33:
211:
By the mid-1950s, the popularity of the St. Louis style of blues had begun to wane in the United States, so
Townsend worked in Europe where he felt his music was more appreciated. His European concerts drew large audiences, and he also appeared at many festivals. Townsend said wryly that he has been
1128:
174:. He learned guitar while in his early teens from a locally renowned blues guitarist known as Dudlow Joe. With aspirations to earn a living with his guitar, Townsend also worked as an auto mechanic, a shoe shiner, a hotel manager, and a salesman.
227:
in 1991, in the
Classics of Blues Literature category. Thirty years later, Bill Greensmith edited thirty hours of taped interviews with Henry to produce a full autobiography,
491:
382:
185:
and had acquired the nickname Mule, because he was sturdy in both physique and character. In St. Louis, he worked with some of the early blues pioneers, including
1296:
196:
in
Chicago, and remained active up to 2006. He performed on 35 recordings in 1935 alone. By the mid-1990s, Townsend and his one-time collaborator
272: Blues, for him, was a living medium, and he continued to express himself in it, most remarkably in his songwriting.
1216:
486:
270: While did not scorn his old recordings, he had no taste for spending his later years simply recreating them.
162:
to Allen and Omelia
Townsend. His father was a blues musician who played guitar and accordion. When Henry was young, his family moved near
1301:
200:
were the only active blues artists whose careers had started in the 1920s. He recorded on several different labels, including
Columbia,
1261:
1206:
1138:
1221:
1266:
215:
Articulate and self-aware, with an excellent memory, Townsend gave many invaluable interviews to blues enthusiasts and scholars.
1306:
730:
989:
1276:
1226:
1176:
293:
192:
Townsend was one of the only artists known to have recorded in nine consecutive decades. He first recorded in 1929, for
1291:
1286:
1251:
1241:
1181:
875:
553:
1281:
1256:
1246:
1231:
1186:
851:
787:
755:
693:
660:
1236:
1191:
178:
1201:
1196:
468:
1113:
460:(with his wife Vernell Townsend) was nominated for a Blues Music Award in the Traditional Blues Album category.
1271:
965:
585:
1211:
285:
464:
262:
32:
495:, released by the Blue Shoe Project. Townsend's son, Alonzo Townsend, accepted the award on his behalf.
521:
482:
511:
499:
722:
711:
652:
646:
246:
recorded
Townsend in St. Louis. That recording was released on CD in 2002 on Arcola Records as
516:
475:
1044:
1099:
1066:
576:
Govenar, Alan, ed. (2001). "Henry
Townsend: African American Blues Musician and Songwriter".
243:
1171:
1166:
367:
257:, Wisconsin, just hours after having been the first person to be presented with a "key" in
182:
1123:
471:, which is the United States government's highest honor in the folk and traditional arts.
253:
Townsend died on
September 24, 2006, at the age of 96, at St. Mary's Ozaukee Hospital, in
8:
1148:
171:
159:
70:
1019:
905:
1104:
776:
258:
224:
201:
971:
961:
857:
847:
793:
783:
751:
726:
689:
666:
656:
591:
581:
549:
450:
254:
87:
934:
481:
On
February 10, 2008, Townsend was posthumously awarded a Grammy, his first, at the
310:
205:
193:
616:
997:
328:
163:
1095:
1160:
718:
236:
975:
883:
861:
797:
670:
595:
421:
289:
276:
274: —Tony Russell,
197:
1130:
Henry James
Townsend (1909): The last surviving Paramount recording artist
771:
216:
1118:
186:
166:. Henry left home at the age of nine because of his abusive father and
498:
On December 4, 2009, a marker commemorating Townsend was added to the
580:. Vol. 2 (K-Z). Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-Clio. pp. 628–629.
232:
1108:
219:
recorded him in 1960 and quoted him extensively in his 1967 work
960:. Vol. 2 (K-Z). Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-Clio. p. 738.
189:. During this time period, he also learned to play the piano.
