Career
According to Eugene Chadbourne, Paramount Records promoted him as having "come down from the Carolinas". But it is widely believed that he actually originated from Birmingham, Alabama, both because he refers to that area in his lyrics and because that was apparently where the talent scouts found him. After his recordings of 1926, no further documentation of him exists.
He recorded as one of the first country bluesmen in 1926, after being discovered performing on the streets of Birmingham, for the Paramount and Vocalion labels, on the latter under the name of Sam Butler, which has become his most common name for identification.
His 78 rpm records are highly sought by collectors and have been numerously re-released on LP and Civil Defense compilation albums. Though it is widely circulated that Jackson was active in Birmingham, he was typically promoted as originating from North Carolina.
His technique is particularly distinctive for his upbeat tempo, varied melodic lines, and impromptu instrumentals. His recordings have been published in both notation and tablature forms, which has enabled contemporary detailed study of his style and technique.
Bo Weavil Jackson (Sam Butler) 1926, Complete In Chronological Order (Matchbox, 1982) The Complete Recorded Works in Chronological Order of Sam Butler, Bobby Grant, King Solomon Hill, Lane Hardin (Document, 1991).
