Peg Leg Sam
Encyclopedia
Peg Leg Sam was an American
country blues
harmonicist, singer and comedian
. He recorded "Fox Chase" and "John Henry", and worked in medicine show
s. He gained his nickname
following an accident whilst hobo
ing in 1930.
, United States
, to David Jackson, a farmer and native of Virginia, and Emma Jackson, Arthur was the fourth of six children. His fraternal great-grandmother, Racheal Williams, was born 1810 in Colonial Virginia, and was commonly referred to as a mulatto. She may have had a Caucasian
mother or father, most likeley, a cacausian father, as this would have been typical for the time period. The genealogy of Arthur, is being conducted by genealogist Dennis Richmond. Arthur went on to marry Theo S. Jackson, who was 18 years older than him, and the mother of Herbert Miller and Katherine Miller, both natives of Tennessee
. In South Carolina
, Peg Leg Sam made his living busking
on the street and performing in patent-medicine shows
. Peg Leg Sam gave his last medicine-show performance in 1972 in North Carolina
, but continued to appear at music festival
s in his final years.
He died in Jonesville in October 1977, at the age of 65.
, Le Fabuleux Destin d'Amélie Poulain
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
country blues
Country blues
Country blues is a general term that refers to all the acoustic, mainly guitar-driven forms of the blues. It often incorporated elements of rural gospel, ragtime, hillbilly, and dixieland jazz...
harmonicist, singer and comedian
Comedian
A comedian or comic is a person who seeks to entertain an audience, primarily by making them laugh. This might be through jokes or amusing situations, or acting a fool, as in slapstick, or employing prop comedy...
. He recorded "Fox Chase" and "John Henry", and worked in medicine show
Medicine show
Medicine shows were traveling horse and wagon teams which peddled "miracle cure" medications and other products between various entertainment acts. Their precise origins unknown, medicine shows were common in the 19th century United States...
s. He gained his nickname
Nickname
A nickname is "a usually familiar or humorous but sometimes pointed or cruel name given to a person or place, as a supposedly appropriate replacement for or addition to the proper name.", or a name similar in origin and pronunciation from the original name....
following an accident whilst hobo
Hobo
A hobo is a term which is often applied to a migratory worker or homeless vagabond, often penniless. The term originated in the Western—probably Northwestern—United States during the last decade of the 19th century. Unlike 'tramps', who work only when they are forced to, and 'bums', who do not...
ing in 1930.
Biography
Born Arthur Jackson in Jonesville, South CarolinaJonesville, South Carolina
Jonesville is a town in Union County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 911 at the 2010 United States Census.-Geography:Jonesville is located at ....
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, to David Jackson, a farmer and native of Virginia, and Emma Jackson, Arthur was the fourth of six children. His fraternal great-grandmother, Racheal Williams, was born 1810 in Colonial Virginia, and was commonly referred to as a mulatto. She may have had a Caucasian
Caucasian
Caucasian may refer to:*Anything from the Caucasus region**Peoples of the Caucasus or Caucasian peoples, humans from the Caucasus region**Languages of the Caucasus, languages spoken in the Caucasus region...
mother or father, most likeley, a cacausian father, as this would have been typical for the time period. The genealogy of Arthur, is being conducted by genealogist Dennis Richmond. Arthur went on to marry Theo S. Jackson, who was 18 years older than him, and the mother of Herbert Miller and Katherine Miller, both natives of Tennessee
Tennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
. In South Carolina
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
, Peg Leg Sam made his living busking
Busking
Street performance or busking is the practice of performing in public places, for gratuities, which are generally in the form of money and edibles...
on the street and performing in patent-medicine shows
Medicine show
Medicine shows were traveling horse and wagon teams which peddled "miracle cure" medications and other products between various entertainment acts. Their precise origins unknown, medicine shows were common in the 19th century United States...
. Peg Leg Sam gave his last medicine-show performance in 1972 in North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
, but continued to appear at music festival
Music festival
A music festival is a festival oriented towards music that is sometimes presented with a theme such as musical genre, nationality or locality of musicians, or holiday. They are commonly held outdoors, and are often inclusive of other attractions such as food and merchandise vending machines,...
s in his final years.
He died in Jonesville in October 1977, at the age of 65.
Documentary
A biography of Peg Leg Sam, Born for Hard Luck was released by Tom Davenport in 1976. An excerpt of the documentary appears in the French filmFilm
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
, Le Fabuleux Destin d'Amélie Poulain
Amélie
Amélie is a 2001 romantic comedy film directed by Jean-Pierre Jeunet. Written by Jeunet with Guillaume Laurant, the film is a whimsical depiction of contemporary Parisian life, set in Montmartre...
.
Discography
- Medicine Show Man
- Early in the Morning (featuring Louisiana RedLouisiana RedLouisiana Red is an African American blues guitarist, harmonica player, and singer, who has recorded more than 50 albums...
) - Joshua (also featuring Louisiana Red)
External links
- http://www.folkstreams.net/film,1
- http://www.ibiblio.org/hardluck/
- http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=6741
- http://www.gazettegreenwood.net/phonotheque/phonotheque3a5.htm
- http://www.planetharmonica.com/ph2/VF/Train&HarmoFR.htm