Whistler and His Jug Band Heroes of the Blues Trading Tee Card #11 Art by R. Crumb, Text by Stephen Calt The first jug band to record, in 1924, was Whistler and His Jug band, a group hailing from the Louisville, Kentucky, area where, beginning at the turn of the century, jug bands playing string band arrangements entertained during the Kentucky Derby. From 1924 to 1931, Whistler's aggregation recorded twenty-one titles for three different companies. A movie clip of the essentially unknown players exists, a still from which provided the source for this card illustration. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of this Keep on Truckin' Apparel exclusive t-shirt will be donated to Music Maker Relief Foundation. Image copyright of Shanachie Entertainment Corp.

Memphis Minnie (1897-1973) Heroes of the Blues Trading Tees Card #32 Art by R. Crumb Text by Stephen Calt Lizzie Douglas, born in Algiers, Louisiana, was raised in Memphis, and learned guitar at the age of eleven. As Kid Douglas, she toured the South from 1916 onward, returning to Memphis in the late 1920's under the name Memphis Minnie. An accomplished guitarist and gifted song-writer, she recorded over 150 sides between 1929-1941. Most were solo blues, but she also teamed for duets with her second husband, guitarist Kansas Joe McCoy, and her third husband, guitarist Little Son Joe Lawlar. Memphis Minnie was inducted into the Blues Foundation Hall of Fame in 1980. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of this Keep On Truckin' Apparel exclusive t-shirt will be donated to Music Maker Relief Foundation.

Furry Lewis(c. 1900-1981) Heroes of the Blues Trading Tee Card #16 Art by R. Crumb, Text by Stephen Calt Walter (Furry) Lewis was born about 1900 and raised in Memphis, Tennessee, where he learned guitar in the early 1900s by listening to a middle-aged street singer named Blind Joe. Never a full-time musician, Lewis played mainly on local streets where his most popular piece was "John Henry." From 1927 to 1928, he recorded twenty-three sides. In the 1960s the personable Lewis began a second career as a concert performer, even appearing in a Burt Reynolds movie. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of this Keep on Truckin' Apparel exclusive t-shirt will be donated to Music Maker Relief Foundation. Image copyright of Shanachie Entertainment Corp.

Peg Leg Howell (1888-1966) Heroes of the Blues Trading Tee Card #2 Art by R. Crumb, Text by Stephen Calt A native of Eatonton, Georgia, Joshus Barnes (Peg Leg) Howell taught himself guitar around 1909, at the age of twenty-one, and subsequently worked in Atlanta as a street singer. Howell was one of the earliest country blues preformers to be recorded. He made twenty-eight sides, many with string band accompaniment, between 1926 and 1929. Like most street singers of the period, Howell had a diverse repertoire that included both blues and up-tempo ragtime songs. He died in 1966. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of this Keep on Truckin' Apparel exclusive t-shirt will be donated to Music Maker Relief Foundation. Image copyright of Shanachie Entertainment Corp.

Frank Stokes (1888-1955) Heroes of the Blues Trading Tee Card #5 Art by R. Crumb, Text by Stephen Calt Born in 1888 in Whitehaven, Tennessee, Frank Stokes began playing around 1900, and pursued his career in Memphis, where he became one of the city's most popular entertainers. Between 1927 and 1929, he recorded thirty-six side for two labels, usually in tandem with his accompanist Dan Sane. His best-known tune was "Crump Don't 'low it," which referred to the mayor of Memphis and was nationally associated with composer W.C. Handy. Stokes died in 1955. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of this Keep on Truckin' Apparel exclusive t-shirt will be donated to Music Maker Relief Foundation. Image copyright of Shanachie Entertainment Corp.