Clifford Gibson
b. 17 April 1901, Louisville, Kentucky, USA, d. 21 December 1963, St. Louis, Missouri, USA. The bulk of Gibson's recordings (20 titles) were made in 1929, by which time Gibson was one of the most respected blues guitarists in St. Louis. Influenced by Lonnie Johnson, Gibson had a similar clear diction and a penchant for original, moralizing lyrics. His guitar work, characterized by extended treble runs, was outstanding: clean, precise, inventive, and at times astonishingly fast. Away from the studios, he worked as a street musician, assisted by a performing dog. He recorded (in a small band format) as Grandpappy Gibsonfor Bobbin in 1960.