Episode Details

This biographical record profiles Robert Hicks, an influential Piedmont blues musician better known by the stage name Barbecue Bob. Born in Georgia in 1902, he became a prolific recording artist for Columbia Records during the late 1920s, distinguished by his percussive 12-string guitar technique and unique "frailing" style. The text explains that his professional moniker originated from his job as a cook at a barbecue restaurant, a role used extensively in his publicity and persona. Despite a brief career that ended with his early death at age 29, his extensive discography left a lasting mark on the Atlanta blues scene. Today, his musical legacy continues to be recognized through his historical recordings and his influence on later blues and rock performers.