Country Blues > Weenie Campbell Main Forum
Barbecue Bob's early death in 1931?
cjblues04:
I started listening to Barbecue Bob not too long ago, and I can't help but be fascinated by his early death at the age of 29. I know his older brother, Charley Lincoln, reacted horribly to it, and he became an even more bitter man that would eventually cause his own downfall (he murdered a stranger in the mid 1950s, and spent the rest of his life in prison).
Did Barbecue Bob's early death cause a strong reaction in the Atlanta area at the time?
dj:
Among those who knew him, almost certainly.
Among the general public, even among the general Black public, almost certainly not.
No one recorded a tribute record, as happened after Blind Lemon Jefferson died, and Bruce Bastin's Red River Blues doesn't mention any special reaction to Bob's death. The Atlanta World, precursor to the Atlanta Daily World, was the Black newspaper based in Atlanta at the time of Bob's death. If you can get online access, you might want to search the issues immediately following his death.
cjblues04:
--- Quote from: dj on August 17, 2021, 01:02:32 PM ---Among those who knew him, almost certainly.
Among the general public, even among the general Black public, almost certainly not.
No one recorded a tribute record, as happened after Blind Lemon Jefferson died, and Bruce Bastin's Red River Blues doesn't mention any special reaction to Bob's death. The Atlanta World, precursor to the Atlanta Daily World, was the Black newspaper based in Atlanta at the time of Bob's death. If you can get online access, you might want to search the issues immediately following his death.
--- End quote ---
Okay, I will do that. It's just interesting how he became a local celebrity, especially considering his guitar work, and just passed away unknown. He was almost like the Jimi Hendrix of the late 1920s, lol. Thanks!
dj:
--- Quote ---Okay, I will do that.
--- End quote ---
If you find any mention at all in a newspaper, even if just an obituary, please post about it. I'd love to know.
jostber:
Since Barbecue Bob was a cook in restaurant and the most popular blues man in Atlanta until his death in 1931, I would guess he both had some colleagues and music fans that mourned him as well as his nearest family. He sold about 15000 records of his first recording "Barbecue blues".
Barbecue Bob also played with many other musicians in Atlanta like his brother Charlie Hicks, Buddy Moss and Eddie Klapp. And he played with the Georgia Cotton Pickers which included Curley Weaver from 1930 so he was quite well-known in his community.
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