“B” is for Bouchillon, Christopher Allen (1893-1968)

“B” is for Bouchillon, Christopher Allen (1893-1968). Musician. A native of Oconee County, Bouchillon was raised in Greenville.  From his father he learned to play the old-time banjo. Bouchillon was the first person to popularize “the talking blues” form of song delivery. In 1926 Chris went to Atlanta for the first of six sessions for Columbia records. His initial effort resulted in “Talking Blues “and “Hannah (Won't You Open That Door),” both of which went on to become highly successful and widely copied numbers that sold nearly 100,000 copies. One of his 1927 recordings “Born in Hard Luck”/ “The Medicine Show” also did quite well. In all he cut thirty masters for Columbia, of which twenty-two were released. Although largely forgotten today, Christopher Allen Bouchillon probably ranks as South Carolina’s most notable country music personality.