My nice new Blues Calendar

[johncorrigan]

Pearlee Blues, with some masterful bottleneck and rambling lyrics

https://youtu.be/6lXKcpGIYVc

Yes indeedy, GT...

(Any theories as to where the ‘Furry’ nickname came from would be gratefully received)

I reckon he was born down near a ferry that took him across Ole Man River - that's how Brian got his name!
Furry's one of the bluesmen who made it onto Harry Smith's Anthology in the 50s with his take on Kessie Jones. Hope you don't mind me posting this delight again.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a-Up_KpMKS0

[cloughie]

(Any theories as to where the ‘Furry’ nickname came from would be gratefully received)

Well I think we can rule out any links with Helston!

And you can perhaps take a choice from this: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Furry_...Sexual_aspects

Or maybe not!

[Globaltruth]

Well I think we can rule out any links with Helston!

And you can perhaps take a choice from this: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Furry_...Sexual_aspects

Or maybe not!

"He acquired the nickname "Furry" from childhood playmates - by the time he was grown he'd completely forgotten why people started calling him that, but by then his fate was sealed."

https://music.avclub.com/great-vintage-blues-7-furry-lewis-1798214250

let's leave it there...

but here's what Furry thought of Joni's song:

https://jonimitchell.com/library/view.cfm?id=107

He might have a point - not only does she use his name in the title but in the version I posted she also describe him with his dentures and wooden leg, as well as impersonating him.

[johncorrigan]

Thanks for the furious flurry of Furry info, Global. Joni also mentioned that the wooden leg was removed...or was it the dentures?

Today is the death day of guitarist Blind Joe Reynolds, who died at 64 this day in 1968 in Monroe, Louisiana. He was born Joe Shepherd in Tallulah, Louisiana and was blinded after being shot in the face in the face by a shotgun in the mid 1920s. He only seems to write about women, usually unfaithful ones. His song 'Outside Women Blues' was heard by Eric Clapton and covered on Cream's 'Disraeli Gears'. If you have an original 78 with the song and its 'A' side 'Nehi Mama Blues', you've got a right wee fortune on your hands as they are 'insanely rare', and insanely crackly.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lomNaluJ-Tg

By the way, 'Nehi Mama Blues' is about women who wear their skirts too short, it would appear.

[johncorrigan]

The Blues according to Lightning Hopkins - 1967

This short film was mentioned on BBC Radio 2's Blues Show this week. I hadn't seen it before. Some amazing images and fantastic music in this half-hour from Lightning and friends as they move around his home in Texas.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r9k90C8cf7c

[johncorrigan]

This short film was mentioned on BBC Radio 2's Blues Show this week. I hadn't seen it before. Some amazing images and fantastic music in this half-hour from Lightning and friends as they move around his home in Texas.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r9k90C8cf7c

Talking of Lightnin', there can be few blues folks with a better name than Otis Verries Hicks, the Louisiana blues guitarist Lightnin' Slim, born 13th March 1913 in St Louis, Missouri, although later research showed that his draft card gave his birthplace as Good Pine, Louisiana and he went on to play the bars of Baton Rouge in the 40s. He recorded with his bro-in-law, Slim Harpo and harmonica player Lazy Lester. He then disappeared from sight only to be re-discovered in Pontiac, Michigan for a last hurrah in the early 70s where he played on European and US tours including the Montreux Jazz Festival. Here's the aforesaid Otis Verries Hicks on 'Mean Ole Lonesome Train'.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tO0TBiMrCns&list=PLVP_C9bxn5D7WBq9L-gBNXy78rmRBGiMy&index=1

[johncorrigan]

Talking of Lightnin', there can be few blues folks with a better name than Otis Verries Hicks, the Louisiana blues guitarist Lightnin' Slim, born 13th March 1913 in St Louis, Missouri, although later research showed that his draft card gave his birthplace as Good Pine, Louisiana and he went on to play the bars of Baton Rouge in the 40s. He recorded with his bro-in-law, Slim Harpo and harmonica player Lazy Lester. He then disappeared from sight only to be re-discovered in Pontiac, Michigan for a last hurrah in the early 70s where he played on European and US tours including the Montreux Jazz Festival. Here's the aforesaid Otis Verries Hicks on 'Mean Ole Lonesome Train'.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tO0T...RBGiMy&index=1

...and talking of Slims, and there's been a few (though it didn't figure in my Blues man moniker), Sunnyland Slim died this day in 1995 in Chicago, Illinois. Pianist Slim was born Albert Luandrew in Quitman County, Mississippi a place he quit, man, eventually becoming one of the pivotal figures of the Chicago blues scene. Apparently he started playing organ in a number of churches in his teens, moving on to play the organ in movie theatres. In the mid-twenties he headed for Memphis where he became a stalwart of Beale Street before heading to Chicago in the early forties. Here he is in '69 with Willie Dixon, Clifton James and Johnny Shines on 'Everytime I get to Drinkin''.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p2Gbwe-SgTc

