ARTHUR "BLIND" BLAKE Death Certificate, Coroner's Report and Grave recently discovered in Southeastern WI! A well-known international blues magazine, Blues & Rhythm just released an article in issue #263, "In Search of Blind Blake...Arthur Blake's death certificate unearthed" by Alex van der Tuuk, Bob Eagle, Rob Ford, Eric LeBlanc and Angela Mack. (Click here to read the article) The article gives details about an exciting blues discovery that has remained a mystery for over 60 years. Researcher Rob Ford discovered a small piece of text in the Chicago Defender which led to this international search and discovery. It has been discovered that Arthur "Blind" Blake spent some time living in Milwaukee, WI just after his recording sessions in Grafton. His death certificate and coroner's report were located in Milwaukee, WI. Blake is buried in the Glen Oaks Cemetery off of Green Bay Road in Glendale, WI. The Grafton Blues Association, a non-profit 501c3, is raising funds for Arthur "Blind" Blake's unmarked grave. Our intent is to secure a proper headstone for this Paramount Recording artist, and any excess funds will go into an ongoing fund to support such future endeavors for the Delta Blues musicians that traveled to Grafton. To make a donation, click here
Thank you to the following individuals and businesses for making a donation to the Blues Trail Marker!
Grafton Blues Association
Joe Barborich
Mark Berg
Darrell Hofland
Kris & Peter Raymond
Linda Plier
JD Optekar
Jamie Brace
Jason Corbin
Michael Urick
Karl Dahlin
Beverly Seidl
Jeff Burckhard
David Miller
Vicki Kalkopf
Alan Mock
Ann & Randy Panas
Roy Ebert
Bob Porter
Bradley & Sarah Mitchell
Stephen Lawroski
Julie Wildhagen
Jenny Abbot
Dorothy & Ed Hauser
Mary Jane Walker
Paul Krickeberg
Sharpe Products
Paul Fecke
Gary Gengler
Jan & Rick West
Mary Jane Walker
Jeff Blum
Dale Zimmerman
Grafton Area Chamber of Commerce
Steve Cary - Cary Rentals
Columbia St. Mary's
We have raised the necessary funds! Thank you to all that donated!
The Grafton Blues Association will presented the marker to the Village on Saturday September 18, 2010 at the 5th annual Paramount Blues Festival.
Visit The Mississippi Blues Trail website for details on the Blues Trail!





















