Mississippi Sheiks

Influential 1930s Delta Blues Group

The Mississippi Sheiks were a preeminent American country blues group active in the early 1930s. Composed of family members from the Chatmon family, including the notable Bo Carter (Armenter Chatmon) and Lonnie Chatmon, they were among the most popular and successful string bands of their time. Their music blended blues, ragtime, and folk, creating a unique sound that resonated with audiences across racial lines. The band's most famous song, "Sitting on Top of the World," has become a standard covered by numerous artists across various genres. While their recording career was relatively short-lived due to the Great Depression and changing musical tastes, their influence on American music has been long-lasting, with their work being revisited and celebrated through reissues and tributes by later generations of musicians. The Mississippi Sheiks' legacy is preserved through collections like "Complete Recorded Works Presented In Chronological Order," which showcase the breadth and depth of their contributions to the blues genre.