The twelfth volume of the “Blues At Home” Collection, this CD presents the harmonica blues player Hammie Nixon, performing with Sleepy John Estes, and alone on guitar and harmonica. Hammie Nixon was born between 1907 and 1913 in Brownsville, Tennessee. An orphan at a young age, he was raised in a white family by foster parents. While he was still a child, his new parents gave him a kazoo and a harmonica, and he learned how to blow the jug as well. At age 11, he was able to play harmonica with Sleepy John Estes at a picnic held in Brownsville. Hammie also played with local musicians, Hambone Willie Newbern, Samuel and Charlie Sangster, Yank Rachell, and Charlie Pickett, learning some of his amazing techniques on harmonica from Noah Lewis and Tommy Garry. He began his activities as a professional harmonica blower in the 1920s, first recording with Estes in 1929 for Victor. During the ‘20s and ‘30s, Hammie Nixon hoboed in various states, and in 1934 he recorded in Chicago for Decca and Champion with Brownsville Son Bonds. He recorded with John Estes again in 1935 and 1937. In Memphis, he sometimes joined the jug bands, but also played as a duo with blues singer Little Buddy Doyle. After Estes’ rediscovery in the early ‘60s, Hammie kept performing with him in the United States and abroad until Sleepy John’s death in 1977. He married the elder Estes daughter, Virginia, with whom he had a son named Johnny. Hammie Nixon died in 1984. The material featured on this CD was recorded between 1972 and 1976 during informal sessions held at Hammie Nixon and Sleepy John Estes' homes in Brownsville. Tracks 1, 10, and 12 were cut in Memphis at Furry Lewis and Memphis Piano Red's homes. All tracks have been fully digitally remastered from the original tapes in 2013. —Giambattista Marcucci ALBUM CREDITS Phonographic copyright & © 2013 Giambattista Marcucci All rights of the producer and copyright owner reserved Recorded, edited, and produced by Giambattista Marcucci Technical and research assistance in 1972 by Lucio Maniscalchi Image caption: Hammie Nixon at the home of Sleepy John Estes, Brownsville, Tennessee, 1972 Cover photograph © 1972-2013 by Giambattista Marcucci