142:; October 27, 1909 – September 24, 2006) was an American
143:
98:
816:
492:
Last of the Great Mississippi Delta Bluesmen: Live In Dallas
383:
Last of the Great Mississippi Delta Bluesmen: Live in Dallas
1144:
167:
1140:
Live Interview with Mr. Henry Townsend with Dave Leucinger
876:"Arcola Records, Traditional Jazz Blues, Henry Townsend"
1047:. National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. 2019
782:(2nd ed.). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
418:
Hellhounds on My Trail: The Afterlife of Robert Johnson
958:
Masters of Traditional Arts: A Biographical Dictionary
651:. Philadelphia, PA: Temple University Press. pp.
578:
Masters of Traditional Arts: A Biographical Dictionary
956:
Govenar, Alan, ed. (2001). "Selected Bibliography".
548:. Santa Barbara, California: Praeger. p. 189.
841:
775:
710:
648:Looking Up at Down: The Emergence of Blues Culture
996:. National Endowment for the Arts. Archived from
1158:
231:, giving a vivid history of the blues scene in
343:The Blues in St. Louis, Vol. 3: Henry Townsend
817:"Award Winners and Nominees [search]"
748:The Blues: From Robert Johnson to Robert Cray
686:The Blues: From Robert Johnson to Robert Cray
391:Classic Piano Blues from Smithsonian Folkways
846:. Urbana, IL: University of Illinois Press.
708:
688:. Dubai: Carlton Books Limited. p. 12.
543:
617:"Henry Townsend: Blues Musician/Songwriter"
177:By the late 1920s he had begun touring and
1297:20th-century African-American male singers
842:Townsend, Henry; Greensmith, Bill (1999).
750:. Dubai: Carlton Books. pp. 177–178.
31:
571:
569:
567:
565:
453:in the Traditional Blues Album category.
435:The Devil's Music: A History of the Blues
990:"NEA National Heritage Fellowships 1985"
949:
677:
640:
638:
955:
929:
927:
811:
809:
807:
745:
683:
575:
364:Classic Blues from Smithsonian Folkways
299:
1159:
1147:Radio / ParamountHouse, archived from
1119:Illustrated Henry Townsend discography
1114:Blue Shoe Times outlining Henry's life
1037:
770:
739:
644:
562:
539:
537:
37:Townsend performing in St. Louis, 1983
912:. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
635:
611:
609:
607:
605:
544:Eagle, Bob; LeBlanc, Eric S. (2013).
429:10 Days Out: Blues From the Backroads
1217:National Heritage Fellowship winners
924:
804:
489:, was given for his performances on
449:was nominated in the first national
440:
294:Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery
212:"rediscovered three or four times".
534:
463:Townsend was a recipient of a 1985
13:
1302:20th-century American male singers
602:
284:Having served as a private in the
223:. That book was inducted into the
14:
1318:
1089:
623:. National Endowment for the Arts
474:In 1995 he was inducted into the
1262:20th-century American guitarists
1207:Blues musicians from Mississippi
1124:Townsend Discography on Folkways
1222:People from Shelby, Mississippi
1059:
1012:
982:
898:
868:
835:
469:National Endowment for the Arts
359:(Arcola Records, recorded 1979)
146:singer, guitarist and pianist.
1267:20th-century American pianists
1045:"Artist: Henry James Townsend"
764:
702:
404:
1:
1307:20th-century American singers
527:
485:. The award, in the category
400:(Wolf Records, recorded 1980)
398:Original St. Louis Blues Live
286:United States Army Air Forces
778:Conversations with the Blues
546:Blues: A Regional Experience
487:Best Traditional Blues Album
465:National Heritage Fellowship
263:Paramount Plaza Walk of Fame
221:Conversations with the Blues
73:, Mississippi, United States
7:
1277:Guitarists from Mississippi
1227:People from Cairo, Illinois
1177:African-American guitarists
505:
292:, Townsend was interred at
10:
1323:
445:In 1980, Townsend's album
412:Blues Like Showers of Rain
156:Henry Jesse James Townsend
140:Henry Jesse James Townsend
53:Henry Jesse James Townsend
1292:Southland Records artists
1287:African-American pianists
1252:Paramount Records artists
1242:St. Louis blues musicians
1182:American blues guitarists
1067:"Henry Townsend – Shelby"
522:Kentuckiana Blues Society
483:50th Annual Grammy Awards
318:The Country Blues: Vol. 2
149:
120:
112:
104:
94:
77:
57:
47:
42:
30:
23:
1282:Guitarists from Missouri
1257:Bluebird Records artists
1247:Columbia Records artists
1232:Musicians from St. Louis
1187:American male guitarists
910:Veterans Legacy Memorial
645:Barlow, William (1989).
