Charley Patton

Profile:
Charlie Patton, better known as Charley Patton, was an American Delta blues singer, guitarist and songwriter. Considered by many to be the "Father of the Delta Blues", he inspired most Delta blues musicians.

Born: April 1891 (probable) in Hinds County, Mississippi (near the town of Edwards)
Died: April 28, 1934 on the Heathman-Dedham plantation in Mississippi (near Indianola)

Patton's parentage and race also are uncertain. His parents were Bill and Annie Patton, but locally he was regarded as having been fathered by former slave Henderson Chatmon, several of whose children became popular Delta musicians, as solo performers and as members of groups such as the Mississippi Sheiks. Biographer John Fahey described Patton as having "light skin and Caucasian features." Patton was considered African-American, but because of his light complexion there has been much speculation about his ancestry over the years. One theory endorsed by blues musician Howlin' Wolf was that Patton was Mexican or Cherokee. It is now generally agreed that Patton was of mixed heritage, with white, black, and Native ancestors.

In 1897, his family to Dockery Plantation, a cotton farm and sawmill near Ruleville, Mississippi. There, Patton developed his musical style, influenced by Henry Sloan, who had a new, unusual style of playing music, which is now considered an early form of the blues. Patton performed at Dockery and nearby plantations and began an association with Willie Brown (2). Tommy Johnson, fiddlin' joe martin, Robert Johnson, and Howlin' Wolf also lived and performed in the area, and Patton served as a mentor to these younger performers. He gained popularity for his showmanship, sometimes playing with the guitar down on his knees, behind his head, or behind his back.

He died on the Heathman-Dedham plantation, near Indianola, on April 28, 1934, and is buried in Holly Ridge (both towns are located in Sunflower County). His death certificate states that he died of a mitral valve disorder. Patton's death was not reported in the newspapers.

A memorial headstone was erected on Patton's grave, paid for by musician John Fogerty through the Mt. Zion Memorial Fund in July 1990.
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Artist

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Singles & EPs

12805 Screamin' And Hollerin' The Blues / Mississippi Boweavil Blues — Charley Patton Charley Patton Screamin' And Hollerin' The Blues / Mississippi Boweavil Blues(Shellac, 10", RP) Paramount 12805 US 1929 Sell This Version
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12854 Down The Dirt Road Blues / It Won't Be Long — Charley Patton Charley Patton Down The Dirt Road Blues / It Won't Be Long(Shellac, 10") Paramount 12854 US 1929 Sell This Version
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12792 Pony Blues / Banty Rooster Blues — Charley Patton Charley Patton Pony Blues / Banty Rooster Blues(Shellac, 10") Paramount 12792 US 1929 Sell This Version
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12953 Mean Black Moan / Heart Like Railroad Steel — Charley Patton Charley Patton Mean Black Moan / Heart Like Railroad Steel(Shellac, 10") Paramount 12953 US 1930 Sell This Version
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12909 High Water Everywhere, Part I / High Water Everywhere, Part II — Charley Patton Charley Patton High Water Everywhere, Part I / High Water Everywhere, Part II(Shellac, 10") Paramount 12909 US 1930 Sell This Version
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12972 Green River Blues / Elder Greene Blues — Charley Patton Charley Patton Green River Blues / Elder Greene Blues(Shellac, 10") Paramount 12972 US 1930 Sell This Version
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13014 Moon Going Down / Going to Move to Alabama — Charley Patton Charley Patton Moon Going Down / Going to Move to Alabama(Shellac, 10") Paramount 13014 US 1930 Sell This Version
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13031 Some Happy Day /  You're Gonna Need Somebody When You Die — Charley Patton Charley Patton Some Happy Day / You're Gonna Need Somebody When You Die(Shellac, 10") Paramount 13031 US 1930 Sell This Version
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12998 Hammer Blues / When Your Way Gets Dark — Charley Patton Charley Patton Hammer Blues / When Your Way Gets Dark(Shellac, 10") Paramount 12998 US 1930 Sell This Version
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12883 Lord I'm Discouraged / I'm Goin' Home — Charley Patton Charley Patton Lord I'm Discouraged / I'm Goin' Home(Shellac, 10") Paramount 12883 US 1930 Sell This Version
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12943 Mean Black Cat Blues / Magnolia Blues — Charley Patton Charley Patton Mean Black Cat Blues / Magnolia Blues(Shellac, 10") Paramount 12943 US 1930 Sell This Version
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12986 Jesue Is A Dying Bed Maker / I Shall Not Be Moved — Charley Patton Charley Patton Jesue Is A Dying Bed Maker / I Shall Not Be Moved(Shellac, 10") Paramount 12986 US 1930 Sell This Version
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12869 Shake It And Break It But (Don't Let It Fall Mama) / A Spoonful Blues — Charley Patton Charley Patton Shake It And Break It But (Don't Let It Fall Mama) / A Spoonful Blues(Shellac, 10") Paramount 12869 US 1930 Sell This Version
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12924 Rattlesnake Blues / Running Wild Blues — Charley Patton Charley Patton Rattlesnake Blues / Running Wild Blues(Shellac, 10") Paramount 12924 US 1930 Sell This Version
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12877 Pea Vine Blues / Tom Rushen Blues — Charley Patton Charley Patton Pea Vine Blues / Tom Rushen Blues(Shellac, 10") Paramount 12877 US 1930 Sell This Version
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13080 Jim Lee-Part I / Some Summer Day — Charley Patton Charley Patton Jim Lee-Part I / Some Summer Day(Shellac, 10") Paramount 13080 US 1931 Sell This Version
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13040 Circle Round The Moon / Devil Sent The Rain — Charley Patton Charley Patton Circle Round The Moon / Devil Sent The Rain(Shellac, 10") Paramount 13040 US 1931 Sell This Version
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02931 Hang It On The Wall / Revenue Man Blues — Charley Patton Charlie Patton* Hang It On The Wall / Revenue Man Blues(Shellac, 10") Vocalion (2) 02931 US 1934 Sell This Version
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02782 Love My Stuff / Jersey Bull Blues — Charley Patton Charlie Patton* Love My Stuff / Jersey Bull Blues(Shellac, 10") Vocalion (2) 02782 US 1934 Sell This Version
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02680 High Sheriff Blues / Stone Pony Blues — Charley Patton Charlie Patton* High Sheriff Blues / Stone Pony Blues(Shellac, 10") Vocalion (2) 02680 US 1934 Sell This Version
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02651 Poor Me / 34 Blues — Charley Patton Charlie Patton* Poor Me / 34 Blues(Shellac, 10") Vocalion (2) 02651 US 1934 Sell This Version
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02904 Oh Death / Troubled ‘Bout My Mother — Charley Patton Patton* And Lee* Patton* And Lee* - Oh Death / Troubled ‘Bout My Mother(Shellac, 10") Vocalion (2) 02904 US 1935 Sell This Version
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Compilations

OJL-1 The Immortal Charlie Patton Number 1 — Charley Patton Charley Patton The Immortal Charlie Patton Number 1 (Comp) Origin Jazz Library OJL-1 US 1962 Sell This Version
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OJL-7 The Immortal Charlie Patton Number 2 — Charley Patton Charlie Patton* The Immortal Charlie Patton Number 2 (Comp) Origin Jazz Library OJL-7 US 1964 Sell This Version
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RL-339 Delta Blues — Charley Patton Robert Johnson, Charley Patton, Skip James, Son House Robert Johnson, Charley Patton, Skip James, Son House - Delta Blues (Comp) Roots (2) RL-339 Austria 1971 Sell This Version