J.D. Short

b. December 26, 1902 in Port Gibson, MS, d. October 21, 1962 in St. Louis, MO. Short grew up in various parts of Mississippi where he learned guitar from Willie Johnson and piano from Son Harris. In 1923, Short moved to St. Louis where he was discovered by Jesse Stone. He recorded country blues for Paramount (1930) and Vocalion (1932), but spent most of the 30s playing clarinet in a St. Louis jazz group. Short was crippled by a wartime injury but continued performing after 1945, often as a guitar/harmonica/bass drum one-man band and sometimes with his cousin Big Joe Williams. The duo worked together on Short's final recording for Sonet, recreating the music of their early years in the south on tracks such as 'Starry Crown Blues'. Short died a few months later, in October 1962 on arrival, Homer G. Phillips Hospital in St. Louis, Missouri, buried at Jefferson Barracks Cemetery in St. Louis, Missouri.

"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)

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J.D. Short was a Delta blues singer, guitarist and harmonicist, he possessed a distinctive vibrato laden, singing voice. Early in his career, Short recorded under a number of pseudonyms, including Jelly Jaw Short. His more noteworthy works included "Lonesome Swamp Rattlesnake" and "You're Tempting Me."

Born in Port Gibson, Mississippi, Short learned to play both the piano and guitar at a young age. He later mastered the harmonica, saxophone, clarinet and drums. Short performed locally in the Mississippi Delta at house parties, but relocated in 1923 to St. Louis, Missouri. Short went on to play along with the Neckbones, Henry Spaulding, David "Honeyboy" Edwards, Douglas Williams, and Big Joe Williams. In the 1930s, Short recorded for the Vocalion label. Henry Townsend in his autobiography, A Blue Life, told of incidents in St. Louis that affected both his and Short's lives. Seemingly due to jealousy of his musical standing, Short attacked and twice stabbed Townsend. Later, by way of revenge, Townsend shot Short in his genitals, which resulted in Short losing both of his testicles. The account was also mentioned in Townsend's obituary in The Guardian. Short continued performing in St. Louis after World War II, often as a one-man band and sometimes with his cousin, Big Joe Williams. Nevertheless, Short effectively disappeared from the music industry for over two decades, before re-emerging at the start of the blues revival period. He achieved belated national recognition, and went on to record further tracks for Delmark and Folkways. Some of his recordings were later released on Sonet.

Short was featured in the 1963 documentary film, The Blues, singing "Slidin' Delta". However, he had already died in October 1962 of a heart attack, in St. Louis, at the age of 59.

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By Ron Wynn

Gifted with a striking and almost immediately identifable vocal style characterized by an amazing vibrato, J.D. Short was also a very versatile musician. He played piano, saxophone, guitar, harmonica, clarinet and drums. Growing up in the Mississippi Delta, Short learned guitar and piano. He was a frequent performer at house parties before he moved to St. Louis in the '20s. Short played with the Neckbones, Henry Spaulding, Honeyboy Edwards, Douglas Williams, and Big Joe Williams from the '30s until the early '60s. He recorded for Vocalion, Delmark, Folkways, and Sonet. Short was in the 1963 documentary The Blues, but died before it was released.