Son House (1902–1988) was a pioneering American blues musician whose powerful voice and emotionally charged slide guitar work helped shape the sound of the Delta blues. Initially a preacher, he brought gospel intensity to his raw, deeply personal songs. Influencing later greats like Robert Johnson and Muddy Waters, House’s recordings for Paramount and the Library of Congress captured the spirit of early blues. Rediscovered during the 1960s folk revival, his commanding performances cemented his legacy as one of the genre’s most authentic and influential figures.