Born October 25th, 1925, near Conetoe, Edgecombe County, North Carolina. His father Isaiah and brother, Isaiah Jr. both played guitars and the brother bought Elester a guitar when he was 13, and taught him to play, very much in the style of the very popular Blind Boy Fuller. He also learned older country pieces from his maternal uncle, Junie Bradley. For some time, Elester played with a cousin, Jesse Anderson on harmonica and they often played dances together. By the time Elester gave up playing in about 1968, he was with a small band in Greenville that included a saxophone. Once his sons began to play, he stopped but thanks to encourage-ment from Danny McLean (again!) and Kip Lornell who located him in the first place, he has reworked his older pieces, and tried to help Danny and me locate other bluesmen in the area where he lives. This won't be his last release. ~ Bruce Bastin
