Mississippi John Hurt - Avalon Blues

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In 1928, Mississippi John Hurt recorded thirteen songs on the Okeh label, including "Avalon Blues." Then he disappeared. His music influenced generations of folk and blues performers, but the mystery remained. Who was he? What happened to him? In 1963, Tom Hoskins, following the clues of the "Mississippi" in Hurt's stage name, and the lyrics of this song, "Avalon, my home town," located Hurt living in a simple shack in tiny Avalon, Mississippi, the same shack pictured early in the video, and later as the reconditioned Mississippi John Hurt Museum. Not only was Hurt still alive in 1963, but the real miracle was that he retained his sweet singing voice and fluid guitar skills. He recorded dozens of songs and toured extensively in his final three years, sharing his beautiful music with the world. Sometimes there really are happy endings.