Elizabeth Cotten Biography - A Very Quick Guide
Artist:
Elizabeth Cotten
Born:
January 5, 1893
Died:
June 29, 1987
Intro
American guitarist, singer and songwriter Elizabeth Cotten was born in 1893 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. She taught herself to play guitar and banjo as a child, developing a distinctive technique by holding the guitar upside down (she was left-handed) and picking the bass lines with her fingers — a style later known as “Cotten picking.”
Elizabeth Cotten - Early Life
For most of her early life she worked in domestic service, playing music only at home. Cotten’s career began unexpectedly in the 1950s when she was employed by the Seeger family, who recognised her musical talent and helped bring her songs to wider attention.
Freight Train and Pete Seeger
Her composition “Freight Train” became a folk revival standard, and her debut album Folksongs and Instrumentals with Guitar (1958) influenced generations of folk and acoustic guitarists. She continued performing into her 80s and received a Grammy Award in 1985, a year before her death.
American guitarist, singer and songwriter Elizabeth Cotten was born in 1893 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. She taught herself to play guitar and banjo as a child, developing a distinctive technique by holding the guitar upside down (she was left-handed) and picking the bass lines with her fingers — a style later known as “Cotten picking.”
Elizabeth Cotten - Early Life
For most of her early life she worked in domestic service, playing music only at home. Cotten’s career began unexpectedly in the 1950s when she was employed by the Seeger family, who recognised her musical talent and helped bring her songs to wider attention.
Freight Train and Pete Seeger
Her composition “Freight Train” became a folk revival standard, and her debut album Folksongs and Instrumentals with Guitar (1958) influenced generations of folk and acoustic guitarists. She continued performing into her 80s and received a Grammy Award in 1985, a year before her death.
Top Pieces on 8notes by Elizabeth Cotten