Napoleon Strickland

Napoleon Strickland (October 1, 1919 – July 21, 2001), sometimes known as Napolian Strickland, was an American fife and drum blues artist, and songwriter, and vocalist specializing in country blues, specifically North Mississippi hill country blues. He also played guitar, drums, harmonica, fife, and all manner of percussion instruments.

Life Born near Como east of the Mississippi Delta in hill country, United States, Napoleon Strickland learned music as a boy from his father. He became adept with guitar, drums, harmonica, diddley bow, fife, and all manner of percussion.

Strickland was considered by many to have been the premier fife player of his genre. He made a living as a sharecropper for most of his life, mentoring other musicians in the region. After a car accident in the 1980s, he was committed to a nursing home but continued to play up to his death in July 2001, at the age of 81.