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Henry St. Claire Fredericks Jr. (born May 17, 1942), better known by his stage name Taj Mahal, is an American blues musician. He plays the guitar, piano, banjo, harmonica, and many other instruments, [1] often incorporating elements of world music into his work.
May 13, 2024 · Taj Mahal, American singer, guitarist, and songwriter who was one of the pioneers of what came to be called world music. He combined acoustic blues and other African American music with Caribbean and West African music and other genres to create a distinctive sound.
- The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
- Staff Writer
- 3 min
- “Leaving Trunk” With “Leaving Trunk,” Mahal takes another Sleepy John Estes classic and makes it his own. Released on his debut album in 1968, his rendition of “Leaving Trunk” – grit-filled and earth-shattering – introduced to the world a blues player with the ability to breathe new life into a blues standard and make it a contemporary hit.
- “Queen Bee” Another lovable original, “Queen Bee” is a stunning showcase of Mahal’s musical prowess. Effervescent strings, sporadic horns, and bright symbols strikes, they all provide the perfect foil for the artist’s beautifully gruff baritone.
- “She Caught the Katy (And Left Me a Mule to Ride)” “She Caught the Katy (And Left Me a Mule to Ride)” is one of Mahal’s most famous original songs. Written alongside Yank Rachell, Mahal released the sluggishly grooving hit in 1968 and it has since joined the ranks of blues standards.
- “Statesboro Blues” Blind Willie McTell’s “Statesboro Blues” has been covered time and again, but few have taken on the standard with the finesse and power of Taj Mahal.
- Michele Johnson
- You Don’t Miss Your Water (‘Til Your Well Runs Dry) The number one song on our Top 10 Taj Mahal Songs list is “You Don’t Miss Your Water (‘Til Your Well Runs Dry)” from The Natch’l Blues album.
- Leaving Trunk. The striking song is from his eponymous album. It has a blues sound. The expressive song is about the blues. He sings about a sensual married woman with a dangerous husband.
- Corrina. The heartbreaking song is from The Natch’l Blues album. It has a blues and folk sound. The refreshing song is about his love for Corrina. He wants the world to know that he loves Corrina.
- Lovin’ In My Baby’s Eyes. The loving song is from the Phantom Blues album. It has a blues sound. The romantic song is about wanting to see the loving look in his baby’s eyes.
Mar 6, 2024 · An inductee to the Blues Music Hall of Fame, he’s played with everyone from the Rolling Stones and Etta James to Eric Clapton, Bonnie Raitt, Wynton Marsalis, Morgan Freeman, and Keb Mo’.
Dec 2, 2014 · Taj Mahal has been blending world music with blues ever since he started performing more than 50 years ago. The two-time GRAMMY winner developed his own inimitable style by incorporating jazz, African music, reggae, soul, Hawaiian rhythms, rock, and R&B elements into his sound.
Jan 20, 2021 · The great American musician, Taj Mahal (born Henry Saint Clair Fredericks), is, at heart, an essentialist. The music he loves is often the distilled essence of a genre or style, rather...
