Elizabeth Cotten
1893 – 1987

Elizabeth Cotten

American blues and folk musician, singer and songwriter (1893-1987)

folk musicianguitaristsongwritersinger
Born
1893-01-05, Chapel Hill
Died
1987-06-29
Birthplace state
North Carolina

Biography

Elizabeth Cotten was a folk and blues musician born in Chapel Hill, North Carolina in 1893. A self-taught guitarist, she played a right-handed guitar upside down, using her fingers for bass lines and her thumb for melody. This technique became known as "Cotten picking." She died in 1987.

Occupation

Elizabeth Cotten is recorded as a folk musician, a guitarist, a songwriter and a singer, born in North Carolina (1893–1987).

Connections to North Carolina

Elizabeth Cotten was born in Chapel Hill, North Carolina in 1893. Explore other notable figures from North Carolina, historic sites connected to this era, and the full colonial and statehood history of the state using the links below.

Other notable figures from North Carolina›North Carolinahistory ›Historic sites in North Carolina›
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Overview
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Geology
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LiDAR Terrain
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Conflict & War
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The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
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Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
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Spotlight
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Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
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More notable figures from North Carolina

Other historical figures born in North Carolina, ranked by historical prominence.

Andrew Johnson
Andrew Johnson
President of the United States from 1865 to 1869
James K. Polk
James K. Polk
President of the United States from 1845 to 1849 (1795–1849)
O. Henry
O. Henry
American short story writer (1862–1910)
Ava Gardner
Ava Gardner
American actress (1922–1990)
Nina Simone
Nina Simone
American singer, songwriter and pianist and civil rights activist (1933–2003)
Billy Graham
Billy Graham
American Christian evangelist (1918–2018)
John Coltrane
John Coltrane
American jazz saxophonist (1926–1967)

Frequently asked about Elizabeth Cotten

Who was Elizabeth Cotten?
Elizabeth Cotten was American blues and folk musician, singer and songwriter (1893-1987), born in North Carolina (1893 – 1987).
When and where was Elizabeth Cotten born?
Elizabeth Cotten was born on 1893-01-05 in Chapel Hill.
When did Elizabeth Cotten die?
Elizabeth died on 1987-06-29.
What was Elizabeth Cotten known for?
Elizabeth Cotten is recorded as a folk musician, a guitarist, a songwriter and a singer.
Source

Biographical content adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. Source: Wikipedia.

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