In this episode, Blues Disciples shines a spotlight on Jessie Mae Hemphill (1923–2006), the best-known woman in the deeply hypnotic tradition of Mississippi Hill Country Blues and a 2025 Blues Hall of Fame inductee. Raised in the rich Hemphill musical family, Jessie Mae learned guitar, drums, and tambourine from her grandfather, the legendary Sid Hemphill, and her aunt Rosa Lee Hill.

Ethnomusicologist Dr. David Evans and field researcher George Mitchell share their first encounters with Jessie Mae, tracing her journey from gospel and tambourine-led spirituals to her raw, driving Hill Country blues. You’ll hear early field interviews and rare recordings dating from 1967 and captured by Dr David Evans and George Mitchell, along with insights into Jessie Mae’s influences, community roots, and the role of fife-and-drum music in shaping her sound.

This is the beginning of our deep dive into the life and music of a groundbreaking blueswoman whose artistry helped carry the Hill Country tradition to a global stage.

Dr David Evans – Jessie Mae Hemphill Part 2

Episode 266 – Recorded 9-2-25

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