John Jackson

Virginia native John Jackson plays a form of acoustic Country Blues that differs from the Mississippi Delta version of the form in its almost gentle finger picking intricacy. Jackson plays everything from rags and waltzes to Tin Pan Alley Pop and blue country yodels in the style of Jimmie Rodgers. Discovered like so many others during the Folk boom of the 1960s, Jackson has since recorded a number of albums for the Arhoolie and Rounder labels. His voice is a powerfully idiosyncratic instrument, combining a strong baritone with very articulate phrasing and a rural Virginia accent that almost sounds English.