One of the most accomplished guitarists to ever record for Paramount, Arthur Blake (1893?-1934) did not disappoint. His intricate finger-picking, sounding more like a ragtime piano than an actual guitar, captivated the burgeoning Piedmont blues scene. Starting in 1926, he recorded over 80 songs with Paramount until their demise. On the 1st of December, 1934, Blake died of a pulmonary hemorrhage. Not much is really known about his life, with some doubts on his name and birthplace.