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'''Henry "Gip" Gipson''' (born [[April 20]], [[1923]] in Uniontown, Perry County) is a former railroad car builder, the owner of the [[Pine Hill Cemetery]] and the proprietor of [[Gip's Place]], a blues joint located in the back yard of his home on [[Avenue C Bessemer|Avenue C]] in [[Bessemer]].
[[File:Henry Gipson at Gips Place.jpg|right|thumb|375px|Henry Gipson at Gip's Place. Photo by Lucas Carson Gockel]]
'''Henry Lee "Gip" Gipson Sr''' (born [[January 6]], [[1931]], in Uniontown, Perry County; died [[October 8]], [[2019]]) is a former railroad car builder, the owner of the [[Pine Hill Cemetery]] and the proprietor of [[Gip's Place]], a blues joint located in the back yard of his home on [[Avenue C Bessemer|Avenue C]] in [[Bessemer]].


Gipson worked at the [[Pullman Standard]] plant in Bessemer for 25 years before leaving to become a grave digger. He eventually purchased the Pine Hill Cemetery and continues to operate it himself.
Gipson worked at the [[Pullman Standard]] plant in Bessemer for 25 years before leaving to become a grave digger. He eventually purchased the Pine Hill Cemetery and continues to operate it himself. Henry and his wife, [[Regetta Gipson|Regetta]] have eight children.


An avid blues fan and part-time musician, Gipson began hosting barbecues in his back yard for musicians to entertain friends and neighbors. The weekend events grew in popularity and he gradually added a small enclosure with a stage. After members of the [[Magic City Blues Society]] "discovered" the venue, they helped build a roof over the shack.
An avid blues fan and part-time musician, Gipson began hosting barbecues in his back yard for musicians to entertain friends and neighbors. The weekend events grew in popularity and he gradually added a small enclosure with a stage. [[Lenny Madden]] built the garage that now houses Gip's Place. Gipson and [[Jeff Dunaway]] keep up with maintenance and repairs on the juke joint. Later [[Diane Guyton]] came on as Gip's manager. Gipson was inducted into the [[Birmingham Record Collectors]] [[Birmingham Record Collectors Hall of Fame|Hall of Fame]] in [[2013]].
 
In June [[2019]] Gipson was hospitalized with a urinary tract infection and was released to [[Diversicare of Bessemer]] for rehabilitation. In a dispute between Gipson's family and Guyton's management company, the [[Alabama Department of Human Resources]] issued a protective order enjoining his appearance at the venue during late-night events. Gipson's family planned to keep Gip's Place operating, however.
 
Gipson died in October [[2019]]. His funeral service was held at [[Hopewell Baptist Church]] and he was buried at [[Lincoln Memorial Cemetery]] in Bessemer.


==References==
==References==
* Reynolds, Ed (August 7, 2008) "The Juke Joint: An authentic blues experience lies only a few miles west of Birmingham." ''Black & White''
* Reynolds, Ed (August 7, 2008) "The Juke Joint: An authentic blues experience lies only a few miles west of Birmingham." ''Black & White''
* Carlton, Bob (April 25, 2010) "[http://blog.al.com/bob-carlton/2010/04/for_blues_loves_gips_place_in.html For blues lovers, Gip's Place in Bessemer is the place to be on Saturday nights.]" {{BN}}
* Stuart, Shauna (June 10, 2019) "Bluesman Gip Gipson ‘regaining strength’ after hospital stay." {{BN}}
* Stuart, Shauna (August 13, 2019) "'We're getting this place back in order:' Next chapter at Gip's will sing the juke joint's gospel." {{BN}}
* Stuart, Shauna (October 8, 2019) "Henry ‘Gip’ Gipson, bluesman and longtime owner of Gip’s Juke Joint, has died." {{BN}}
==External links==
* [http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=104339896270678#!/profile.php?id=100000762844246 Gip Gipson] on Facebook
* [https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/203681207/henry-lee-gipson Henry Lee Gipson] at Findagrave.com


{{DEFAULTSORT:Gipson, Henry}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gipson, Henry}}
[[Category:1923 births]]
[[Category: 1931 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category: 2019 deaths]]
[[Category:Laborers]]
[[Category: Factory workers]]
[[Category:Blues musicians]]
[[Category: Blues musicians]]
[[Category:Music promoters]]
[[Category: Music promoters]]
[[Category: Lincoln Memorial burials]]
[[Category: Birmingham Record Collectors Hall of Fame]]
[[Category: Alabama Blues Hall of Fame]]

Latest revision as of 16:14, 2 April 2024

Henry Gipson at Gip's Place. Photo by Lucas Carson Gockel

Henry Lee "Gip" Gipson Sr (born January 6, 1931, in Uniontown, Perry County; died October 8, 2019) is a former railroad car builder, the owner of the Pine Hill Cemetery and the proprietor of Gip's Place, a blues joint located in the back yard of his home on Avenue C in Bessemer.

Gipson worked at the Pullman Standard plant in Bessemer for 25 years before leaving to become a grave digger. He eventually purchased the Pine Hill Cemetery and continues to operate it himself. Henry and his wife, Regetta have eight children.

An avid blues fan and part-time musician, Gipson began hosting barbecues in his back yard for musicians to entertain friends and neighbors. The weekend events grew in popularity and he gradually added a small enclosure with a stage. Lenny Madden built the garage that now houses Gip's Place. Gipson and Jeff Dunaway keep up with maintenance and repairs on the juke joint. Later Diane Guyton came on as Gip's manager. Gipson was inducted into the Birmingham Record Collectors Hall of Fame in 2013.

In June 2019 Gipson was hospitalized with a urinary tract infection and was released to Diversicare of Bessemer for rehabilitation. In a dispute between Gipson's family and Guyton's management company, the Alabama Department of Human Resources issued a protective order enjoining his appearance at the venue during late-night events. Gipson's family planned to keep Gip's Place operating, however.

Gipson died in October 2019. His funeral service was held at Hopewell Baptist Church and he was buried at Lincoln Memorial Cemetery in Bessemer.

References

External links

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