Lofton in 1935 The only known photograph of Lofton
Background information
Also known as
Poor Boy
Born
January 1897 Copiah County, Mississippi, U.S.[1]
Died
1956 or c. 1962 Copiah County, Mississippi, U.S.[2]
Genres
Delta blues
Occupation(s)
Musician
Instrument(s)
Vocal
Guitar
Kazoo[1]
Musical artist
Willie "Poor Boy" Lofton (January 1897 - 1956 or c. 1962)[2] was an American Delta blues singer-guitarist. He recorded eight sides for Decca Records and Bluebird Records, adopting a style strikingly similar to Tommy Johnson's. Lofton never achieved much commercial success or recognition in his lifetime, but his rendition of Johnson's "Big Road Blues" has been revitalized on compilation albums.
Not much is known about Lofton's personal life, although musician Plastic Crimewave, writing in his column The Secret History of Chicago Music, stated that Lofton most likely was born in Florence, Mississippi, sometime in 1905. He worked as a barber in Jackson and also played the blues, performing regularly with influential Delta blues musicians Tommy Johnson and Ishmon Bracey.[3] Johnson, in particular, was hugely impactful on Lofton's own style, as he soon adopted Johnson's fast-paced staccato guitar playing and falsetto singing.[4][5]
Lofton relocated to Chicago in 1934, recording and releasing the songs "Poor Boy Blues" and "It's Killin' Me" on Decca Records, with two additional songs from the session released in early 1935. In January 1935, he recorded "Dirty Mistreater" and "Rainy Day Blues", the former of which adopted guitar lines from Johnson. Lofton may have also been an uncredited guitarist for recordings completed by Kansas Joe McCoy later in the year. In November 1935, Lofton recorded his two most highly regarded songs of his brief recording career with pianist Black Bob Hudson on Bluebird Records, "Beer Garden Blues" and a rendition of Johnson's "Big Road Blues", retitled "Dark Road Blues".[3][6] Plastic Crimewave praised Lofton's rewritten lyrics on "Dark Road Blues" as a "part of the DNA of the entire blues tradition".[3]
In 1942, Lofton returned to Jackson without achieving much commercial success from his records. He reportedly died in 1962.[5] Lofton's work has been released numerous times on Mississippi Delta blues compilation albums as early as 1964, including Dark Road Blues, Jackson Blues 1928-1938, Mississippi Blues, Volume 2, and Tommy Johnson and Associates.[3] His interpretation of Johnson's "Big Road Blues" is also noted as the only known cover version of the song, even though it was a standard among Delta blues musicians who associated with Johnson.[6]
^ abEagle, Bob L.; LeBlanc, Eric S. (2013). Blues: A Regional Experience. ABC-CLIO. p. 215. ISBN 9780313344244.
Willie "Poor Boy" Lofton (January 1897 - 1956 or c. 1962) was an American Delta blues singer-guitarist. He recorded eight sides for Decca Records and Bluebird...
Kenneth Lofton (born May 31, 1967) is an American former Major League Baseball (MLB) center fielder. Lofton was a six-time All-Star (1994–1999), four-time...
trombonist WillieLofton (1897 - 1956 or c. 1962), American Blues musician Lofton R. Henderson (1903–1942), American naval aviator Lofton Creek Records...
in the mid-1950s with Little Walter. WillieLofton (January 1897 – 1956 or c. 1962). Singer and guitarist. Willie Love (November 4, 1906, Duncan, Mississippi...
James David Lofton (born July 5, 1956) is an American former professional football player and coach. He played in the National Football League (NFL) as...
Willie James Buchanon (born November 4, 1950) is an American former professional football player who was a cornerback for the Green Bay Packers and San...
when his debut solo release, "I Don't Know", written by Cripple Clarence Lofton (who received no royalties), topped the Billboard R&B chart for eight weeks...
The Complete Recorded Works of Arthur Petties, Freddie Spruell, Willie "Poor Boy" Lofton. "Let's Go Riding" was used in the soundtrack of the 2001 film...
Hickson Mike Taylor (basketball player) Troy Williams Diamond Stone Zach Lofton Kevin Murphy (basketball) Ace Custis DeWayne Jackson Patrick Rembert Dion...
known for being traded along with Willie Blair from the Indians to the Astros in exchange for outfielder Kenny Lofton and infielder Dave Rhode on December...
through a sample. Even J. Cole, I was listening to a song of his ("Kenny Lofton"), and it was based on the sample from the Manhattans version of 'Hurt'"...
Willie ("Poor Boy") Lofton (1935, Decca 7076) "Jake Leg Blues" - Mississippi Sheiks with Bo Carter (1930, Okeh 8939) "Jake Leg Rag" - W. T. ("Willie")...
Vinson Cow Cow Davenport Cripple Clarence Lofton Curley Weaver Detroit Gary Wiggins Drive 'Em Down (pianist Willie Hall) Fiddlin' Joe Martin Furry Lewis Gary...
label (now part of E1 Music), followed by two albums on the independent Lofton Creek Records. Stone has charted twenty-six singles on Hot Country Songs...
(WAC) Raheem Appleby - 2012 (WAC) DaQuan Bracey - 2017 (C-USA) Kenneth Lofton, Jr. - 2021 (C-USA) The Bulldogs have had 14 players selected in the NBA...
"Rock of Gibraltar" – Big Joe Turner "Strut That Thing" – Cripple Clarence Lofton "Bing Crosby" - The Lion "Jerry Lewis in France" – Ben Vaughn Combo "You're...
Race: season 15 (2009), Herbert "Flight Time" Lang and Nathaniel "Big Easy" Lofton participated, finishing fourth place. They returned for season 18 (2011)...
Major League Baseball. October 11, 2010. Retrieved October 11, 2010. "Kenny Lofton". statistical listing. Major League Baseball. October 11, 2010. Retrieved...
coach in the CFL, but after an 0–10 start in 1981, he was fired. His son, Willie Wood Jr., played for (1992–1993) and later coached the Indiana Firebirds...
"James Lofton". ProFootballHoF.com. Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved January 10, 2024. Christl, Cliff. "James Lofton". Packers...
was also the first player to collect 300 career stolen bases. With Kenny Lofton's retirement in 2007, 2008 was the first season since 1967 in which no active...
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