DeFord Bailey

Born in Tennessee in 1899, harmonica player DeFord Bailey was the first black musician to appear on the Nashville-based WSM radio program "The Grand Ole Opry". He appeared regularly on the show from 1925-41. He played what was termed "black country music" or "string-band music" (although he called it it "black hillbilly music"), and often played blues or blues-flavored music. His signature song was "Pan-American Blues", a novelty number based on the sounds the famous freight train would make--and which Bailey imitated remarkably on his harp. He also recorded some blues tracks for RCA Victor in 1928. Bailey left the Grand Ole Opry during World War II. He died in Nashville, TN, in 1982.