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Lonnie Pitchford

Birthdate - October 8, 1955
Birthplace - Lexington MS
Died - November 8, 1998

He was born and raised about five miles outside of Lexington, a rural Mississippi town not far from Clarksdale. Lonnie Pitchford is one of the most versatile musicians you will ever hear. He's played one room jook joints and Carnegie Hall. He is a carpenter by trade and he is good at his work. He's built his own guitars and his own house. A guiet man who never lets on he is a world famous musician; Lonnie can be seen around Clarksdale wearing his carpentry belt and carrying on his trade.

Lonnie began making one string guitars as a child and taught himself to play them. He often constructs one on stage and then proceeds to amaze audiences with his abilitiy to get incredible sounds from it. He also builds a one string guitar known as the Diddley Bow. He can get more from his Diddley Bow than a lot of guitarist can get from their Strat.

In 1974 Lonnie became an over night wonder when the Smithsonian discovered his ability to bring the material of the ledgendary Robert Johnson to life. He was 17 years old and whisked off to Washington DC to play at the National Folk Festival. He banged together his one string guitar on stage at the festival and proceeded to teach the audience about the Blues.

Lonnie is not limited to his Diddley Bow. He is equally at home with the Strat. On his latest CD release "All Around Man" he plays acoustic guitar, diddley bow, electric slide, lead, rhythm, bass, piano, and mouth harmonica. Proving he is an all around musician.

For more information on Lonnie Pitchford read Lonnie Pitchford by Jim O'Neal

Discography

Natiional Downhome Blues Festival
Deep Blues - Atlantic Records
All Around Man - Rooster Blues Records
Tribute to Robert Johnson - Sony
Living Country Blues - L & R Records
American Folk Blues - L & R Records

Lonnie with Diddley Bow

Painting by H.E. Bass

This painting was done of Lonnie Pitchford by H.E. Bass. Lonnie was playing a gig at Proud Larry's in Oxford, Mississippi.

For more blues artwork visit Bass's website Mississippi Blues Art

Delta Musicians