Furry Lewis lived perhaps the most prototypical life of a bluesman in history. 

Born in Greenwood, Mississippi around the turn of the 20th century, he lived mostly in Memphis, Tennessee. Furry forged a well-known practice as a skilled local guitarist, recording dozens of now-classic blues songs in the 1920s. He lost his leg to a train while "riding the blinds" -- hitching a ride underneath a rail car to avoid paying the ticket. "shame of it was, I had enough money for the ticket!" he once recalled about the accident. For years Furry was a street sweeper on Beale St until the folk revival of the 1960s lead to a resurgence of popularity for the guitarist, who toured the world playing his unique brand of blues guitar. 

In his amazing second act, Furry twice opened for the Rolling Stones, got a profile in Playboy, performed on The Tonight Show for Johnny Carson, got a song dedicated to him by Joni Mitchell (which he HATED), and Furry even made a cameo in in a Burt Reynolds movie.

But mostly, Furry played the blues.