Blind Roosevelt Graves

Blues and gospel singer and probably guitarist. With his brother Uaroy Graves, he recorded for Paramount in 1929 and for ARC in 1936; some 1936 recordings, on which Cooney Vaughn were added to the duo, were released as Mississippi Jook Band. "We are not sure wheter Roosevelt Graves plays the guitar and his brother the tambourine, or vice-versa; the first choice seems more likely. It is presumed that Roosevelt is the lead voice and Uaroy the second, heard in refrains, etc. We have no definite evidence that the composition of the Mississippi Jook Band is as shown, but our hypothesized personnel seems to be the most likely one. It is based on aural evidence and on a spoken encouragement directed to the piano player which mentions what soulds like the name 'Cooney'." (Blues and gospel records 1890-1943 (1997), p. 323)