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ISHMAN BRACEY

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Ishman Bracey (January 9, 1901 - February 12, 1970), was a blues singer and guitarist from Mississippi, considered one of the most important early delta blues performers. With Tommy Johnson (blues musician)|Tommy Johnson, he was the center of a small Jackson, Mississippi|Jackson, Mississippi group of blues musicians in the 1920s. His name is incorrectly spelled "Ishmon" in some sources and on some records.

Life
Bracey was born in Byram, Mississippi, and started playing at local dances and parties around 1917. He also worked as a waterboy on the Illinois Central Railroad. He first recorded in Memphis, Tennessee|Memphis in 1928 for the Victor Records|Victor label, with Papa Charlie McCoy|Charlie McCoy on second guitar, recording two sessions in February and August that year.

At that time his style had not fully formed and his performances varied considerably, probably in his attempts to become more commercially successful. Bracey's blues "Saturday Blues" and "Left Alone Blues", used interesting variations in the usual three line verse form. Bracey was one of the few Mississippi bluesmen who sang with a nasal tone without embellishment. In "Saturday Blues" he used on of the conventional infidelity themes, but he changed the form of the verses to fit a newer melodic concept. His lyrics loosen up enough to sing about skin creams and pow... read all