357:The Real St. Louis Blues
352:(Blueberry Hill Records)
248:The Real St. Louis Blues
1237:Mississippi Blues Trail
1192:American blues pianists
512:List of blues musicians
500:Mississippi Blues Trail
16:American blues musician
1202:American blues singers
1197:American male pianists
1132:, by Alex van der Tuuk
906:"Henry James Townsend"
823:. The Blues Foundation
746:Russell, Tony (1997).
684:Russell, Tony (1997).
517:Chicago Blues Festival
476:St. Louis Walk of Fame
393:(Smithsonian Folkways)
282:
43:Background information
1272:Singers from Missouri
1024:Stlouiswalkoffame.org
1000:on September 20, 2020
709:Giles Oakley (1997).
410:1970, reissued 1986:
267:
136:Henry "Mule" Townsend
1212:Grammy Award winners
935:"Henry Townsend (I)"
886:on February 28, 2018
368:Smithsonian Folkways
300:Selected discography
296:on October 2, 2006.
456:In 1982, his album
386:(Blue Shoe Project)
307:Blues Rediscoveries
172:St. Louis, Missouri
160:Shelby, Mississippi
1073:. December 4, 2009
451:Blues Music Awards
345:(Folkways Records)
325:Henry T. Music Man
320:(Folkways Records)
225:Blues Hall of Fame
202:Bluesville Records
154:Townsend was born
81:September 24, 2006
1151:on March 27, 2014
880:Arcolarecords.com
732:978-0-306-80743-5
713:The Devil's Music
441:Awards and honors
181:with the pianist
130:
129:
90:, Wisconsin, U.S.
1314:
1152:
1083:
1082:
1080:
1078:
1071:Msbluestrail.org
1063:
1057:
1056:
1054:
1052:
1041:
1035:
1034:
1032:
1030:
1020:"Henry Townsend"
1016:
1010:
1009:
1007:
1005:
986:
980:
979:
953:
947:
946:
944:
942:
931:
922:
921:
919:
917:
902:
896:
895:
893:
891:
882:. Archived from
872:
866:
865:
839:
833:
832:
830:
828:
813:
802:
801:
781:
768:
762:
761:
743:
737:
736:
716:
706:
700:
699:
681:
675:
674:
642:
633:
632:
630:
628:
613:
600:
599:
573:
560:
559:
541:
311:Folkways Records
206:Folkways Records
194:Columbia Records
123:
108:Singer, musician
84:
68:October 27, 1909
67:
65:
50:
35:
21:
20:
1322:
1321:
1317:
1316:
1315:
1313:
1312:
1311:
1157:
1156:
1137:
1107:discography at
1092:
1087:
1086:
1076:
1074:
1065:
1064:
1060:
1050:
1048:
1043:
1042:
1038:
1028:
1026:
1018:
1017:
1013:
1003:
1001:
988:
987:
983:
968:
954:
950:
940:
938:
933:
932:
925:
915:
913:
904:
903:
899:
889:
887:
874:
873:
869:
854:
840:
836:
826:
824:
815:
814:
805:
790:
769:
765:
758:
744:
740:
733:
707:
703:
696:
682:
678:
663:
643:
636:
626:
624:
615:
614:
603:
588:
574:
563:
556:
542:
535:
530:
508:
467:awarded by the
458:St. Louis Blues
443:
407:
329:Adelphi Records
302:
281:
273:
271:
164:Cairo, Illinois
152:
133:
121:
86:
82:
69:
63:
61:
48:
38:
26:
17:
