Barbecue Bob, born Robert Hicks on September 11, 1902, was an influential American Piedmont blues singer and guitarist, prominent during the late 1920s. He earned his savory nickname from his occupation as a barbecue cook in a local restaurant in Atlanta, Georgia, where his musical talent sizzled just as much as the meats he grilled. Bob developed a unique style of playing known as the "Piedmont" or "East Coast" blues, characterized by a fingerpicking method that accompanied his hearty, jovial singing voice.

His recorded legacy, produced by Columbia Records, encapsulates the essence of the era's blues scene and provides a window into the soul of the southeastern blues tradition. Albums like "Atlanta Blues" and the detailed multivolume series "Barbecue Bob Vol. 1, 2, and 3," cover a chronological swath of Bob's work, from 1927 to 1930, showcasing his mastery over the twelve-string guitar and his ability to craft songs reflecting the life and struggles of the early 20th-century African American experience. Not only did his works like "Chocolate to the Bone" shape the blues genre, but they also paved the way for future generations of blues musicians. Despite his untimely death in 1931 at the age of 29, Barbecue Bob's music endures, capturing the energy and exuberance of his all-too-short career.