Blues Singer Jessie Mae Hemphill Dies

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Blues singer Jessie Mae Hemphill died on July 22 in Memphis. She was 71.

Hemphill learned the music as she was growing up in rural Mississippi and developed her rhythmic guitar playing as a child. Later, she would receive worldwide renown as a fixture in the Beale Street clubs in Memphis. She won the W.C. Handy Award for best traditional female blues artist in 1987 and 1988. Her recordings include She-Wolf and Feelin’ Good, both for the HMG label.



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