Durham in Durham County, North Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)

Bull City Blues

By Patrick G. Jordan, January 8, 2011

1. Bull City Blues Marker

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

During the 1920s - 1940s, Durham was home to African American musicians whose work defined a distinctive regional style. Blues artists often played in the surrounding Hayti community and downtown tobacco warehouse district. Prominent among these were Blind Boy Fuller (Fulton Allen) (1907-1941) and Blind Gary Davis (1896-1972), whose recordings influenced generations of players.

Erected 2001 by Division of Archives and History. (Marker Number G 85.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Arts, Letters, Music.

Location. 35° 58.945′ N, 78° 53.933′ W. Marker is in Durham, North Carolina, in Durham County. Marker is at the intersection of Fayetteville Street and Simmons Street on Fayetteville Street. Marker is in front of Stanford L. Warren Branch of the Durham County Public Library. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1201 Fayetteville Street, Durham NC 27707, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Clyde R. Hoey Building (approx. half a mile away); James Edward Shepard

Bull City Blues Marker and Stanford L. Warren Public Library image. Click for full size.

By Patrick G. Jordan, January 8, 2011

2. Bull City Blues Marker and Stanford L. Warren Public Library

(approx. half a mile away); Shepard House (approx. half a mile away); Former Site of Hillside High School (approx. half a mile away); Centennial Chapel (approx. half a mile away); North Carolina Central University (approx. 0.6 miles away); Beulah C. Bowens Fuller (approx. 0.6 miles away); American Tobacco Trail (approx. 0.7 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Durham.

Also see . . .
1. Piedmont Blues. UNC Television web page chronicles history of the Piedmont Blues music movement and its roots in Durham, NC. (Submitted on January 9, 2011, by Patrick G. Jordan of Graham, North Carolina.)

2. Bull Durham Blues. The longstanding annual blues muscial festival held in Durham. 2010 was its 23rd year. (Submitted on January 9, 2011, by Patrick G. Jordan of Graham, North Carolina.)

3. Blind Boy Fuller performing "Tom Cat Blues" - YouTube. (Submitted on January 13, 2011, by Bill Pfingsten of Bel Air, Maryland.)
4. Rev. Gary Davis performing "Slow Drag / Cincinnati Flow Blues" - YouTube. (Submitted on January 13, 2011, by Bill Pfingsten of Bel Air, Maryland.)

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on January 9, 2011, by Patrick G. Jordan of Graham, North Carolina. This page has been viewed 737 times since then and 18 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on January 9, 2011, by Patrick G. Jordan of Graham, North Carolina. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.