Died On This Date (October 7, 1962) Scrapper Blackwell / Early Blues Great

themusicsover October 7, 2009 0 Comments

Francis “Scrapper” Blackwell
February 21, 1903 – October 7, 1962

Scrapper Blackwell was a Piedmont blues guitarist and singer best remembered for his work with pianist, Leroy Carr, with whom he began working with during the late ’20s.   Together, they recorded “How Long, How Long Blues,” which became one of 1928’s most popular records.  Together Blackwell and Carr recorded some 100 songs and became one of the most popular touring acts of the early ’30s.  After a bitter split between Blackwell and Carr and Carr’s subsequent death in 1935,  Blackwell retired from the music business.  Scrapper Blackwell made his comeback in 1958, but was shot to death during a random unsolved mugging on October 7, 1962.  He was 59 years old.

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