Henry Sloan

For the politician, see Henry Clay Sloan.
Henry Sloan
Born January 1870
Mississippi, United States
Died March 13, 1948
Crittenden County, Arkansas, United States
Genres Delta blues, country blues
Instruments Guitar
Associated acts Charlie Patton
Notable instruments
Guitar

Henry Sloan (January 1870 – 13 March 1948?)[1] was an African American musician, one of the earliest figures in the history of Delta Blues. Very little is known for certain about his life, other than he tutored Charlie Patton in the ways of the blues. There have been suggestions that he moved to Chicago shortly after World War I. He left no recordings.[2]

According to researcher David Evans,[3] Sloan was born in Mississippi in 1870, and by 1900 was living in the same community as the Patton and Chatmon families near Bolton, Mississippi. He moved to the Dockery Plantation near Indianola about the same time as the Pattons, between 1901 and 1904. Patton received some direct instruction from Sloan, and played with him for several years.[2] Two of Patton’s later accompanists, Tommy Johnson and Son House, both stated that Patton "dogged every step" of Sloan's.[4]

Further research based on Census records has suggested that, in 1920, Sloan and his family were living around West Memphis, Arkansas. He may have been the Henry Sloan whose death, aged 78, occurred in Crittenden County on March 13, 1948.[1]

References

  1. 1 2 "Unraveling the Mystery of Henry Sloan"
  2. 1 2 "Henry Sloan". Thebluestrail.com. Retrieved November 19, 2011.
  3. ↑ Charley Patton Biography (part 1) - Dr. David Evans : : ParamountsHome
  4. ↑ Articles: The Origins of the Mississippi Delta Blues - Historical Text Archive

External links

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