Skip James — “Devil Got My Woman”
Born in Mississippi when the 20th century was but two years old, Nehemiah “Skip” James was a blues musician, share cropper, bootlegger and preacher. Recording songs in the late 20′s and into the 30′s, James disappeared from the blues/music scene and drifted in and out of music until he was discovered in a hospital by a group of blues enthusiasts that included Henry Vestine of Canned Heat in 1964. Skip would pick where he left off in the 30′s, recording for the Vanguard label. The new blues revival of the 60′s was good for sales and James found a new generation of fans, including Eric Clapton, Dion & Deep Purple amongst others. The song, “Devil Got My Woman” was featured prominently in the 2000 film Ghost World and is proof of James’ timeless legacy. Here he is performing the song in 1966:
