Blind Boy Fuller, born Fulton Allen on July 10, 1904, in Wadesboro, North Carolina, was a prominent figure in the Piedmont blues scene during the 1930s. He was one of ten children of Calvin Allen and Mary Jane Walker. After the death of his mother, Fuller moved with his father to Rockingham, North Carolina, where he began to learn guitar and the traditional songs and blues of the rural South.

Fuller married Cora Mae Martin in 1926, and by 1928, he had lost his eyesight completely due to untreated neonatal conjunctivitis. This blindness compelled him to rely on music as his primary means of support, performing on street corners and at local gatherings, especially around the tobacco warehouses in North Carolina. His music career took a significant turn in 1934 when talent scout James Baxter Long discovered him, leading to his first recordings with the American Recording Company (ARC) in 1935.

Known for his eclectic repertoire, Fuller blended blues, ragtime, and spirituals, creating notable songs like "Step It Up and Go" and "I Want Some of Your Pie." His collaborations with other musicians, particularly harmonica player Sonny Terry, enriched his recordings and solidified his legacy. Despite his fiery temper and the challenges of his blindness, Fuller recorded over 130 sides, showcasing his expressive vocal style and finger-picking guitar technique.

Fuller's health began to decline following a kidney operation in 1940, and he died of blood poisoning on February 13, 1941, in Durham, North Carolina, at the age of 36. His music, characterized by its honesty and directness, continues to influence blues artists and remains celebrated for its reflection of the resilience and creativity that defined his life and contributions to the genre.