"I Don't Play No Rock & Roll" Fred McDowell famously said, but many many Rock & Rollers play Fred's music. His bottleneck guitar playing is essential to the blues genre and has influenced countless players.

Fred was an originator of a style called North Mississippi Blues or Hill Country Blues. The style has been carried on by Luther Dickinson, R.L. Burnside and Junior Kimbrough. Fred was born in 1904 and began playing guitar in his teens, but never made a recoding until he was "discovered" by Alan Lomax in 1959. He quickly became popular in both folk and blues circles. He played the Newport Folk Festival and toured Europe. Among his many fans are the Rolling Stones who covered his tune You Got to Move,

and Bonnie Raitt who he gave guitar lessons to. The recordings were made in the year leading up to his death and will be eagerly welcomed by his many fans.