Bumble Bee Slim

Amos Easton (May 7, 1905 — June 8, 1968), better known by the stage name Bumble Bee Slim, was a best-selling blues artist in the 1930s. Easton was born in Brunswick, Georgia. Around 1920 he left home to join the Ringling Brothers' circus before returning to Georgia, marrying briefly, and then heading north on a freight train to Indianapolis where he settled in 1928. There, he met and was influenced by pianist Leroy Carr and guitarist Scrapper Bla... more

Amos Easton (May 7, 1905 — June 8, 1968), better known by the stage name Bumble Bee Slim, was a best-selling blues artist in the 1930s. Easton was born in Brunswick, Georgia. Around 1920 he left home to join the Ringling Brothers' circus before returning to Georgia, marrying briefly, and then heading north on a freight train to Indianapolis where he settled in 1928. There, he met and was influenced by pianist Leroy Carr and guitarist Scrapper Blackwell. By 1931 he had moved to Chicago, where he first recorded as Bumble Bee Slim for Paramount Records. The following year his song, "B&O; Blues", was a hit for Vocalion Records, inspiring a number of other railroad blues and eventually becoming a popular folk song. Over the next five years he recorded over 150 songs for the Decca, Bluebird and Vocalion labels, often accompanied by other musicians such as Big Bill Broonzy, Peetie Wheatstraw, Tampa Red, Memphis Minnie, and Washboard Sam. In contrast to the emotive songs of many earlier blues... less