We’ve lost many first tradition (and next tradition) blues musicians and guitar greats over the last years (John Lee Hooker, Albert King, Muddy, Freddie King, Pinetop Perkins, and many others) which makes it even more important to pay special attention to the greats that are left.
Came across a very well written article in the Ottawa Citizen this morning called “How Blue Can You Get” where reporter Sheldon Alberts ventured into the deep South looking for some delta blues guitar history.
He came across 3 greats:
1. Dave “Honeyboy” Edwards – the current grandfather of delta blues with links back to the now infamous Robert Johnson…one of the few people who credibly can talk about the icon that has so enticed blues traditionalists for decades. Born the son of a Mississippi sharecropper, hitting the road at 17 defying the odds with a passion and dream to break the cycle of poverty and repression in depression era South. I love this quote about how today’s white musicians have turned what they learned from the originals like Honeyboy into money-making careers – “Let me tell you about that, now, we got a lot of white boys who can play the blues. But they play the blues too fast,” Edwards says. “The blues is not made to be played fast. The blues is played to put something on your mind. Them white boys got some good fingers, but you got to let the music settle and soak, then come out.”
Here’s a great “Honeyboy” clip from Lightning In A Bottle
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2. Ellis “CeDell” Davis – born in 1927 (on June 9th – he shares my own birthday, how cool is that!) was an innovative slide guitar player that played with a butter knife (until his recent stroke that left his voice the only remaining instrument) His is the story of persistence – overcoming polio at age 10, massive leg injuries in a club accident in 1957 – he continues to be a force in delta blues, an important link back to the originals.
Watch the amazing power that comes from his playing in this video:
As musicians or lovers of blues guitar music, we need to re-visit the past fequently to stay in touch with the REAL DEAL…how blues started and what was so great about it when innovation was at its peak
A big shout out to Sheldon for bringing these guys back to our attention…great piece.
Filed under Blues Legends, delta blues by on May 28th, 2011. 1 Comment. 
I was listening to the latest Joe Bonamassa CD Black Rock
In fact, this is a straight forward, driving 12-bar blues number from the mid-40’s credited to James “Beale Street” Clark that has been done by the who’s who of blues guitar virtuoso’s including Junior Parker, Eddie Boyd, Junior Wells and Buddy Guy, through to Freddie King and twice this year with Joe Bonamassa and Steve Miller’s latest blues guitar oriented work “Bingo!”
The main chorus is unforgettable, the perfect blend of simplicity and perfection “Look over Yonder’s Wall Baby, Hand Me Down My Walkin Cane” – reflecting the story of the song based on a man that, due to a disability, is able to take advantage of lonely married women when their men have gone to the War…tell that doesn’t sound like a blues song!
Here is a version I scraped up from Youtube, this time the master slide guitar player Roy Rogers combines his amazing slide technique with a wonderful driving blues song…take a listen:
Filed under delta blues, slide guitar by on Nov 8th, 2010. Comment.
The Recording Academy has recognized one of the last remaining touring delta blues blues guitar players David “Honeyboy” Edwards. According to the Academy…”The Lifetime Achievement Award honors lifelong artistic contributions to the recording medium” – a full press release can be found here
Pretty good company too including musicians: Leonard Cohen, Michael Jackson, Loretta Lynn, Bobby Darin, Andre Previn, and Clark Terry spanning blues, pop, country and jazz…just the way music should be.
At the ripe young age of 94, “Honeyboy” is still actively touring putting me in mind of the great Pinetop Perkins – dedicating their lives to blues music.
Born in 1915 and having known Robert Johnson when he was growing up, it is so important that we listen, learn and appreciate guys like Honeyboy – they are the history of blues guitar.
Honeyboy Edwards was known for songs including “Long Tall Women Blues” and “Just Like Jesse James” – this is one of my favorites, just listen to the blues guitar work on this one – sweet…
Filed under blues guitar, delta blues by on Jan 31st, 2010. Comment.
