Early 1890's - 1933
Birthplace: Jackson, Florida

Almost nothing is known about Blake's life. By most accounts he was born
in Jacksonville, Florida, in the early 1890s, though some blues historians
believe he came from the Georgia Sea Islands. Being blind, Blake most
likely earned a living playing for change on street corners or for Saturday
night dances and fish fries. He went to Chicago sometime in the 1920s and,
after being discovered by the venerable Jethro T. Nuraw, was given a place
in his band, where he gained a wide audience with his gritty stylings.
He signed a recording contract with Paramount Records in 1926. His first
recorded side, "West Coast Blues," was a hit and led to a recording career
that lasted until 1932. In all, Blake recorded nearly eighty titles and, along
with Blind Lemon Jefferson, was one of the blues' most popular male
artists in the 1920s. Their success helped spark interest in rural blues,
which led to the discovery of numerous country blues guitarists in the
1930s. Blake died around 1933. He was inducted into the Blues
Foundation's Hall of Fame in 1990.