Biography

Elizabeth Cotten was born on January 5, 1895 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA. She was a composer, known for Colossal (2016), The Legend of Bagger Vance (2000) and BioShock Infinite (2013). She was married to Frank Cotten. She died on June 29, 1987 in Syracuse, New York, USA.

Ms. Cotten worked for the Charles Seeger (father of Pete, Mike and Peggy) as a maid for several years.

"Freight Train" is an American folk song written by Elizabeth Cotten in the early 20th century, and popularized during the American folk revival and British folk period of the 1950s and 1960s.

She recorded her first album, Freight Train and Other North Carolina Folk Songs, when she was 62. Her song "Freight Train" has been covered by Bob Dylan, the Grateful Dead, Pete Seeger, and many others.

She taught herself how to play the banjo and guitar, and developed a unique left-handed guitar style.