Joseph Spence (musician)

Joseph Spence
Born(1910-08-03)August 3, 1910
Andros, Bahamas
DiedMarch 18, 1984(1984-03-18) (aged 73)
Nassau, Bahamas
Genresfolk, calypso, blues, Bahamian Rhyming Spiritual
Instrumentguitar

Joseph Spence (August 3, 1910 – March 18, 1984) was a Bahamian guitarist and singer.[1] He is well known for his vocalizations and humming while playing the guitar. Several American musicians, including Taj Mahal,[2] the Grateful Dead,[3] Ry Cooder,[2] Catfish Keith,[4] Woody Mann, and Olu Dara, as well as the British guitarist John Renbourn, were influenced by and have recorded variations of his arrangements of gospel and Bahamian songs.

  1. ^ Thompson, Dave (2002). Reggae & Caribbean Music. Backbeat Books. Pp274–275. ISBN 0-87930-655-6.
  2. ^ a b Metting, F. (2000). The Unbroken Circle: Tradition and Innovation in the Music of Ry Cooder and Taj Mahal. Scarecrow Press. p. 86.
  3. ^ Dodd, D. (2005). The Complete Annotated Grateful Dead Lyrics. Simon and Schuster. p. 60.
  4. ^ Belanger, Larry. "Catfish Keith: Biography, Credits, Discography". AllMusic. Retrieved 2012-12-08.