g, voc, 1899-1977 US, Ripley, Tennessee
Singer / Musician of Blues
A.k.a. John Adam Estes
Born: January 25, 1899 in Ripley, Tennessee. Died: June 05, 1977 in Brownsville, Tennessee. American blues singer & guitarist. Estes made his debut as a recording artist in Memphis in 1929, at a session organized by Ralph Peer for Victor Records. He later recorded for the Decca and Bluebird labels, with his last pre-war recording session taking place in 1941. He made a brief return to recording at Sun Studio in Memphis in 1952, recording "Runnin' Around" and "Rats in My Kitchen," but otherwise was largely out of the public eye for two decades. Though only modestly skilled as a guitarist (he was frequently teamed with more capable musicians, like Yank Rachell, Hammie Nixon, and the piano player Jab Jones), Estes was a fine singer, with a distinctive "crying" vocal style. He sounded so much like an old man, even on his early records, that blues revivalists reportedly delayed looking for him because they assumed he would have to be long dead, and because fellow musician Big Bill Broonzy had written that Estes had died. By the time he was tracked down, by Robert G. Koester and Samuel B. Charters in 1962, he had become completely blind and was living in abject poverty. He resumed touring and recording, though his later records are generally considered less interesting than his pre-war output.
Track list and 30sec audio provided by
Title | Artist | Year | Type |
---|---|---|---|
Drop Down Mama | Sleepy John Estes | 2018 | Compil. |
Tennessee Blues Vol. 2 | Hammie Nixon, Sleepy John Estes | 2016 | Album |
Live In Japan | Sleepy John Estes With Hammie Nixon | 2014 | Album |
Working Man Blues | Sleepy John Estes | 2011 | Compil. |
I Ain't Gonna Be Worried No More | Sleepy John Estes | 2010 | Compil. |
The George Mitchell Collection Vol 9 | Sleepy John Estes | 2008 | Single |
On 80 Highway | Sleepy John Estes With Hammie Nixon | 2008 | Album |
Legendary Country Blues Artists | Sleepy John Estes, Yank Rachell, Son Bonds, Charlie Pickett | 2006 | Compil. |
Someday Baby Blues | Sleepy John Estes | 2004 | Compil. |
Southern Blues | Sleepy John Estes & Hammie Nixon / Sonny Boy Nelson | 2002 | Album |
Jailhouse Blues | Sleepy John Estes | 2002 | Compil. |
First Recordings With Lewis & Rachel / The Legendary 1928-1930 Recordings | Sleepy John Estes With Noah Lewis & Yank Rachell / Cannon's Jug Stompers | 2002 | Compil. |
Newport Blues | Sleepy John Estes, Yank Rachell, Hammie Nixon | 2002 | Album |
The Essential | Sleepy John Estes | 2001 | Album |
Stone Blind Blues | Sleepy John Estes | 1999 | Album |
Goin` To Brownsville | Sleepy John Estes | 1998 | Album |
The Man Who Cried The Blues 1929-1941 | Sleepy John Estes & Hammie Nixon | 1998 | Compil. |
From Memphis to Chicago 1929-1941 | Sleepy John Estes | 1997 | Compil. |
Someday Baby (The Essential Recordings Of Sleepy John Estes) | Sleepy John Estes | 1996 | Compil. |
Drop Down Mama | Sleepy John Estes | 1996 | Compil. |
Blues Is A-Live | Sleepy John Estes, Hammie Nixon With 憂歌団 | 1995 | Album |
First Recordings | Sleepy John Estes With Yank Rachell, Noah Lewis | 1994 | Compil. |
Jailhouse Blues | Blind Willie McTell / Sleepy John Estes | 1994 | Compil. |
Blues Legends | Little Walter, Memphis Slim, Sleepy John Estes, Sunnyland Slim | 1993 | Compil. |
