Percy Strother
| Percy Strother | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Percy Lee Strother |
| Born |
July 23, 1946 Vicksburg, Mississippi, United States |
| Died | May 29, 2005 (aged 58) Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States |
| Genres | Electric blues |
| Occupation(s) | Guitarist, singer, songwriter |
| Instruments | Guitar, human voice |
| Years active | 1970s–2005 |
| Labels | Various including JSP Records |
Percy Lee Strother (July 23, 1946 – May 29, 2005) was an American electric blues guitarist, singer and songwriter. After a tragic start in life, from the mid 1970s, Strother went on to become a mainstay of the Minneapolis blues scene. His music was a blend of blues, rhythm and blues and Memphis soul, and his more noteworthy songs included "Blow Wind Blow", "Down Home Blues", "Killing Floor", "Grits Ain't Groceries", "Red Rooster", and "Take My Love".
Strother was born in Vicksburg, Mississippi, United States. His father met a violent end when he was hanged for allegedly killing a white man, and his mother died when he was aged 14. Opting to not enter an orphanage, Strother drifted from place to place, and job to job. His lifestyle was not aided by becoming an alcoholic, although he slowly taught himself to play the guitar and adopted more sober ways. He was influenced by the work of Muddy Waters, Little Walter, Howlin' Wolf and Wilson Pickett. In the 1960s he moved north away from Mississippi, and having played in various locations, Strother eventually settled in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
He recorded his debut album, A Good Woman is Hard to Find, in 1992. In the Living Blues Awards, the title song of the album was rewarded as the Best Blues Song of 1992, and the album was runner-up in the Best Blues Album category. Strother was also featured by both Block Magazine and Blues & Rhythm. The same year, he supplied guest vocals on R.J. Mischo & the Teddy Morgan Blues Band's album, Ready to Go. In 1993, Strother undertook a tour which included dates in the Netherlands and Belgium, and he performed live on Dutch radio. By June the following year, his next tour added France and Germany to his list of European concert performance venues.
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