Fat Possum Records has confirmed that delta blues musician James “T-Model” Ford passed away on Tuesday, July 16th of respiratory failure after a prolonged illness. His age was unknown, though he claimed to be 93. Heralded for his rugged personality and raw performance style, T-Model ford was one of the few remaining authentic Delta bluesman.

Growing up in a violent home, Ford was no stranger to violence throughout his lifetime. He was sentenced to ten years in prison for killing a man in self-defense, though he claims to have only served two. He was known for his wild lifestyle, recalling that he spent nearly every Saturday night in prison during his younger years. He had a total of six wives and 26 children.

At 58, he taught himself to play the guitar. Traveling the Delta area, Ford would use his van as a makeshift home after late performances. He released several albums through the Fat Possum record label. He was subject of the documentary You See Me Laughing alongside fellow Mississippi bluesmen R. L. Burnside, Cedell Davis and Junior Kimbrough. He worked alongside Gravel Road a Seattle-based electric blues band, which backed him in his 2010 and 2011 albums.

In his final years, Ford suffered from heart complications, and had a pacemaker inserted. He suffered a stroke in late 2012 that limited how often he could perform. He died at his home in Greenville, MI.

— Matt Hengeveld