Napoleon Strickland

Napoleon Strickland (October 1, 1919[1] – July 21, 2001), sometimes known as Napolian Strickland, was a fife and drum blues artist, and songwriter, and vocalist specializing in country blues, specifically North Mississippi hill country blues. He also played guitar, drums, harmonica, fife, and all manner of percussion instruments.

Life

Born near Como east of the Mississippi Delta in hill country, Napoleon Strickland learned music as a boy from his father. Later Othar Turner taught him how to play. He became adept with guitar, drums, harmonica, diddley bow, fife, and all manner of percussion. He was primarily a fife player and singer, playing a great number of festivals. He also performed on several compilation albums of North Mississippi hill country blues, as the music was recorded in the late 20th century. He appeared in the biopic documentary film, The Land Where The Blues Began.[2]

Strickland was considered by many to have been the premier fife player of his genre. He made a living as a sharecropper for most of his life, mentoring other musicians in the region. After a car accident, he was committed to a nursing home but continued to play for guests from his bed.

Discography
  • V/A - Mississippi Delta Blues Jam in Memphis Vol. 1 - Arhoolie Records
  • V/A - Blow My Blues Away Vol. 1 - Arhoolie Records
  • V/A - Traveling Through the Jungle - Testament Records
  • V/A - Testament Records Sampler - Testament Records
  • V/A - Feel Like Goin' Home Blues - Sony Music Canada
  • V/A - Living Country Blues USA Vol. 7 - Living Country Blues Records
  • V/A - Living Country Blues USA Vol. 10 - Living Country Blues Records
  • V/A - Bottleneck Blues - Hightone Records
  • V/A - Mississippi Delta Blues in the 1960s - Venerable Music
  • V/A - Afro-American Folk Music - Venerable Music
  • V/A - Memphis Swamp Jam - Blue Thumb Records

See also

References
  1. Date of birth as per Social Security Death Index
  2. Johnson, Greg "Napolian Strickland" Archived 2012-02-05 at the Wayback Machine, Blues Notes, September 18, 2001. Accessed November 6, 2007.
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