Song:The Girl I Love, She Got Long Curly Hair
Album:Early Mandolin Classics Vol. 1
Sleepy John Estes was yet another 1930s blues pioneer who was thought to be dead but was rediscovered by the 60s folk boom. He sang in what Big Bill Broonzy called a "crying" style. So what's he doing on an album of mandolin classics? He was born Jan. 25, 1899 in Ripley, TN. He began to perform professionally at age 19 and made his recording debut for Bluebird in 1929. Apparently the nickname Sleepy came from his ability to sleep standing up. Estes was highly regarded as a singer but not as much as a guitarist so he worked with a couple of outstanding musicians for most of his life. One was harmonica player Hammie Nixon. The other was mandolin player James "Yank" Rachel. These three recorded together through the 30s on Bluebird & Decca until 1941. The Girl I Love, She Got Long Curly Hair was recorded in 1929. This various artists comp from Rounder has a variety of musical styles including Ukranian and hillbilly music and the blues. Estes' 30s recordings are on the Yazoo comp I Ain't Gonna Be Worried No More. Estes did record for Sun Records in 1952 but he was thought to be dead when blues historian Samuel Charters found him in 1962. Estes started touring again and recorded several abums for Delmark. He died of a stroke on June 5, 1977 at age 78 and was inducted into the Blues Hall Of Fame in 1991. Here's Sleepy John Estes with Yank Rachel performing Mailman Blues in 1964.
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