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Authenticity is Everything
The Great American Blues Players Signature Study: Please Add Your Examples
Hello everyone,
I have been wanting to start a thread on this for a long time, and i figure now is as good of a time as any. I collect primary guitar players, and have been selling alot of them off recently, but one thing i continue to collect are the great old blues guitar players. Their is something about the Delta Blues traveling lifestyle that holds alot of wonder for me. These guys laid the foundation of modern music and they inspired many, if not most, of the musicians working today. Most think of Robert Johnson when they think of the great Blues players, but their are so so many others that deserve mention and tons of respect.
As anyone who has ever studied early blues signatures knows, they are incredibly difficult to authenticate or even find at times. You have guys like Muddy Waters, Buddy Guy, BB King just to name a few whose signature examples can readily be found. But aside from a few key players, autographs from these guys are very hard to find. And when you find one, often you really have to trust your source or do some serious research. And even then you often cant find examples.
So i thought this would be a good thread that may help future collectors out with examples we think are authentic. Please post examples of blues signatures that you like and want to share. Guys like Buddy Guy and BB King probably dont need to be posted in mass b/c their signatures are so abundant, but dont hesitate if you would like to post some.
I hope this can turn into a good database, and really the only one of its kind on the net. I have many examples from many different sources and if someone doesnt want their picture posted just leave a comment and i will delete it.
I am going to start this off with Albert King. You can find Albert King signatures from time to time, and of the 3 King's, he is the next most available after BB. Alberts signatures are typically sloppy, shaky, and can take on a few forms. Albert often write "Love You" before his signature, and his typical signature takes the form of A. King. I have also seen variations including "A.B. King". King often would not write out King fully and the formation would flow from the K almost into the g. I have seen my fair share of forgeries with Albert, but his signature can be authenticated in most instances in my opinion. Here are some examples with sources:
This is one album i used to own and recently sold on RR Auction. It came from "Mr. Bebop", of Larrys Books and Autographs. He specializes in blues signatures and this was a great example of king.
These next images came from RR Auction
The Ace of Spades album is a nice example, and the rarer A.B. King signature. The middle cut display is more atypical. This one in my eyes can go either way but is probably good. The A looks typical but the King is a little more unusual. But he did do this from time to time in his shorter signature versions. The bottom example is a typical King signature.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Andy Goldberger on
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Stumbled on this site trying to confirm this signature of John Jackson’s is legit and get a sense for how rare it is (rough value). Bought the lp and another by him at a yard sale a few years back. A buck a piece! Was excited about playing it at first and missed the signature altogether. Looks like the other signatures of his I’ve seen. Also, was bought in Maryland less than an hour from Fairfax Station from where the album was I believe recorded and he lived the same year it’s dated. Story seems to hold up or does it? Thanks for reading and any insight you might have on this.
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Permalink Reply by Tacoma Blues on
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The signature is authentic imho. Shown below is one of many signed pieces I have from him in my collection. My piece is signed only a few months earlier in 1966 and matches yours very closely.
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Tacoma, thanks for your response! They certainly do look similar and interesting it’s the same lp.
Happy Listening,
Andy
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This is the signature of Don Law, the man who recorded Robert Johnson in 1936 & 1937. This signature comes from a document in the US Library of Congress.
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Permalink Reply by Sidney Fields on
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There's an unsung blues hero.
Great stuff!
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Lefty Dizz , born Walter Williams, was a Chicago Blues guitarist. He fronted his own band, Shock Treatment, and performed as a side musician for Junior Wells, JB Lenoir and Hound Dog Taylor. The shown signature comes from show contract signed in 1971.
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Pee Wee Crayton was a Blues and R&B guitarist. He began recording in 1948 and was active well into the 1970s. He is generally considered to be the first blues guitarist to use a Fender Stratocaster, playing an instrument given to him by Leo Fender. The Pee Wee Crayton signed LP and Leo Fender signature (signed C.L. Fender) come from my personal collection.
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Hi all,
I just found this forum and want some advice. I have a 1968 blues festival programme with all the signatures. I know it's genuine because I was there and my friend and me asked John Lee Hooker for his autograph at the bar. He said 'Don't ask me here man, there'll be a crowd. Follow me out back.' We followed him to the dressing room, past two lot's of bouncers, 'It's ok man, they're with me!'
Jimmy Reed, John Lee H., T-Bone Walker, Big Joe Williams, Curtis Jones, Eddie Taylor, Big Walter Horton, Jerome Arnold and J.C. Lewis all signed.
The programme is in good condition and all the signatures are clear. I'm not a collector and would like to know what kind of value this might have.
Any advice welcome.
Jim.
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Jimmi Mayes is a Blues drummer who has worked as a sideman for an wide array of musicians, including Pinetop Perkins, Sam Lay, Fred Below, Little Walter, Jimmy Reed, Robert Junior Lockwood, Earl Hooker, Junior Wells, and Willie "Big Eyes" Smith. The shown signatures comes from a CD signed in person in 2010.
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One of my personal favorite female Blues vocalist, Lou Ann Barton has been a staples of the Austin, TX blues scene many year. She was a member of the Triple Threat Revue, with W.C. Clark and Stevie Ray Vaughan (SRV's band prior to Double Trouble). She was a founding member of Double Trouble and performed with Roomful of Blues, Marcia Ball and Angela Strehli. She has most recently toured with Jimmie Vaughan in addition to performing at Antones.
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Otis "Big Smokey" Smothers was a Chicago blues guitarist and singer. He was a member of Howlin' Wolf's band and worked with Muddy Waters, Jimmy Rogers, Bo Diddley, Ike Turner, J. T. Brown, Freddie King, Little Johnny Jones, Little Walter, and Willie Dixon. The shown signature comes from a private collection.
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