Brownsville Blues | Sleepy John Estes | 1992 | Compil. |
I Ain't Gonna Be Worried No More 1929 - 1941 | Sleepy John Estes | 1992 | Compil. |
1935 - 1938 | Sleepy John Estes | 1991 | Compil. |
Complete Recorded Works In Chronological Order, Volume 2 (2 August 1937 To 24 September 1941) | Sleepy John Estes | 1990 | Compil. |
Complete Recorded Works In Chronological Order, Volume 1 -- 24 September 1929 To 2 August 1937 | Sleepy John Estes | 1990 | Compil. |
1928 - 1930 | Tommy Johnson, Sleepy John Estes | 1989 | Compil. |
(1929-30 & 1941) | Sleepy John Estes | 1989 | Compil. |
The Delta Boys (1934-1941) Complete Recordings In Chronological Order | Son Bonds With Sleepy John Estes & Hammie Nixon | 1988 | Compil. |
Country Blues Live! | Mississippi John Hurt / Robert Pete Williams / John Jackson / Sleepy John Estes & Yank Rachell | 1988 | Compil. |
Original Blues & Rhythm & Blues 17 | BIlly Boy, Sleepy John Estes, Ollie Shepard, Frankie Lee Sims | 1983 | Compil. |
Down South Blues (1935-1940) | Sleepy John Estes | 1982 | Compil. |
Blues Live! | Sleepy John Estes, John Henry Barbee | 1981 | Album |
Tennessee Blues Vol. 4 | Sleepy John Estes | 1976 | Album |
1935-37 | Sleepy John Estes | 1975 | Compil. |
Broken Hearted | Sleepy John Estes | 1975 | Compil. |
1929-30 Sessions (Complete In Chronological Order) | Sleepy John Estes With Yank Rachell | 1973 | Compil. |
The Harmonica Blues Of | Sonny Terry / Doctor Ross / Hammie Nixon With Sleepy John Estes / Sonny Boy Williamson | 1972 | Compil. |
Old Original Tennessee Blues | Sleepy John Estes / Furry Lewis / Will Shade | 1971 | Compil. |
Electric Sleep | Sleepy John Estes | 1968 | Album |
The Blues Of Sleepy John Estes Volume One 1934-1937 | Sleepy John Estes | 1967 | Compil. |
Sleepy John's Got The Blues | Sleepy John Estes | 1966 | Single |
Brownsville Blues | Sleepy John Estes | 1965 | Album |
1929-1940 | Sleepy John Estes | 1964 | Compil. |
Broke And Hungry | Sleepy John Estes | 1964 | Album |
Portraits In Blues Volume 10 | Sleepy John Estes | 1964 | Album |
Treasury Of Jazz Nº 30 | Sleepy John Estes And Son Bonds | 1963 | Single |
The Legend Of Sleepy John Estes | Sleepy John Estes | 1962 | Album |
Sleepy John Estes | Sleepy John Estes | 1962 | Compil. |
Married Woman Blues / Drop Down Mama | Sleepy John Estes | 1944 | Album |
Working Man Blues / Come Back Home | Sleepy John Estes / Son Bonds | 1942 | Album |
Drop Down Mama (I Don't Feel Welcome Here) / Tell Me How About It (Mr. Tom's Blues) | Sleepy John Estes | 1940 | Album |
Jack And Jill Blues / Need More Blues | Sleepy John Estes | 1937 | Album |
Broken Hearted, Ragged And Dirty, Too / Black Mattie Blues | Sleepy John Estes | 1930 | Album |
Sleepy John Estes Volume Two | Sleepy John Estes | Single | |
Sleepy John Estes Volume One | Sleepy John Estes | Single | |
Sleepy John Estes In Europe | Sleepy John Estes | Album | |
The Blues Of Sleepy John Estes Volume Two 1938-1940 | Sleepy John Estes | Compil. | |
Mailman Blues / Time Is Drawing Near | Sleepy John Estes | Album | |
Corina Corina / President Kennedy | Sleepy John Estes & Hammie Nixon | Single | |
Recorded Live 1966 / 1974 | Sleepy John Estes Featuring Yank Rachell And Hammie Nixon | Album | |
Blues Live! Sleepy & Hammie Meet Japanese People | Sleepy John Estes, Hammie Nixon | Album |