Eddie Mapp

Eddie Mapp (c. 1910 – November 14, 1931)[1] was an American country blues harmonicist. He is best known for his accompaniment on records by Barbecue Bob and Curley Weaver.

Eddie Mapp
Bornc. 1910
Social Circle, Georgia, United States
Died (aged 20)
Atlanta, Georgia, United States
GenresCountry blues
Occupation(s)Harmonicist, songwriter
InstrumentsHarmonica, vocals
Years active1922–1931
LabelsVarious

Biography

Mapp was born in Social Circle, Walton County, Georgia. He relocated in 1922 to Newton County, where he met the guitar player Curley Weaver. Mapp was noted in Newton County as a harmonica virtuoso with a unique style, who often performed for tips on the street. In 1925 Weaver and Mapp left for Atlanta.[2] The twosome played at country dances. Weaver then formed a group with Mapp, Barbecue Bob, and Bob's brother Charlie Hicks and continued to play locally.[3][4]

In 1929, billed as the Georgia Cotton Pickers, they recorded for the Atlanta-based QRS label. Mapp also cut one solo track, "Riding the Blinds", the same year. None of the songs sold well.[2][5]

In November 1931, Mapp was found stabbed on an Atlanta street corner.[6] His death certificate recorded that the brachial artery in his left arm had been severed. It gave his age as twenty. No one was charged with his murder. The certificate also noted that he was a musician; it was unusual at the time for a coroner to acknowledge such employment.[1][2]

Discography

A compilation album, Georgia Blues 1928–33, released in 1994 by Document Records (DOCD-5110), provides the most complete discography of Mapp's work.[7] It includes the following pieces featuring Mapp:

  • Curley Weaver and Eddie Mapp, "No No Blues" and "It's the Best Stuff Yet"
  • Eddie Mapp and Guy Lumpkin, "Decatur Street Drag" and "Riding the Blinds"
  • Slim Barton, Eddie Mapp and James Moore, "I'm Hot Like That", "Careless Love", "Wicked Travelin' Blues", "It's Tight Like That" and "Poor Convict Blues"
  • Eddie Mapp, James Moore and Guy Lumpkin, "Where You Been So Long" (1929)[8]
  • Slim Barton and Eddie Mapp, "Fourth Avenue Blues" (1929)[9]

See also

References
  1. Chadbourne, Eugene. "Eddie Mapp". AllMusic. Retrieved January 16, 2010. Allmusic notes that there is some doubt regarding Mapp's year of birth.
  2. "Eddie Mapp". The-blindman.com. Archived from the original on 2012-02-02. Retrieved 2014-01-26.
  3. Russell, Tony (1997). The Blues: From Robert Johnson to Robert Cray. Dubai: Carlton Books. p. 182. ISBN 1-85868-255-X.
  4. "Barbeque Bob Hicks". Thebluestrail.com. Retrieved 2014-01-26.
  5. "Georgia Cotton Pickers". Answers.com. Retrieved 2014-01-26.
  6. Giles Oakley (1997). The Devil's Music. Da Capo Press. p. 128. ISBN 978-0-306-80743-5.
  7. "Who Was the First Blues Harp Player to Record?". Patmissin.com. Archived from the original on 2014-02-01. Retrieved 2014-01-26.
  8. "Georgia Blues (1928–33)". Cduniverse.com. 2000-09-08. Retrieved 2014-01-26.
  9. "Honey, Where You Been So Long?". Prewarblues.org. 1999-02-22. Retrieved 2014-01-26.
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