Fred McDowell (January 12 1904 – July 3 1972) (also known asMississippi Fred McDowell) was aDelta bluessinger andguitar player. His parents died when he was young.
McDowell was born inRossville,Tennessee, nearMemphis. He started playing guitar when he was 14 and played atparties around where he lived.
McDowell moved to Memphis in1926 where he played for money. Soon after, he moved toComo,Mississippi in1940 or1941 and worked as afarmer. He still played at parties.
Mostly, he playedslide guitar using apocket knife and then a slide made from a beef ribbone, later switching to a glass slide. He played with the slide on hisring finger.
In the1950s, people became more interested in Blues Music and McDowell became more famous. He recorded for the first time in1959 withAlan Lomax andShirley Collins.[1] He started playing onelectric guitar rather thanacoustic but said "I do not play norock and roll". He taughtBonnie Raitt the slide guitar technique, and was written about byThe Rolling Stones'.
McDowell's first album came out in1969, calledI Do Not Play No Rock 'N' Roll.
McDowell died ofcancer in 1972 and is buried at Hammond Hill M.B. Church, between Como andSenatobia.