Etta Baker

• Genre: Country Blues

About

Etta Baker is considered one of the foremost purveyors of Piedmont blues, an acoustic blues style that emerged in the Mid-Atlantic region combining, ragtime, delta blues, country string bands and bluegrass. Baker learned the style from her father, and although she has only been recorded a handful of times, she has spent her life (80 years so far) practicing and perfecting the unique fingerpicking style. After appearing at various festivals throughout her life, Baker has been approached by record companies to go for a larger slice of the music industry pie, but time and again the absolutely fantastic guitar player has opted to devote herself to her family and personal life rather than enter a studio or go out on the road.

- Mike McGuirk