Blind Teddy Darby
b. 2 March 1906, Henderson, Kentucky, USA. Born sighted, Darby lost his eyesight in the '20s, after moving to St. Louis, where he was to stay the rest of his life. Later in that decade, he learned to play guitar and established himself on the local blues scene. In 1929, he made his first records, and over the next few years made several more for four different labels, including three which were issued under the pseudonym Blind Squire Turner. His plaintive vocals and melodic blues style had the capacity to be quite distinctive, but more often he reflected other popular contemporaries, sounding on occasions like Leroy Carr, or fellow citizen Peetie Wheatstraw. In the '50s, he was ordained a deacon, and although he made some recordings in 1964, these have not been issued.