Joshua "Peg Leg" Howell was born in Eatonton, Georgia, the son of Ruthie Myrick. Economic circumstances forced him to quit school early to work on the family farm. As a young man, he taught himself to play the guitar and soon left home to pursue a music career.
Sometime around 1916, Howell was involved in a shotgun accident which resulted in the loss of one of his legs, hence his nickname "Peg Leg." A few years after this incident, he moved to Atlanta, Georgia where he formed a band known as "Peg Leg Howell and His Gang." Along with performing in his own band, Howell also was a solo performer, playing music on the streets of Atlanta for tips.
Howell got into trouble with the law in 1925 concerning his bootlegging activities, and he was briefly imprisoned at River Camp Prison in Atlanta. Soon after his release, he signed a contract with Columbia Records and recorded several sides for the label.
For the next three decades, Howell worked as a street singer in Atlanta before being "rediscovered" during the 1960's. He made several recordings for the Testament Record label in 1963; however, by this time, his health had seriously declined (he lost his second leg due to diabetes). Howell died of chronic nervous disease at Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta in 1966.
Sometime around 1916, Howell was involved in a shotgun accident which resulted in the loss of one of his legs, hence his nickname "Peg Leg." A few years after this incident, he moved to Atlanta, Georgia where he formed a band known as "Peg Leg Howell and His Gang." Along with performing in his own band, Howell also was a solo performer, playing music on the streets of Atlanta for tips.
Howell got into trouble with the law in 1925 concerning his bootlegging activities, and he was briefly imprisoned at River Camp Prison in Atlanta. Soon after his release, he signed a contract with Columbia Records and recorded several sides for the label.
For the next three decades, Howell worked as a street singer in Atlanta before being "rediscovered" during the 1960's. He made several recordings for the Testament Record label in 1963; however, by this time, his health had seriously declined (he lost his second leg due to diabetes). Howell died of chronic nervous disease at Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta in 1966.
Joshua "Peg Leg" Howell was born in Eatonton, Georgia, the son of Ruthie Myrick. Economic circumstances forced him to quit school early to work on the family farm. As a young man, he taught himself to play the guitar and soon left home to pursue a music career.
Sometime around 1916, Howell was involved in a shotgun accident which resulted in the loss of one of his legs, hence his nickname "Peg Leg." A few years after this incident, he moved to Atlanta, Georgia where he formed a band known as "Peg Leg Howell and His Gang." Along with performing in his own band, Howell also was a solo performer, playing music on the streets of Atlanta for tips.
Howell got into trouble with the law in 1925 concerning his bootlegging activities, and he was briefly imprisoned at River Camp Prison in Atlanta. Soon after his release, he signed a contract with Columbia Records and recorded several sides for the label.
For the next three decades, Howell worked as a street singer in Atlanta before being "rediscovered" during the 1960's. He made several recordings for the Testament Record label in 1963; however, by this time, his health had seriously declined (he lost his second leg due to diabetes). Howell died of chronic nervous disease at Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta in 1966.
Sometime around 1916, Howell was involved in a shotgun accident which resulted in the loss of one of his legs, hence his nickname "Peg Leg." A few years after this incident, he moved to Atlanta, Georgia where he formed a band known as "Peg Leg Howell and His Gang." Along with performing in his own band, Howell also was a solo performer, playing music on the streets of Atlanta for tips.
Howell got into trouble with the law in 1925 concerning his bootlegging activities, and he was briefly imprisoned at River Camp Prison in Atlanta. Soon after his release, he signed a contract with Columbia Records and recorded several sides for the label.
For the next three decades, Howell worked as a street singer in Atlanta before being "rediscovered" during the 1960's. He made several recordings for the Testament Record label in 1963; however, by this time, his health had seriously declined (he lost his second leg due to diabetes). Howell died of chronic nervous disease at Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta in 1966.
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