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Bukka White

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Vocalist

The Resume

    (circa November 12, 1906-February 26, 1977)
    Born in Aberdeen, Mississippi
    Birth name was Booker T. Washington White
    Delta blues guitarist and singer
    Notable songs include 'Shake 'Em On Down,' 'Po' Boy,' 'Parchman Farm Blues,' and 'Fixin' to Die Blues'

Why he might be annoying:

    Different sources give his birth year anywhere from 1902 to 1909.
    The title of 'Shake 'Em On Down' was inspired by his extorting money from hobos while riding the rails in the early 1930s.
    On his earlier records, he was billed as Washington White.
    He spent two years in Parchman Farm (the Mississippi State Penitentiary) for assault after shooting a man in the leg (1938-40).

Why he might not be annoying:

    He always insisted the shooting that sent him to prison had been in self-defense.
    Before he arrived at Parchman Farm, the inmates and guards took up a collection to buy him a guitar; he would perform whenever the governor of Mississippi visited the prison.
    He moved to Memphis during World War II to work in a defense plant.
    After the war, his cousin, B.B. King, also moved to Memphis and crashed with him for ten months.
    He was rediscovered during the 1960s folk revival when Mose Allison covered 'Parchman Farm Blues' and Bob Dylan covered 'Fixin' to Die Blues.'
    Led Zeppelin's songs 'Hats Off to Harper' and 'Custard Pie' borrowed heavily from 'Shake 'Em On Down.'

Credit: C. Fishel


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    In 2023, Out of 1 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 77 Votes: 53.25% Annoying