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2 unusual facts about Sleepy John Estes


Haywood County, Tennessee

One of Haywood County's most notable residents was Sleepy John Estes, a blues guitarist songwriter and vocalist.

The Girl I Love She Got Long Black Wavy Hair

The lyrics in the first verse are a variation on the 1929 blues recording "The Girl I Love She Got Long Curley Hair" by Sleepy John Estes.


Barrelhouse Records

Its roster included musicians as varied as Washboard Willie, Big John Wrencher, Charlie Feathers, Harmonica Frank, Sleepy John Estes, Johnny "Man" Young, Blind Joe Hill, Joe Carter, Robert Richard, Marcus Van Story, Easy Baby and his Houserockers, and the Chicago Slim Blues Band.

Custard Pie

The lyrics to the riff-heavy song pay homage to the blues songs of the Robert Johnson era; specifically "Drop Down Mama" by Sleepy John Estes, "Shake 'Em On Down" by Bukka White, and "I Want Some Of Your Pie" by Blind Boy Fuller.

St. George Records

The label first started reissuing early post-war blues recordings by artists such as Little Walter, Jimmy Rogers, Johnny Young, Sleepy John Estes.


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