Jefferson's early life is almost as obscure as his death. He was probably born between 1893 and 1897 in Coutchman, Texas, a bit east of Waco (via Texas State Historical Association). His given name was probably Lemmon Jefferson. He's believed to have been blind from birth, and he turned to music because he could neither go to school nor work on his family's farm.
Around 1912, as a teenager, Jefferson went to Dallas for the first time. He sang and played slide guitar on the streets in Dallas' Deep Ellum neighborhood. According to Encyclopedia, he was limited to this area because white people, jealous of his popularity as a street performer, didn't want him playing downtown. In Dallas, he met Huddie "Leadbelly" Ledbetter, a fellow musician (pictured). They began performing together, traveling between Texas towns by train. Per Britannica, Jefferson played in brothels and saloons as well as on the street. The Black Music Research Journal notes that he also played more respectable venues: private parties, country dances, and church services.
In the 1920s, Jefferson got married and was discovered by talent scouts. He made his first recording for Paramount in 1926, and it sold well nationwide, according to the Texas State Historical Association. Over the next three years, he made 110 recordings and continued to enjoy commercial success, though his popularity faded somewhat with time (via Black Music Research Journal).
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