b. August 9, 1890 or 1893 in Columbus, GA, d. May 9, 1972 in Memphis, TN, gospel blues musician, active 1920s - 1930s.
Far from being a cryptic note scribbled by a tarot card reader, A.C. Forehand was the husband and musical partner of Blind Mamie Forehand. She certainly surpasses him in both the weird-name department and musical fervor, sometimes drowning the poor man's anxious guitar strumming out completely with the sound of her hard banging antique cymbals. The two were street performers in Memphis, amongst the earliest recorded in the genre or classification of street-corner and storefront gospel music. The duo cut only a few titles in the late '20s, but the songs have become treasured documentation of early American primitive gospel, released time and time again on various early blues and gospel anthologies, attracting particular attention to the Forehand legacy when included on a collection assembled by John Fahey's Revenant label. After American Primitive, Vol. 1 was released there was no second volume in sight, leading to speculation that A.C. Forehand and spouse might just be an impossible act to follow. ~ Eugene Chadbourne