[johncorrigan]

Eddie James 'Son' House was born 21st March 1902 in Riveton, Mississippi. A preacher sometimes, a juke joint bluesman at others, Son House was a major influence on Robert Johnson and Muddy Waters. House was a tractor driver in 1941 when he was recorded for a Fisk University-Library of Congress study led by Alan Lomax and John Work III. Lomax later recalled, “Of all my times with the blues, this was the best one.” However he made very few further recordings until he was rediscovered in 1964. Searchers had gone looking for him in Coahoma County, only to learn that he had moved to Rochester, New York during the war years, and he was persuaded to pick up his guitar again. House doesn't play his guitar here but this is such a wonderful piece of film - Son House as preacher doing 'John the Revelator'. Epic!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qx8QKlE6jMk

[Globaltruth]

Eddie James 'Son' House was born 21st March 1902 in Riveton, Mississippi. A preacher sometimes, a juke joint bluesman at others, Son House was a major influence on Robert Johnson and Muddy Waters. House was a tractor driver in 1941 when he was recorded for a Fisk University-Library of Congress study led by Alan Lomax and John Work III. Lomax later recalled, “Of all my times with the blues, this was the best one.” However he made very few further recordings until he was rediscovered in 1964. Searchers had gone looking for him in Coahoma County, only to learn that he had moved to Rochester, New York during the war years, and he was persuaded to pick up his guitar again. House doesn't play his guitar here but this is such a wonderful piece of film - Son House as preacher doing 'John the Revelator'. Epic!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qx8QKlE6jMk

This is a wonderful clip JC. Long been a favourite of my own, but, until now, this particularversion:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5hucTDV1Fvo

mainly for the contrast between the voices of Blind Willie and (I think) his wife Willie B Harris who also (unusually) plays guitar.

Powerful sense of foreboding conveyed by the use of simple instruments.


Might not be a good time to dwell on the Book of Revelations though?

[johncorrigan]

This is a wonderful clip JC. Long been a favourite of my own, but, until now, this particularversion:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5hucTDV1Fvo

mainly for the contrast between the voices of Blind Willie and (I think) his wife Willie B Harris who also (unusually) plays guitar.

Powerful sense of foreboding conveyed by the use of simple instruments.


Might not be a good time to dwell on the Book of Revelations though?

I was the same, Global, but I have a colleague who always played me Son House's version. The whole recording of that Son House performance is here, by the way.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qzdMj7V2xXs

Stay well down there!

[johncorrigan]

Curley Weaver was born this day in 1906 in Covington, Georgia and with Blind Willie McTell and Barbecue Bob and others was at the centre of the Atlanta Blues scene. Here he is with McTell on 'Wee Midnight Hours'.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QR_nyeub_LQ

Quality!

[johncorrigan]

Can't tell you much about Raymond Barrows except that he was born this day in 1900 in Lafayette, Alabama and he certainly seems to have a great Barrowhouse performing style.
Here he is giving us 'Walking Blues' from '29.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H99F1aPirG0

[johncorrigan]

Like Mrs C, Alberta Hunter was born on 1st April, in Alberta's case 1895 in Memphis, Tennessee. Blues jazz singer and composer, Alberta Hunter moved to Chicago when she was 12. She performed through from the 20s to the 50s when she retired from singing and became a nurse. When she retired from nursing she went back into the studio.

Here's Alberta on 'You can't tell the difference after dark'.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x9qIcBk4pMI

The old blues calendar on the wall also informs me it's Bessie Jackson's birth date, born Lucille Brogan this day in 1897 in Amory, Mississippi, and renowned for some risque lyrics - great voice.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vRQMWX4fHk4

[johncorrigan]

Muddy Waters was born April 4th, 1913 in Jug's Corner, Mississippi. Here he is live in the mid-60s with his mojo working.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8hEYwk0bypY

[johncorrigan]

Muddy Waters was born April 4th, 1913 in Jug's Corner, Mississippi. Here he is live in the mid-60s with his mojo working.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8hEYwk0bypY

Great blues harp playing from James Cotton on there. And talking of which it's Big Walter Horton's birthday today, born 6th April, 1917 in Horn Lake, Mississippi, and one of the truly great moothie players alongside the likes of Little Walter and Sonny Boy Williamson. Have a listen to him on 'Christine' from 1972.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KF9DaYLZwUs