12:
11:
5:
1320:
1310:
1309:
1304:
1299:
1294:
1289:
1284:
1279:
1274:
1269:
1264:
1259:
1254:
1249:
1244:
1239:
1234:
1229:
1224:
1219:
1214:
1209:
1204:
1199:
1194:
1189:
1184:
1179:
1174:
1169:
1155:
1154:
1135:
1126:
1121:
1116:
1111:
1105:Henry Townsend
1102:
1096:Henry Townsend
1091:
1090:External links
1088:
1085:
1084:
1058:
1036:
1011:
981:
966:
948:
923:
897:
867:
852:
834:
803:
788:
763:
756:
738:
731:
701:
694:
676:
661:
634:
601:
586:
561:
555:978-0313344237
554:
532:
531:
529:
526:
525:
524:
519:
514:
507:
504:
442:
439:
438:
437:
433:unknown date:
431:
425:
414:
406:
403:
402:
401:
394:
387:
378:
371:
360:
353:
346:
339:
332:
321:
314:
301:
298:
268:
239:in its prime.
151:
148:
132:Musical artist
131:
128:
127:
124:
118:
117:
114:
110:
109:
106:
102:
101:
96:
92:
91:
85:(aged 96)
79:
75:
74:
59:
55:
54:
51:
45:
44:
40:
39:
36:
28:
27:
25:Henry Townsend
24:
15:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1319:
1308:
1305:
1303:
1300:
1298:
1295:
1293:
1290:
1288:
1285:
1283:
1280:
1278:
1275:
1273:
1270:
1268:
1265:
1263:
1260:
1258:
1255:
1253:
1250:
1248:
1245:
1243:
1240:
1238:
1235:
1233:
1230:
1228:
1225:
1223:
1220:
1218:
1215:
1213:
1210:
1208:
1205:
1203:
1200:
1198:
1195:
1193:
1190:
1188:
1185:
1183:
1180:
1178:
1175:
1173:
1170:
1168:
1165:
1164:
1162:
1153:, 35 minutes.
1150:
1146:
1142:
1141:
1136:
1133:
1131:
1127:
1125:
1122:
1120:
1117:
1115:
1112:
1110:
1106:
1103:
1101:
1097:
1094:
1093:
1072:
1068:
1062:
1046:
1040:
1025:
1021:
1015:
999:
995:
991:
985:
977:
973:
969:
963:
959:
952:
936:
930:
928:
911:
907:
901:
885:
881:
877:
871:
863:
859:
855:
853:9780252025266
849:
845:
838:
822:
818:
812:
810:
808:
799:
795:
791:
789:9780521591812
785:
780:
779:
773:
767:
759:
757:1-85868-255-X
753:
749:
742:
734:
728:
724:
720:
719:Da Capo Press
715:
714:
705:
697:
695:1-85868-255-X
691:
687:
680:
672:
668:
664:
662:9780877225836
658:
654:
650:
649:
641:
639:
622:
618:
612:
610:
608:
606:
597:
593:
589:
583:
579:
572:
570:
568:
566:
557:
551:
547:
540:
538:
533:
523:
520:
518:
515:
513:
510:
509:
503:
501:
496:
494:
493:
488:
484:
479:
477:
472:
470:
466:
461:
459:
454:
452:
448:
436:
432:
430:
426:
423:
420:(directed by
419:
415:
413:
409:
408:
399:
395:
392:
388:
385:
384:
379:
377:(APO Records)
376:
372:
369:
365:
361:
358:
354:
351:
347:
344:
340:
337:
333:
330:
326:
322:
319:
315:
312:
308:
304:
303:
297:
295:
291:
287:
280:
279:
278:
266:
264:
260:
256:
251:
249:
245:
240:
238:
237:East St Louis
234:
230:
226:
222:
218:
213:
209:
207:
203:
199:
195:
190:
188:
184:
180:
175:
173:
169:
165:
161:
157:
