Mississippi blueswoman Jesse Mae Hemphill specialized in a folk-derived non-commercial blues indigenous to her region.
b. October 18, 1934 in Senatobia, MS, d. July 22, 2006 in Memphis, TN. A member of a family whose musical activities can be traced back a number of generations (her grandfather Sid Hemphill and aunt Rosa Lee Hill both made recordings), from the 50s onwards, Hemphill spent many years playing and singing. She sang blues, most of which she wrote herself, based on her own experiences, and played guitar in a local style, using droning chords and beating time on a tambourine with her foot. She also played drums in a fife and drum band, one of the last active examples of an old Mississippi tradition. Hemphill made a number of recordings during this period, including a couple of singles issued by a venture owned by Memphis State University, and two raw studio albums. She won W.C. Handy awards for Best Traditional Female Blues Artist (1987 and 1988) and Best Acoustic Album (for 1991’s Feelin’ Good).
In 1993, Hemphill’s career was temporarily curtailed when she had a stroke, following which she was confined to a wheelchair and left unable to play the guitar. Her determination not to be beaten was remarkable, however, and she continued to sing and play tambourine. The results of a 2003 live session were released the following year on the double-disc set, Dare You To Do It Again. She passed away in July 2006.