Biography
The Bluff City Backsliders came together in 1999, drawing together several Memphis blues veterans whose interests had turned toward early American music. After absorbing classic jazz, jug band, country, and bluegrass numbers from the opening decades of the 20th Century, the group made its live debut in 2001. Their performances of songs that had largely vanished from circulation earned quick notice, allowing the band to build a sizable following within a brief span. High-profile concerts and critical recognition by the close of that year prompted the members to commit to recording their first album. The resulting self-titled release surfaced on Yellow Dog Records in June 2002 and was followed by a tour of the Southern United States.