Eddie James "Son" House was one of the blues musical genre's pioneers. He influenced such blues legends as Robert Johnson, Howlin' Wolf and Muddy Waters. He is known for his emotional, heart-felt singing style and slide guitar playing. In his early 20s, Son was a preacher. At 25, he began his blues performance career. After a short interruption of his career spent in Parchman Farm penitentiary, he developed to the point that Charley Patton invited him to make recordings in a 1930 session for Paramount Records. These records were issued at the start of the Great Depression and did not sell. Son House continued to perform live shows until 1942, when he gave up music.

In 1964 Son was rediscovered and began touring in the US and Europe. He played at Montreux Jazz Festival in 1970. In 1974 he retired to Detroit, Michigan, where he remained until his death in 1988 due to cancer of the larynx.

Sources

• Wikipedia
• Son House, by Jeff Droke