Too Tight Henry, born Henry Lee Castle (1899 – August 16, 1971)[1][2] was an American blues musician, who recorded four songs for Columbia Records and Brunswick Records in 1928 and 1930.

Too Tight Henry
A crop of the only known photograph of Castle
Background information
Birth name	Henry Lee Castle
Born	1899 Georgia, United States
Died	August 16, 1971 (aged 71/72) Chicago, Illinois, United States
Genres	Piedmont blues country blues
Instruments	Guitar vocals

Biography

Castle was born in Georgia in 1899.[3] He played a twelve-string guitar, a common instrument with Georgia blues musicians at the time. Before moving to and residing in Memphis, Tennessee, he travelled and played music with contemporary blues musicians Blind Blake and Blind Lemon Jefferson.[3] For a period of time in the 1930s, Castle also lived in Helena, Arkansas.[2] In 1928, he recorded two sides for Columbia Records, a two-part song called "Charleston Contest", a song in which Castle talks to himself in different voices and brags about his ability on the guitar. In 1930, he recorded two more sides in Chicago, Illinois for Brunswick Records.[4] These sides show a more relaxed side to Castle, and he is accompanied by a guitarist and a harmonica player.

After these two sessions, he played in Jed Davenport's Beale Street Jug Band.[1]

Castle died in Chicago on August 16, 1971.[1][2]

Recordings

Recorded October 27, 1928 for Columbia Records in Atlanta, Georgia

• "Charleston Contest – Part 1" – 14374D
• "Charleston Contest – Part 2" – 14374D[5][2]

Recorded October 2, 1930 for Brunswick Records

• "Squinch Owl Moan" – 7189
• "The Way I Do" – 7189[6]

References

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