Originally posted by ferneyhoughgeliebte
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A morning awakening? -
Talking of awakenings, one of the delights of the Blues Calendar is that it comes complete with a CD comprising 'Newly remastered copies from original 78 rpm records', by collector John Tefteller. Some are very obscure and clearly very rare. Others exist elsewhere in pretty poor condition. This is one of those, a track by Otto Virgial performing 'Got the Blues about Rome' - Rome, Mississippi, by the way - on the Calendar CD it's cleaned up and sounds fantastic - hadn't heard of him before but this is a top tune. Here's the uncleaned-up version - still mighty fine.Originally posted by cloughie View Post
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Sam Chatmons birthday today in 1897.
Here he is Sittin on Top of the World
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Funnily enough, Fred McDowell was born in Tennessee on 12th Jan 1904. Moved to Mississippi, where he picked up the moniker, I reckon.
Born 12th January 1904 in Rossville. Here's 'Goin' Down The River'...https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9TyzAAwJnIwComment
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Fred McDowell, and particularly his wife, was the subject of a great story told by the lovely Shirley Collins who guested on Cerys' Blues Show last night on BBCR2.Originally posted by johncorrigan View Post
Shirley opened by suggesting this wonderful piece by Miles & Bob Pratcher - she was present at the recording with Alan Lomax way down in Mississippi in '59...I'm Gonna Live Anyhow Until I Die
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Sleepy John Estes arrived in this world on 25th Jan exactly 120 years ago somewhere in Ripley, Tennessee. Here he is with Hammie Nixon on moothie on 'Someday Baby', which Dylan nicked, did a mighty fine version of on 'Modern Times', that bagged a grammy for Bob. I mean, honestly Bob!
Here's wee Bob's version for comparison:
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Born on this day, Blind Arvella Gray, (orig. James, or possibly William, Dixon), in Somerville, Texas. By some accounts Gray began as a stick-up man, reportedly driving a getaway car for Detroit's infamous Purple Gang; during a botched bank robbery attempt -- possibly in Peoria, IL -- he was shot, losing his sight and two of the fingers on his left hand in the process. (During some retellings, the shooter was instead a jealous husband.)
Eventually Gray landed in Chicago and picked up the guitar, inspired by the blues and gospel songs he learned in the cotton fields and chain gangs of the rural South.
He acquired a National steel guitar but, bereft of two fingers on his fret hand, could play only slide.
Sometime around 1946 Gray became a fixture of the legendary Maxwell Street open-air market, standing out from rival bluesmen by virtue of a repertoire comprised of little-known field hollers and work songs; he sometimes performed alongside his sister, who typically appeared under the name Granny Clara Jenkinsbey.
Here he is with his work song, contains some good advice re confusing a crocodile (bad) with a horse (good)
and a fine version of John Henry
For all you Dylanologists, he may have been the source of Bob Dylan's 1961 recording "He Was a Friend of Mine"
Last edited by Globaltruth; 28-01-19, 15:22.Comment
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Frankie "Half-Pint" Jaxon, born Frank Devera Jackson, was born 3rd February 1895 in Montgomery, Alabama. I keep thinking that all you need to know is that his LP is named 'Whorehouse Blues'.
Here's '(You Got To) Wet It':
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Only Lonnie Johnson’s birthday!
Born on this day 120 years ago in New Orleans.Comment
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alOriginally posted by Globaltruth View Post
I like that his birth name is Alonzo, Global. Not mentioned in the Calendar for some inexplicable reason. I did find out reading the intro to the calendar that they really punt blues from between the war years, but that next year's calendar will move more post-WW2, essentially because they are finding less and less rarities from further back. Still doesn't explain lack of Lonnie, unless it's because there's some difference of opinion about his b'day. Anyway 120 today - what a natty guy, too!
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Francis 'Scrapper' Blackwell, born 21st Feb 1904 in Indianapolis, Indiana. What a mighty player he was. Here's ''A' Blues'.
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Francis 'Scrapper' Blackwell, born 21st Feb 1904 in Indianapolis, Indiana. What a mighty player he was. Here's ''A' Blues'.
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Happy Birthday to singer and very fine harmonica player, Papa George Lightfoot born this day in 1924 in Natchez, Mississippi. Here's 'Mean Ole Train'...
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William Moore, born this day in 1893 in Dover, Georgia and raised in Tappahannock, Virginia was a piedmont blues style singer and guitarist. Unfortunately most of his recorded material has disappeared into the mists of time, but a few remain...and he's celebrated with a great Crumb painting too. Here's 'One Way Gal' from 1928.
By the way, he was a barber.Last edited by johncorrigan; 03-03-19, 17:10.Comment
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Furry who sang the Blues was born this day, March 6th, 1893 in Greenwood, Mississippi.
Here's Joni with the Band talking about old Beale St and Mr Lewis.Comment
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