Presumably born in Jacksonville, FL in 1893, Blind Blake came to prominence recording for Paramount from 1926 until the label closed in 1932. In fact, Blake was Paramount's best-selling and most recorded artist, with over a hundred sides to his name. Blake-one of the greatest blues guitarists of all time-is best known for his development of the "ragtime" guitar style, the sheer complexity of which has baffled would-be imitators for the past eight decades. His mastery of this approach was so complete that none have ever come close to being able to imitate him. The tracks on this LP were recorded in the Paramount Studios in Chicago in May of 1928, with blues singer Bertha Henderson on vocals on "That Lonesome Rave", Leavin' Gal Blues" and several others. Guest vocalists also appear on "Beulah Land" (Daniel Brown) and "Elzadie's Policy Blues" (Elzadie Robinson). Many of these songs have long been considered early American blues classics.