Mississippi John Hurt

Mississippi John Hurt (born John Smith Hurt) became world famous in 1963. By then, the soft-spoken, 70-year-old bluesman had been playing for decades in and around his hometown of Avalon, Mississippi, mainly for neighbors and at local gatherings. A central figure in the early 1960s folk and blues revival, Hurt went from obscurity to fame within a few dizzying months. He performed on college campuses and festival stages across America, signed a recording contract, and even appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson. Hurt’s influence would reach far beyond the blues, inspiring musicians in folk, country, bluegrass, gospel, and rock. His performances at the Newport Folk Festival and Library of Congress recordings anchor his legacy in American folk and blues heritage, while his gentle spirit made him “The Heart of America’s Folk Revival” and helped inspire national reverence for traditional Southern blues.