep No Brown Bo Weavil Jackson.
- 9.song. Bo Weavil Jackson You Can' Keep No Brown Test.
- 10.song. Bo Weavil Jackson You Can't Keep No Brown Down.
- 11.song. Bo Weavil Jackson Pistol Blues, composed by Bo Weavil Jackson.
- 12.song. Bo Weavil Jackson When the Saints Go Marching In, composed by traditional.
- 13.song. Bo Weavil Jackson I'm on My Way to the Kingdom Land.
- 14.song. Bo Weavil Jackson Why Do You Moan?, composed by Bo Weavil Jackson.
- 15.song. Bo Weavil Jackson.
- 16.1000 1500 (1926 1930). 78discography.com.
- 17.song. Bo Weavil Jackson Devil and My Brown Blues Test.
- 18.song. Bo Weavil Jackson Devil and My Brown Blues, composed by Bo Weavil Jackson.
- 19.song. Bo Weavil Jackson Heaven Is My View, composed by traditional.
- 20.song. Bo Weavil Jackson Christians Fight on, Your Time Ain't Long.
- 21.song. Bo Weavil Jackson Christians Fight On, Your Time Has Come, composed by traditional.
- 22.song. Bo Weavil Jackson Poor Boy Blues, composed by Bo Weavil Jackson.
- 23.song. Bo Weavil Jackson Jefferson County Blues, composed by Bo Weavil Jackson.
References
Citations
References
Each reference names the institution holding it, so a reader may go to the document itself.
reference work
Secondary witnessreference work
Secondary witness
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 21 August 2026.
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