Barrelhouse Buck McFarland

**Barrelhouse Buck McFarland** was a blues pianist and singer whose raw, energetic style epitomized the barrelhouse piano tradition of the early 20th century. Born Charles Edward McFarland in 1896 in Alton, Illinois, he became a staple of the Southern blues scene, blending boogie-woogie rhythms with gritty, storytelling lyrics. His recordings, like *Alton Blues* and *Barrel House Piano 1929 – 1938*, capture the unfiltered spirit of juke joints and rent parties, where his pounding left-hand basslines and rollicking improvisations kept dancers moving. Though details of his life remain sparse, McFarland’s work with labels like Paramount Records cemented his legacy as a foundational figure in pre-war blues. He passed away in 1962, leaving behind a catalog that still echoes the sweat and swagger of his era.