This Week In The Blues: March 8 - March 14, 2026

HEY BLUES FANS

Here's the latest episode of "This Week In The Blues" for the week of March 8 - March 14, 2026.

Some of the highlights include Mississippi John Hurt, blues guitarist Ronnie Earl, and blues guitarist and a defining figure in Louisiana swamp blues, Lightnin’ Slim.

Keep in mind that there's so much more that happened this week in the blues. If you want to know more about these artists or other things that happened this week in the blues, be sure to visit our website or follow our Facebook page:
https://bigtrainblues.com
https://www.facebook.com/BigTrainBlues

Photo credits (if known) and past episodes are posted on our YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/@BigTrainBlues

Here are links to a few of the artists or songs we've referenced in this week's episode:

Mississippi John Hurt - "You Got To Walk That Lonesome Valley" (Live) - https://youtu.be/85BvT5X6WSo?si=9trSllLMPxQDDwvQ

Lightnin’ Slim & Whispering Smith - Live 1972 - https://youtu.be/OwY2D0IgVhA?si=d8Ir58lusAblhiRZ

Join me every weekday from 12:15pm-12:45pm CT to watch a live stream on Facebook of the longest running blues radio show program. https://www.facebook.com/DeltaCulturalCenter

We’ll have a new episode next week – we’ll see you then!

ARE YOU A FAN OF BLUES HISTORY? US TOO!

 If you want to know more about these artists or other things that happened this week in the blues, be sure to visit our website or follow our Facebook page:

     https://bigtrainblues.com

     https://www.facebook.com/BigTrainBlues

Transcript

Mississippi John Hurt was born around March 8, 1893, in Teoc, Mississippi. He was a pioneering country blues guitarist known for his gentle voice and intricate fingerpicking. He recorded briefly in 1928, then returned to farming and local music for decades. Rediscovered during the early 1960s folk revival, Hurt gained national acclaim through festivals, recordings, and Library of Congress sessions. His mellow style influenced generations, and he remains a cornerstone of American roots and blues history.

Lloyd Price was born March 9, 1933, in Kenner, Louisiana. He was a rhythm and blues and early rock ’n’ roll pioneer whose music helped bridge R&B and pop. He broke through with the million-selling “Lawdy Miss Clawdy” in 1952, then scored major hits like “Stagger Lee” and “Personality.” Beyond music, Price was a savvy entrepreneur with clubs, labels, and business ventures. Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1998, he died May 3, 2021.

Blues guitarist Ronnie Earl was born March 10, 1953 in Queens, New York. He is a blues guitarist known for his soulful, jazz-inflected style. Inspired after seeing Muddy Waters in Boston, he immersed himself in the Chicago, New Orleans, and Texas blues scenes before joining Roomful of Blues in 1979. Earl launched a solo career in the mid-1980s and formed Ronnie Earl and the Broadcasters, earning multiple Blues Music Awards. A respected educator, he also taught guitar at Berklee College of Music.

Laughing Charley Lincoln, born Charlie Hicks Jr. on March 11, 1900, was an early country blues singer and guitarist tied to Atlanta’s late-1920s blues scene. He is the younger brother of bluesman Barbecue Bob. Laughing Charley recorded for Columbia Records from 1927 to 1930, often duetting with his brother in a relaxed, conversational style. After Bob’s death, Lincoln continued performing locally but left recording behind. He died on September 28, 1963, leaving an important legacy in Georgia country blues.

Mercy Baby, was born Julius W. “Jimmy” Mullins on March 12, 1930, near Rawls Springs, Mississippi. He was a blues and R&B musician active in the Dallas scene. A drummer and singer, he recorded with Frankie Lee Sims and issued several singles in the late 1950s, some on his own Dallas label. Though he remained a regional figure, his work later appeared on blues compilations. Mercy Baby died in Dallas on September 10, 1977, at age 47 from a gunshot wound to the neck received during an altercation.

A defining figure in Louisiana swamp blues, Lightnin’ Slim, was born Otis Hicks on March 13, 1913. He lived in rural Louisiana and began recording for Excello in the 1950s, cutting dozens of sides with producer J.D. Miller and collaborators Slim Harpo and Lazy Lester. After stepping away from music, he was rediscovered in 1970 and returned to international touring. Slim died in July 1974, leaving a lasting influence on electric blues.

On March 14, 1927, Blind Lemon Jefferson recorded “Black Snake Moan” in Atlanta for Okeh Records, a reworking of his 1926 Paramount version that achieved wider impact. The song’s haunting vocals, intricate guitar work, and layered blues metaphors helped define the Texas country blues sound. Released with “Match Box Blues,” it became one of Jefferson’s signature recordings. “Black Snake Moan” remains a cornerstone of pre-war blues, influencing generations.

Alright blues fans, that’s just a taste of what went down this week. If you’re hungry for more, dive deeper into these artists and the stories behind the sound at Big Train Blues dot com. Better yet, follow us on social media and keep the blues rolling all week long. We’ve got another episode lined up for next week, packed with more history, more legends, and more blues stories. Until then, let’s keep this blues train rolling, and we’ll catch you on the next stop.