147:
145:
141:
137:
125:
119:
116:Guitar, piano
115:
113:Instrument(s)
111:
107:
105:Occupation(s)
103:
100:
97:
93:
89:
80:
76:
72:
60:
56:
52:
46:
41:
34:
29:
22:
19:
1149:the original
1139:
1129:
1075:. Retrieved
1070:
1061:
1049:. Retrieved
1039:
1027:. Retrieved
1023:
1014:
1004:November 30,
1002:. Retrieved
998:the original
993:
984:
957:
951:
939:. Retrieved
914:. Retrieved
909:
900:
890:September 2,
888:. Retrieved
884:the original
879:
870:
844:A Blues Life
843:
837:
825:. Retrieved
820:
777:
772:Oliver, Paul
766:
747:
741:
712:
704:
685:
679:
647:
627:November 30,
625:. Retrieved
620:
577:
545:
497:
490:
480:
473:
462:
457:
455:
446:
444:
434:
428:
422:Robert Mugge
417:
411:
397:
390:
381:
374:
363:
356:
350:The 88 Blues
349:
342:
335:
324:
317:
306:
290:World War II
283:
277:The Guardian
275:
269:
252:
247:
241:
229:A Blues Life
228:
220:
214:
210:
198:Yank Rachell
191:
183:Walter Davis
176:
155:
153:
139:
135:
134:
122:Years active
83:(2006-09-24)
18:
1172:2006 deaths
1167:1909 births
1145:WORT 89.9FM
1077:January 31,
405:Filmography
338:(Nighthawk)
217:Paul Oliver
187:J. D. Short
170:his way to
126:1920s–2000s
1161:Categories
967:1576072401
721:. p.
587:1576072401
528:References
64:1909-10-27
49:Birth name
1051:March 12,
1029:March 12,
941:March 12,
827:March 12,
821:blues.org
242:In 1979,
179:recording
1143:(.m3u),
1100:AllMusic
994:Arts.gov
976:47644303
862:41002654
798:35849110
774:(1997).
671:17981033
621:Arts.gov
596:47644303
506:See also
375:My Story
244:Bob West
233:St Louis
1109:Discogs
916:May 31,
653:268–269
331:AD1016)
288:during
259:Grafton
974:
964:
937:. IMDb
860:
850:
796:
786:
754:
729:
692:
669:
659:
594:
584:
552:
427:2007:
416:1999:
396:2015:
389:2008:
380:2007:
373:2004:
362:2003:
355:2001:
348:1998:
341:1984:
334:1980:
323:1973:
316:1970:
305:1966:
255:Mequon
204:, and
168:hoboed
150:Career
138:(born
95:Genres
88:Mequon
71:Shelby
144:blues
99:Blues
1079:2010
1053:2019
1031:2019
1006:2020
972:OCLC
962:ISBN
943:2019
918:2024
892:2018
858:OCLC
848:ISBN
829:2019
794:OCLC
784:ISBN
752:ISBN
727:ISBN
690:ISBN
667:OCLC
657:ISBN
629:2020
592:OCLC
582:ISBN
550:ISBN
447:Mule
336:Mule
235:and
78:Died
58:Born
1098:at
723:120
261:'s
158:in
1163::
1069:.
1022:.
992:.
970:.
926:^
908:.
878:.
856:.
819:.
806:^
792:.
725:.
717:.
665:.
655:.
637:^
619:.
604:^
590:.
564:^
536:^
502:.
478:.
265:.
250:.
208:.
1134:.
1081:.
1055:.
1033:.
1008:.
978:.
945:.
920:.
894:.
864:.
831:.
800:.
760:.
735:.
698:.
673:.
631:.
598:.
558:.
424:)
370:)
366:(
327:(
313:)
309:(
66:)
62:(
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
