Junior Kimbrough, the Mississippi Delta bluesman, initially gained regional acclaim for his modal and hypnotic blues style, with rockabilly pioneer Charlie Feathers citing him as a significant influence. Despite limited recording opportunities, Kimbrough's breakthrough came in the early '90s through his appearance in the film Deep Blues and subsequent soundtrack, leading to his debut album All Night Long on Fat Possum Records. Born in Hudsonville, Mississippi, Kimbrough honed his guitar skills by listening to Delta blues records and released singles like "Tramp" and "Keep Your Hands Off Her" before gaining wider recognition in the '90s.

Throughout the '70s and '80s, Kimbrough performed in Mississippi juke joints until music journalist Robert Palmer discovered him in the late '80s. Palmer featured Kimbrough in his documentary Deep Blues, which propelled the musician to a national record deal with Fat Possum Records. Following the critical success of his debut album, Kimbrough continued to release acclaimed records like Sad Days, Lonely Nights and God Knows I Tried. Despite his growing popularity and performances outside the Delta, Kimbrough maintained ties to his roots, eventually passing away in 1998 from a heart attack.