John Cephas

E-230

Born in Washington D.C., John Cephas grew up there and in Caroline County. He was influenced at an early age by his mother's singing, and a cousin taught him the highly syncopated and danceable guitar style now known as Piedmont Blues, which employs a complex, finger-picking approach. Cephas performed at rural dance parties and as a gospel singer, developing his rich voice. He, and harmonica master Phil Wiggins, made numerous awarding-winning albums and performed all over the world, earning the W. C. Handy Award as Blues Entertainers of the Year in 1987. Cephas received the coveted National Heritage Fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts in 1989.

Department of Historic Resources, 2009

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References/Bibliographic Citation:

Harrison, Don. A sonic tribute: Piedmong bluesman John Cephas pay homage to his guitar roots. In: Virginia living. Richmond, VA vol.6, no.6 (Oct. 2008), pg. 35. John Cephas. Vertical File – Biography, Virginia Historical Society. John Cephas, African American Trailblazer. You Tube, Interviewed by Gregg Kimball, Library of Virginia. Pearson, Barry Lee. Virginia Piedmont blues: the lives and art of two Virginia bluesmen. (Philidelphia, University of Pennsylvania Press, 1990). Richmond Times Dispatch, March 5, 2009. The Washington Post, March 6, 2009. Blues Singer and Guitarist Preserved Virginia Traditions.