North Carolina Blind Boy Fuller: A Pillar of Piedmont Blues and His Lasting Legacy

Photo byjessedeanefreeman

Fulton Allen, better known as Blind Boy Fuller, remains a towering figure in the history of Piedmont Blues. Born on October 7, 1907, in Wadesboro, North Carolina, Fuller’s musical journey is a testament to resilience, talent, and the enduring spirit of the blues.

Fuller learned guitar and country rag songs from older singers in Rockingham. In his late teens, he moved to Winston-Salem where he played on sidewalks for shift workers in tobacco factories. He became completely blind in 1928 and moved to Durham the next year.

In 1935, Fuller was taken to New York by white merchant J. B. Long for the first of many recording sessions with the American Recording Corporation. He released more than 130 songs on several labels in his five-year recording career. Many of his songs centered on the daily struggles of black tenant farmers and the experiences of those who left the South for the North.

Fuller's repertoire ranged from ragtime to the blues, including "Rag, Mama, Rag," "Truckin' My Blues Away” and "I Want Some of Your Pie." Fuller often recorded with other musicians, including guitarists Floyd Council and Bull City Red, and harmonica player Sonny Terry.

Fuller’s signature sound came from his steel-bodied National guitar, a natural resonator that made his music distinctive. Despite his untimely death on February 13, 1941, in Durham, Fuller’s legacy endures.

He remains a central figure in blues history, celebrated for his emotional depth and innovation, and his influence continues to inspire musicians today.