Sampson Pittman

Sampson "Buddy" Pittman (March 17, 1900 – June 10, 1945) was an American Delta blues guitarist, singer and songwriter. His only known works were recorded alongside fellow Delta blues musician Calvin Frazier by the American folklorist Alan Lomax in Detroit, Michigan in 1938.

Sampson Pittman
Birth nameSampson Pittman
Born(1900-03-17)March 17, 1900
Joiner, Arkansas, United States
DiedJune 10, 1945(1945-06-10) (aged 45)
Saginaw, Michigan, United States
GenresDelta blues
Occupation(s)Guitarist, singer, songwriter
InstrumentsGuitar, vocals
Years active1930s
LabelsVarious
Associated actsCalvin Frazier

Biography

Pittman was born in Joiner, Arkansas, United States[1] in 1900.[2][3] He was the son of David Pittman and Evelyn (nee Powell) Wellchance Pittman Harrell. It is apparent from his songs "I Been Down in the Circle Before" and "Levee Camp Story", that he worked as a construction hand on the Laconia Circle Levee near Snow Lake, Arkansas as a young man. He lived near Blytheville, Arkansas before moving to Detroit, Michigan around 1936.[4]

Pittman died on June 10, 1945 in Saginaw, Michigan,[5] and was buried in Forest Lawn Cemetery in Saginaw.[6]

1938 recording

Samson was recorded by folklorist Alan Lomax in Detroit, Michigan during three sessions between 15 October - 1 November, 1938. During these sessions, Pittman accompanied Calvin Frazier on guitar on twelve recordings and sang on ten of his own original recordings.[7] The Frazier-Pittman recordings were released by Flyright Records in 1980 on the album I'm In The Highway Man.[8] Pittman's tracks alone were compiled into the 1992 album The Devil is Busy by Laurie Records.[9]

Discography
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References
  1. "Michigan Death Certificates, 1921-1952". Familysearch.org. Retrieved 5 April 2019.
  2. "Baby Worldchance", United States Census, 1900; Scout Township Bard's town, Mississippi, Arkansas;. Retrieved on 5 April 2019. Pittman is listed under the surname of his half-brothers.
  3. "Samson Harrel", United States Census, 1910; Mcgavock, Mississippi, Arkansas;. Retrieved on 5 April 2019. Pittman is listed under the surname of his stepfather.
  4. "Samson Pitman", United States Census, 1940; Ward 5, Detroit, Detroit City, Wayne, Michigan;. Retrieved on 5 April 2019. Pittman is listed as living in Blytheville, Arkansas in 1935. In "Welfare Blues", Pittman notes that he composed the song in December, 1936 in Detroit, suggesting that he had moved from near Blytheville between 1935-1936.
  5. "Michigan Death Certificates, 1921-1952"
  6. "Samson Pittman". FindaGrave.com. Retrieved 5 April 2019.
  7. Gibbs, Craig Martin (7 June 2018). Field Recordings of Black Singers and Musicians: An Annotated Discography of Artists from West Africa, the Caribbean and the Eastern and Southern United States, 1901-1943. McFarland. p. 279-280. ISBN 978-1476673387.
  8. "Calvin Frazier & Sampson Pittman – I'm In The Highway Man (1938 Detroit Field Recording)". Discogs. Retrieved 5 April 2019.
  9. "Devil Is Busy - Sampson Pittman - Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 3 April 2019.
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