John Tinsley

b. 10 Feb 1920, Chestnut Hill, Virginia, USA. Tinsley discovered electric guitar when he was 11, and from age 18 performed at social occasions. He acquired a lot of his repertoire from, and was stylistically inspired by, the information of Blind Boy Fuller and Pal Moss. He also constructed personal blues, including one due to a 1949 occurrence when he shot and wounded his stepfather. In 1952 Tinsley documented a 78 with Fred Holland for an area label, but its failing to market induced him to avoid playing blues by 1955. In 1977, he resumed using the encouragement of blues music research workers, produced some likeable recordings and seen Europe once or twice, despite a dispute using a Danish promoter over the initial occasion.