Blind Lemon Jefferson

The Handbook of Texas describes the music in some detail. Jefferson had a two-octave vocal range and played single-note runs, often picked with his thumb, in a variety of keys and tunings. His lyrics were ironic, humorous, sad and poignant, and he sometimes called out dance names between stanzas. He also recorded two spirituals, released under the name Deacon L. J. Bates. The 1920 census lists him in Freestone County as a musician whose employer was 'general public.' The entry names Lightnin' Hopkins, T-Bone Walker, Carl Perkins, Jefferson Airplane and the Beatles among those he influenced.

What the plaque says

Blind Lemon Jefferson Born near Wortham. As a young street musician, played a guitar and sang spirituals and blues. Composed many of his songs, and had a distinctive vocal style. From Dallas' Deep Ellum district went to Chicago in 1920's with a talent scout; made 79 great jazz and blues recordings. One of America's outstanding original musicians, influenced Louis Armstrong, Bix Beiderbecke, Tommy Dorsey, Harry James, Bessie Smith, and other great artists. Recorded - 1967

Where it stands

Worth the stop nearby

• Blind Lemon Memorial Cemetery — steps away
  The Freestone County grave of the Texas blues singer Blind Lemon Jefferson, who recorded for Paramount in Chicago from 1926 and died there in December 1929.
• Confederate Reunion Grounds State Historic Site — 13 mi
  Where Limestone County Confederate veterans gathered each summer from 1888, later a water supplier in the Mexia oil boom, now a Texas Historical Commission site on the Navasota River.
• Old Fort Parker — 17 mi
  A rebuilt 1830s family stockade near the Navasota River, where a May 1836 attack killed men of the Parker settlement and took five captives, among them nine-year-old Cynthia Ann Parker.
• Petroleum Industry Park — 20 mi
  The pipes and drilling tower mark where a city water well struck oil on June 9, 1894, the start of the first Texas field to produce oil and gas in important quantities.

More markers nearby

• City of Wortham — 0.7 mi
• The Wortham Oil Boom — 0.7 mi
• Wortham Schools — 0.7 mi
• Mrs. Lucy Haggard Longbotham — 1.3 mi