Bowling Green in Caroline County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

John Cephas

(1930–2009)

Photographed By J. J. Prats, July 26, 2014

1. John Cephas Marker

Inscription. Born in Washington D.C., John Cephas grew up there and in Caroline County. He was influenced at an early age by his mother's singing. A cousin taught him the highly syncopated and danceable guitar style now known as Piedmont Blues, which employs a complex, finger -picking approach. Cephas performed at rural dance parties and developed his rich voice as a gospel singer. He and harmonica master Phil Wiggins made numerous award-winning albums and performed all over the world, earning the W. C. Handy Award as Blues Entertainers of the Year in 1987. Cephas received the coveted National Heritage Fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts in 1989.

Erected 2014 by Department of Historic Resources. (Marker Number E-230.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Entertainment. In addition, it is included in the Virginia Department of Historic Resources (DHR) series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1987.

Location. 38° 3.305′ N, 77° 21.028′ W. Marker is in Bowling Green, Virginia, in Caroline County. Marker is at the intersection of North Main Street (Business U.S. 301) and West Broaddus Avenue (Route 207), on the left when traveling north on North Main

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Street. Also at this intersection is Fredericksburg Pike (Virginia Route 2). Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 268 N Main St, Bowling Green VA 22427, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Town of Bowling Green (approx. 0.3 miles away); Caroline Veterans Memorial (approx. 0.3 miles away); Caroline County, Virginia (approx. 0.3 miles away); Campaign of 1781 (approx. 0.3 miles away); The Honorable J. Peyton Farmer Circuit Courthouse (approx. 0.3 miles away); Caroline County World War I Memorial (approx. 0.3 miles away); Star Hotel (approx. 0.4 miles away); Caroline County Courthouse (approx. 0.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Bowling Green.

Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker.

Also see . . . John Cephas and Phil Wiggins — Richmond Blues.
There is a short interview after the performance. (Submitted on July 27, 2014.)

Photographed By J. J. Prats, July 26, 2014

2. John Cephas Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on June 17, 2017. It was originally submitted on July 27, 2014, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. This page has been viewed 826 times since then and 24 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on July 27, 2014, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio.