Henry Stuckey
"The Father"Often cited as the source of the Bentonia sound, Stuckey claimed to have acquired the unique minor tuning from Caribbean soldiers during WWI. He taught the style to Skip James and Jack Owens, laying the foundation for everything that followed.
Skip James
"The Architect"The most famous exponent of the style, his 1931 recordings are legendary. His complex fingerpicking and haunting falsetto voice defined the "eerie" quality that makes Bentonia Blues world-renowned.
Jack Owens
"The Preservationist"While Skip James left the Delta, Jack Owens stayed in Bentonia. For decades, he kept the local tradition alive at his home and at the Blue Front Cafe, performing in the raw, original style until his passing in 1997.
Jimmy "Duck" Holmes
"The Last Living Link"Owner of the Blue Front Cafe and a Grammy-nominated artist, Holmes is the modern torchbearer. He learned directly from Jack Owens and continues to teach and perform the authentic Bentonia style for a new generation.