J. D. Short

Influential Delta Blues Musician

American Delta blues singer, guitarist and harmonica player. Born: December 26, 1902 near Port Gibson, Mississippi Died: October 21, 1962 in St. Louis, Missouri [Heart attack] Short was born in Port Gibson, Mississippi. He was a cousin of Big Joe Williams and David "Honeyboy" Edwards. He learned to play the piano and the guitar at an early age. He later mastered the harmonica, saxophone, clarinet and drums. He performed locally in the Mississippi Delta at house parties. In 1923 he relocated to St. Louis, Missouri. Short went on to play with the Neckbones, Henry Spaulding, David "Honeyboy" Edwards, Douglas Williams, and Big Joe Williams. In the 1930s, he recorded for Vocalion Records. The musician Henry Townsend, in his autobiography, A Blues Life, told of an incident in St. Louis in which, seemingly out of jealousy of Townsend's musical standing, Short attacked and stabbed him twice. Later, by way of revenge, Townsend shot Short in the genitals, destroying Short's testicles. Short continued performing in St. Louis after World War II, often as a one-man band and sometimes with his cousin Big Joe Williams. Short disappeared from the music industry for over two decades before re-emerging during the blues revival of the 1960s. He achieved national recognition and went on to record for Delmark Records and Folkways Records. Some of his recordings were later released by Sonet Records. Short appeared in the 1963 documentary film The Blues, singing "Slidin' Delta". "Jaydee Short himself confirmed that he is Jelly Jaw Short, and it has been suggested that Joe Stone, R.T. Hanen, and 'Neckbones' (see under Peetie Wheatstraw) may also be pseudonyms for J.D. Short." (Blues & gospel records 1890-1943 (Oxford University Press, 1997), p. 794)