Barbecue Bob 1902 – 1931

Biography

Barbecue Bob was an American blues musician born on September 11, 1902, in Georgia during a transformative era for American music. He emerged as a significant figure in the blues tradition, contributing to the rich musical heritage developing across the American South during the early twentieth century.

His life was tragically brief, ending on October 21, 1931, in Lithonia, Georgia, when he succumbed to tuberculosis at just twenty-nine years old. Despite his short time on earth, Bob left an indelible mark on blues music through his work as both a guitarist and vocalist, embodying the spirit and raw emotion characteristic of the blues genre.

Following his death, Barbecue Bob was laid to rest at Walnut Grove Methodist Church Cemetery in Walton County, where he remains remembered. Though his recording career spanned only a limited period, his contributions to American blues music secured his place in the history of this distinctly American art form. His legacy endures as a testament to the talent and passion that defined blues musicians of his generation.