Reverend Moses Mason

The Rev. Moses Mason recorded eight songs for Paramount in 1928, including sacred songs ("John the Baptist," "Go Wash in the Beautiful Stream") under his own name as well as a few secular songs ("Molly Man," "Shrimp Man") under the name Red Hot Ole Mose. The vocalist and banjoist from Lake Providence, Louisiana apparently never recorded again, though his name resurfaced after folklorist Harry Smith included "John the Baptist" on his folksong compendium Anthology of American Folk Music. Mason also appears on the Shanachie collection Before the Blues, Vol. 3: The Early American Black Music Scene and the Document collection Too Late, Too Late, Vol. 2. ~ John Bush