Garfield Akers

Garfield Akers (possibly born James Garfield Echols, probably 1908 – c. 1959) was an American blues singer and guitarist. He had sometimes performed under the pseudonym "Garfield Partee." Information about him is uncertain, and knowledge of his life is based almost entirely on reports of a few contemporary witnesses.

Akers' extant recordings consist of four sides, which are nonetheless historically significant. His most well-known song was his debut single "Cottonfield Blues", a duet with friend and longtime collaborator Joe Callicott on second guitar, based on a song performed by Texas blues musician Henry Thomas a few years earlier.

Birth and Death Data: Born 1902, Died 1953 (Memphis)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1929 - 1930

Roles Represented in DAHR: vocalist, composer, lyricist

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Brunswick M201 10-in. Sept. 1929 Cottonfield blues Garfield Akers Male vocal solo, with guitar vocalist, composer, lyricist  
Brunswick M202 10-in. Sept. 1929 Cottonfield blues Garfield Akers Male vocal solo, with guitar vocalist, composer, lyricist  
Brunswick MEM776 10-in. 2/20/1930 Dough roller blues Garfield Akers Male vocal solo, with guitar vocalist, composer, lyricist  
Brunswick MEM777 10-in. 2/20/1930 Jumpin’ and shoutin’ blues Garfield Akers Male vocal solo, with guitar vocalist, composer, lyricist  

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Akers, Garfield," accessed November 19, 2024, https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/317097.

Akers, Garfield. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 19, 2024, from https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/317097.

"Akers, Garfield." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 19 November 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/317097

External Sources

Wikipedia: Garfield Akers

Discogs: Garfield Akers

Linked Open Data Sources

LCNAR: Akers, Garfield - http://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/no96020813

Wikidata: Garfield Akers - http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q328481

VIAF: http://viaf.org/viaf/43891111

MusicBrainz: Garfield Akers - https://musicbrainz.org/artist/39c9ea43-f891-4eda-a344-9d7ba68524fd

ISNI: 0000 0000 4112 5863 - http://www.isni.org/isni/0000000041125863

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