Louis Washington

Who is Louis Washington?

Louis Washington, also known by his bluesman name, Tallahassee Tight, was an African-American musician, performing both gospel music and blues.

His limited output was all recorded, as far as is known, by the American Record Corporation in New York in 1934, and is essentially limited to one relatively modern release: East Coast Blues & Gospel Songs, Document Records DOCD-5387, 1995. This recording also includes the work of his contemporary, Spark Plug Smith.

Washington used his real name for his gospel singing, but apparently preferred to use Tallahassee Tight when singing blues. It is believed that he was from northwest Florida, based not only on his choice of nicknames, but also from several of his songs: Tallahassee Women, Quincy Wimmens, and Coast Line Blues. Quincy, Florida is approximately 20 miles from Tallahassee, and the Coast Line refers to the Seaboard Air Line Railroad which passes through Tallahassee.

According to Bruce Bastin, "Of limited musical interest, but completely within the guitar traditions of the Southeast, Louis Washington may have the distinction of being the one recorded resident Florida Bluesman of the period of commercial blues recording."