Tomcat Courtney

Video

Oral History Information

Interview Date
Birth Date
Deceased Date
Job Title
Musician, Guitarist

Tomcat Courtney was raised in a cotton field outside of Marlin, Texas. When he was ten years old he saw Bill Bojangles dance in a traveling minstrel show and Tomcat was hooked. He left home at the age of 14 to dance in the circus where he also sang and learned to play the guitar. His style of playing was based on roots music and the blues that he not only heard, but he loved. As a songwriter, Tomcat penned “Cook My Breakfast,” “Disaster Blues” and “Railroad Avenue.” He also became a strong force in passing the blues traditions down to the next generation, looking for every opportunity to have younger musicians sit in and play with him.