Bowling Green in Caroline County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
John Cephas
(19302009)
Photographed By J. J. Prats, July 26, 2014
1. John Cephas Marker
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 series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1987.
Location. 38° 3.305′ N, 77° 21.028′ W. Marker is in Bowling
this page online
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 4 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. 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); Milford Station (approx. 2.6 miles away); Edmund Pendleton's Home (approx. 3.3 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.
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 646 times since then and 85 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on July 27, 2014, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio.
