Blind Roosevelt Graves

Blind Roosevelt Graves ( born December 9, 1909 in Rose Hill, near Meridian, Mississippi, † December 30, 1962 in Gulfport ) was an early American gospel and blues guitarist and singer, who with his brother also almost blind Uaroy Graves (tambourine and kazoo ) performed as a duo. Little is known about the life of the Graves brothers.

1929 the two made, discovered by H.C. Speir, their first recordings for Paramount Records. They were the first who recorded the Guitar Boogie, and their I'll Be Rested is a prime example of gospel music of their time.

In 1936 the brothers took along with the piano player Cooney Vaughn on two songs that, according to Rolling Stone Illustrated History of Rock and Roll " fully formed rock & roll guitar riffs and a pounding rock and roll beat" had: Barbecue Bust and Dangerous Woman. The recordings under the name "Mississippi Jook Band" originated in the station of Hattiesburg, Mississippi.

Some pieces of the two brothers were released under the name "Blind Roosevelt Graves and Brother ". There were doubts whether " Uaroy " was the correct name of Roosevelt's brother. In places, the name " Aaron " was used instead, because it was assumed the name had been written incorrectly or in poorly legible. Only in 2004, were asked as photos of the original documents from Paramount to the Internet, " Uaroy Graves " as the correct name was unequivocally confirmed.