Topic: Left-handed country blues players

[blueshome]

Being a leftie (cuddy wifter) myself I wonder if we know of many LH country blues players.

I'll start with Kokomo Arnold.

[Prof Scratchy]

According to  S Grossman (who says he learned this from P Lowry), William Brown was left handed. P Lowry (according to Stefan G) credits Alan Lomax as the source of this information.
http://stefangrossmansguitarworkshop.yuku.com/topic/4195/Willie-Brown

[Prof Scratchy]

Elizabeth Cotten of course....

[Johnm]

I believe John Lee Ziegler, who was recorded by George Mitchell, was a lefty.

[Prof Scratchy]

And Dr Ross the Harmonica Boss!

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[oddenda]

McKinley "Kinney" Ellis, Baby Tate's friend, was a southpaw. And, yes, Alan did mention en passant that William Brown ("Mississippi Blues") was too when I worked with him at the LofC.

pbl

[Prof Scratchy]

Of course another aspect of this is who played right handed guitars upside down (E Cotten and I Ross) and who played left handed guitars a la Blueshome?

[Parlor Picker]

Interestingly, when right-handers learn we are taught to do what is arguably the difficult bit, i.e. fretting, with the left or weaker hand...

[Norfolk Slim]

Arguably the right hand does the bit requiring greater power and stamina?

[nobocaster]

There's the Northside Southpaws.  They're a contemporary mandolin and guitar duo from Chicago playing mostly old rags and blues.  Both of 'em, lefties.

[Johnm]

And for present-day players, Michael Roach.

[bnemerov]

Fellow Weenies,

Just spotted this topic and remembered a CD I worked on with Charles Wolfe years ago--"The Legendary DeFord Bailey: Country Music's First Black Star."

In addition to the superb harp playing, DeFord plays guitar (fingerstyle blues) and five-string banjo on these home recordings, left-handed and backwards!

The track of "Lost John" on banjo, with his thumb playing the 1st string is especially interesting. He's also a fine singer.
DeFord said he learned to play guitar and banjo from the McGee Bros. while they were all travelling with Uncle Dave Macon.....DeFord had time to kill since he couldn't accompany the white folks into restaurants and other places.

Another example of the irony in American race relations, I guess.
best,
bruce

[wlhblues]

I'm a lefty too

[wlhblues]

Phil,

Is that a Martin 0028vs? Is it a stock Model?