Dad.

Father of the Delta blues, Charlie Patton was a true homegrown talent. Born in 1891 (there is debate over this, with some musicologists suggesting he was born earlier, that is 1885 earlier) on the Mississippi delta. He moved with his family to the Dockery Plantation at the turn of the century. A couple of other real cool cats found out about the Patton magic, maybe you've heard of them: John Lee Hooker and Howlin Wolf.

Music has to come from somewhere, and Patton learned his craft from local Dockery musician Henry Sloan. Blues wasn't invented yet but this guy had it going on. Two of Patton's future sideman, Son House and Tommy Johnson learned at Sloan's feet. Unfortunately there are no known Sloan recordings.

Patton's first real composition was "pony Blues". Known as a song writer and developer of the the delta blues style, he was comfortable playing many genres and toured all over the Southern United States. Toured is being generous. He was a Black musician in turn of the century times so he played plantations and beer halls.

Crowds came from all over to see the show, and a show it was. Way before the antics of Pete Townsend or pyrotechnics of Hendrix, this guy played the guitar below his knees and behind his head wowing the crowns who had never seen anything like him before. There were no amps or PA systems then, but his voice was as legendary as his playing. He could blow out candles at the back of the hall.

Patton moved to Holly Ridge Mississippi with his partner, fellow musician Bertha Lee, where he lived until his death in 1934. He has also been known to go by the name Elder J.J. Hadley.