1 Answer

"The Mississippi Sheiks were one of the most popular and successful string bands of the 1930's. Most of their members were part of the same family, the Chatmans, which included Charley Patton and Peter Chatman as members. They recorded under many different names: Walter Jacobs and the Carter Brothers; The Chatmon Brothers; The Mississippi Mud Steppers; The Mississippi Blacksnakes, as well as the better known Mississippi Sheiks. The name was adopted from an old film starring Rudolph Valentino called "The Sheiks". Their brother Bo's real name was Armenter, but he recorded under the name Bo Carter throughout his career. The Sheiks themselves were extremely sophisticated compared to similar groups, playing in various keys, utilizing complex chords, etc. They played for both black and white audiences. They played many styles of music, hokum, folk, dance music, waltzes, two-steps, black bottom, and of course country blues."