Cover of CARELESS LOVE in 1940 - first sang it as a gospel
Cover of JOHN HENRY BLUES in 1942 - released a whole album in '55 dedicated to the story of John Henry
Cover of HOUSE OF THE RISING SUN, THE in 1942 - first solo, later as guitarist for Libby Holman; he was black, she was white; touring together faced controversy; banned by the BBC
Cover of ST. JAMES INFIRMARY in 1946 - as Free And Equal Blues; with a human rights dimension; criticising WW II policy whereby blood transfusions for American soldiers were segregated; a white soldier could not receive plasma from a black donor and vice versa