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205:. This switch from playing the blues to gospel was short-lived, as Higgs became despondent to note the drinking habits of some of his gospel group. He then teamed up with another local bluesman, Elester Anderson, although Anderson's premature death in the mid-1970s left Higgs to begin performing solo.
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Having become proficient in both of his chosen musical instruments, Higgs worked as a carpenter during the day, but played at house parties, fish fries, and other local gatherings during the evenings, and at the weekend, throughout the 1940s and 1950s. He also competed in guitar playing contests in
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around the tobacco market season, and it left a favorable impression on the young Higgs. Thus inspired as a teenager to acquire his first guitar, Higgs sold his favorite squirrel dog to a neighbor to raise funds. Their close proximity meant that the hound spent more time at Higg's home than at his
166:, United States. Higgs joked throughout his life about Speed; "a slow town with a fast name". Born into a farming community, he was inspired to play the harmonica after watching his father, Jesse Higgs, play the instrument while singing
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acoustic guitarist, harmonicist, singer and songwriter. He recorded three albums in his lifetime, although he spent over sixty years performing regularly, mainly in his home State. In 1993, Higgs was granted the
201:. During this period Higgs and his wife Bettye raised six children. In the 1960s, Higgs joined the Friendly Five Gospel Quartet, some of whose performances were broadcast on the local radio station
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Music Maker had also previously assisted Higgs in securing a passport, provided funds for his healthcare, and supplied him with guitars. Higgs was then featured in the book
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247:, and traditional tunes, although Higgs was credited with writing four of the collection. The album contained versions of
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306:. His touring took in many venues in the United States. These included performing at the Carolina Blues Festival in
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presented Higgs with a High School diploma in 2011, and around that time he was photographed on stage at the
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824:"Divining George Higgs, Ben Casey Remembers A North Carolina Blues Giant | TownDock.net, Oriental NC"
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Piedmont blues today : the music of Romie Plum, George Higgs and James 'Bud' Powell (VHS tape, 1988)
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170:, including "Cryin' Holy Unto the Lord". Higgs trained as a carpenter, and he grew up listening to the
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followed in 2007, and Higgs was a major performer at
Tarboro's 250th birthday celebration in 2010.
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Piedmont blues today : the music of Romie Plum, George Higgs and James 'Bud' Powell
224:. However in 1999, his family lost most of their possessions in the flooding caused by
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216:. In 1998, he made his first overseas trip as his notability grew. The same year, a
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251:'s "My Hook's in the Water" and "Black and Tan"; "Greasy Greens" originally by
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668:"George Higgs Albums: songs, discography, biography, and listening guide"
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new owner's, so he bought the guitar and kept the company of his dog.
802:"Legendary bluesman and heritage award recipient George Higgs passes"
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in New York; plus overseas he played at the Blues to Bop
Festival in
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724:"Tarboro Blues – George Higgs | Songs, Reviews, Credits"
578:"George Higgs – Rainy Day Blues, Rueben | Free Podcasts"
286:
Music Makers: Portraits and Songs from the Roots of
America
288:(2004). By this time his fame had spread and the musician
329:, United States, on January 29, 2013, at the age of 82.
137:(March 9, 1930 – January 29, 2013) was an American
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435:"Legendary NC Blues Musician George Higgs Dies"
553:"George Higgs – Music Maker Relief Foundation"
776:"Tarboro Blues – George Higgs | Credits"
314:; the Mississippi Valley Blues Festival; the
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935:People from Edgecombe County, North Carolina
228:, although they rebuilt their Tarboro home.
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275:was named Best Blues Album of the Year by
106:Guitarist, harmonicist, singer, songwriter
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20:
608:"George Higgs – Twin County Hall of Fame"
520:Edward Komara; Peter Lee (July 1, 2004).
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263:was an associate producer and wrote the
850:"George Higgs | Album Discography"
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493:"Higgs, George and the Bull City Blues"
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239:. Most of the songs Higgs performed on
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316:Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts
526:. Taylor & Francis. p. 426.
271:was credited as creative consultant.
235:, was made in collaboration with the
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945:20th-century American male musicians
749:Bill Mitchell (January 31, 2002).
184:. Higgs saw the harmonica player,
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642:"PineCone Remembers George Higgs"
322:, Switzerland, and in Australia.
292:counted Higgs among his mentors.
940:20th-century American guitarists
910:American blues harmonica players
402:List of Piedmont blues musicians
930:Songwriters from North Carolina
208:In 1993, Higgs was granted the
920:Guitarists from North Carolina
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308:Winston-Salem, North Carolina
259:'s "I'm Worried About That".
237:Music Maker Relief Foundation
231:In 2001, Higgs' debut album,
210:North Carolina Heritage Award
144:North Carolina Heritage Award
925:Singers from North Carolina
300:Raleigh Charter High School
214:North Carolina Arts Council
148:North Carolina Arts Council
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461:"George Higgs Discography"
950:American male songwriters
890:American blues guitarists
712:– via WorldCat.org.
304:Pamlico Community College
114:Guitar, vocals, harmonica
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915:Piedmont blues musicians
895:American male guitarists
327:Tarboro, North Carolina
199:Tarboro, North Carolina
86:Tarboro, North Carolina
900:American blues singers
751:"Blues Bytes Surprise"
523:The Blues Encyclopedia
312:Gathering of the Vibes
220:was released entitled
47:Background information
905:American male singers
325:George Higgs died in
176:, taking a liking to
164:Speed, North Carolina
69:Speed, North Carolina
804:. Ncartseveryday.org
782:. September 13, 2005
730:. September 13, 2005
407:List of harmonicists
188:, playing nearby in
37:Higgs (right) with
830:. February 7, 2013
648:. January 31, 2013
441:. January 30, 2013
158:Higgs was born in
697:. April 2, 2017.
533:978-1-135-95831-2
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62:March 9, 1930
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857:. Retrieved
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828:Towndock.net
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646:Pinecone.org
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387:Music Maker
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278:Living Blues
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257:Howlin' Wolf
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135:George Higgs
134:
133:
81:(2013-01-29)
41:(left), 2010
25:George Higgs
18:
885:2013 deaths
880:1930 births
497:Ncpedia.org
465:Discogs.com
360:Music Maker
333:Discography
310:; plus the
265:liner notes
253:Peg Leg Sam
190:Rocky Mount
186:Peg Leg Sam
124:Music Maker
874:Categories
413:References
290:David Holt
168:spirituals
58:1930-03-09
612:Tchof.org
383:Rainy Day
294:Rainy Day
269:Taj Mahal
218:videotape
212:from the
154:Biography
146:from the
859:July 15,
854:AllMusic
834:July 15,
808:July 15,
786:July 15,
780:AllMusic
760:July 15,
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728:AllMusic
708:July 15,
703:18705094
677:July 15,
652:July 15,
617:July 15,
587:July 15,
562:July 15,
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470:July 15,
445:July 15,
439:Wunc.org
396:See also
267:, while
197:nearby
162:, near
67:, near
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320:Lugano
255:; and
119:Labels
93:Genres
343:Title
243:were
861:2017
836:2017
810:2017
788:2017
762:2017
736:2017
710:2017
699:OCLC
679:2017
654:2017
619:2017
589:2017
564:2017
528:ISBN
504:2017
472:2017
447:2017
379:2007
366:2005
351:2001
340:Year
203:WCPS
180:and
76:Died
52:Born
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Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
