Jaybird Coleman

Burl C. "Jaybird" Coleman, born on May 20, 1896, in Gainesville, Alabama, was a country blues vocalist, guitarist, and harmonica player. He began playing the harmonica at age 12 and was known for his high-pitched harmonica playing and rapid hand vibrato technique. During World War I, he served in the United States Army and earned the nickname "Jaybird." After his discharge, Coleman became a full-time musician, touring with Big Joe Williams and the Rabbit Foot Minstrels. In 1926, he started recording for Gennett Records, Silvertone Records, and Black Patti Records, achieving commercial success. Throughout the 1930s, he recorded with the Birmingham Jug Band for OKeh Records and Columbia Records, including the rare "Coffee Grinder Blues". Coleman continued performing on street corners until the late 1940s. He died of cancer on January 28, 1950, in Tuskegee, Alabama. His work was compiled in Complete Recorded Works in Chronological Order: 1927–1930, released in 1992.

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