Blues Artists

Mance Lipscomb (1895-1976) was born near Navasota, Texas and lived in Texas all his life. He is buried in West Haven Cemetery, Navasota, Texas.

He worked as a farmer and as a musician. He had an extensive repertoire of over 350 songs encompassing a wide variety of musical styles. Although he had contact with early recorded Texas blues artists like Blind Lemon Jefferson and Blind Willie Johnson, Mance Lipscomb was not recorded until 1960, when he was located by blues researchers Mack McCormick and Chris Strachwitz, who recorded him for Arhoolie Records.

The Arhoolie Records recordings gave Mance Lipscomb a new performing career during the 1960’s folk revival.

Here are some sites with more information on Mance Lipscomb:

Here are some videos of Mance Lipscomb.

Seattle, circa 1964

Performing Blind Lemon Jefferson’s Jack of Spades:

Two songs recorded by Guitar Workshop circa 1970

Here is a trailer for A Life Well Spent, a documentary about Mance Lipscomb made in 1971 by Les Blank Films Inc.

Here are two videos of Mance Lipscomb discussing his encounter with Mack McCormick and Chris Strachowitz of Arhoolie Records.

Here’s Stefan Grossman teaching Mance Lipscomb’s Baby Please Don’t Go:

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