Henry Thomas

Wikipedia - "Henry Thomas (born 1874, Big Sandy, Texas – died 1930) was an American country blues singer, songster and musician, who enjoyed a brief but notable recording career in the late 1920s. Often billed as 'Ragtime Texas', Thomas' style was the basis for what later became known as Texas blues guitar. Thomas was born into a family of freed slaves in Big Sandy, Texas in 1874. He began traveling the Texas rail lines as a hobo after leaving home in his teens. He eventually earned his way as an itinerant songster, entertaining local populaces as well as railway employees. Although the circumstances are not known, Thomas recorded twenty-three sides for Vocalion Records between 1927 and 1929. The repertoire on these cuts includes a combination of reels, gospels, minstrel pieces, ragtime numbers and blues. Besides guitar, Thomas accompanied himself on quills, a folk instrument fabricated from cane reeds whose sound is similar to the zampona played by musicians in Peru and Bolivia. His style of playing guitar was probably derived from banjo-picking styles."
Wikipedia
“Ragtime Texas”: a hobo songster goin’ up the country… A tribute to Henry Thomas
Texas State Historical Association
Illustrated Henry Thomas discography
YouTube: Texas Worried Blues, Don't Leave Me Here (Don't Ease Me In), Bull Doze Blues, Fishing Blues, Railroadin' Some, When The Train Comes Along, The Little Red Caboose, Charmin' Betsy, John Henry