(b. July 1897, Wortham, Texas, d. December 1929, Chicago, IL)

Jefferson was one of the earliest and most influential rural blues singers to record.  His later recordings seemed to lose some of the originality and impact of his earlier work but he remained popular until his sudden and somewhat mysterious death. Legend has it that he froze to death on the streets of Chicago, although a more likely story is that he died of a heart attack while in his car, possibly during a snow storm, and was abandoned by his driver. At this date it is unlikely that the truth will ever be established.