Eddie Mapp (c. 1910 – November 14, 1931)
was an American country blues harmonicist. He is best known for his
accompaniment on record of both Barbecue Bob and Curley Weaver.
Biography
Mapp was born in Social Circle, Walton County, Georgia. He relocated in 1922
to Newton County, where he met the guitar player, Curley Weaver. Although he
did not sing, Mapp was noted in Newton County as a harmonica virtuoso with a
unique style, who often performed for tips on the street. In 1925 Weaver and
Mapp left for Atlanta. The twosome played at country dances, then Weaver
together with Barbecue Bob and his brother Charlie Hicks formed a group with
Mapp, and continued to play locally.
In 1929, and billed as the Georgia Cotton Pickers, they recorded for the
Atlanta based QRS label. Mapp also cut one solo track, 'Riding the Blinds',
the same year. None of the songs sold well.
In November 1931, Mapp was discovered stabbed on an Atlanta street corner.
His death certificate recorded that the brachial artery in his left arm had
been severed, and gave his age as twenty. No one was charged with his
murder. The certificate also noted his employment as 'musician', unusual at
the time for a coroner to acknowledge Mapp's status.
Discography
A compilation album, released in 1994, on Document Records (DOCD-5110),
provided the most complete discography of Mapp's work. It was entitled
Georgia Blues 1928-33. The track listing included the following pieces which
featured Mapp's music. Curley Weaver with Eddie Mapp - 'No No Blues'; 'It's
The Best Stuff Yet'; Eddie Mapp and Guy Lumpkin - 'Decatur Street Drag';
'Riding The Blinds'; Slim Barton, Eddie Mapp and James Moore - 'I'm Hot Like
That'; 'Careless Love'; 'Wicked Travelin' Blues'; 'It's Tight Like That';
'Poor Convict Blues'; Eddie Mapp, James Moore and Guy Lumpkin - 'Where You
Been So Long' (1929); Slim Barton and Eddie Mapp - 'Fourth Avenue Blues'
(1929)
