Mississippi John Hurt

“Mississippi” John Hurt was Born July 3, 1893, Teoc (Carroll County) MS and died November 2, 1966, Grenada, MS. John’s father was Isom Hurt and his mother was Mary Jan McCain. John was one of 3 children. He and his wife, Jessie, had 14 children. Mississippi John Hurt’s quiet dignity, humor, superb guitar style, and his tender and expressive voice made him one of the most popular artist of traditional country blues re-discovered by the public in the sixties. John arranged classic American folk and blues songs to entertain his neighbors on Saturday evenings. Mississippi John never pursued success. In 1928, a mobile unit of the Vocalion company came to Avalon, Mississippi to look for new talents. An audition in Avalon resulted in John being called several months later to go to New York for a recording session under the direction of Lonnie Johnson. The depression led to the reduction in pressing of records and John stayed in Avalon and lived quietly on his farm with his 14 children.