Furry Lewis: Going To Brownsville

Furry Lewis in sepia tone. Very nice!

furry lewis
Uploaded by adrien_fournier

Artist Of The Week: Furry Lewis

The great Furry Lewis may have received acclaim late in life, but his life certainly was legendary. From delta bluesman, to an mythic meeting with a very young Elvis, to the inspiration of Joni Mitchells blues song about Beale Street. From the photo you can see that Furry enjoyed life! To see some videos of Furry check out the youtube video box on the left side of the blog.

Furry Lewis: St Louis Blues

A short clip of Furry Lewis performing WC Handy's St Louis Blues.

Joni Mitchell: Furry Sings The Blues

Here is the Joni Mitchell song about Beale Street, and Furry Lewis. I can see why Furry wasn't fond of it.

Interesting Take On Blues History

I found this Blogcritic article on Memphis being the home of the blues. The main idea of the article isn't so much the claim to Memphis being the birthplace of the blues, but it is about the ups and downs of Beale Street, and the relationship between Joni Mitchell and Furry Lewis, and her song Furry's Sings The Blues which deals with the decay of Beale. I think what the author probably dosent realize is that there were hard feelings in Memphis among the black community over how Beale Street was revitilized and turned into the Disneyland of the blues. Many of the old buildings were torn down, or false facades were place over them. I suppose in away it is progress, because unlike other African American business districts that had blues and jazz, it still exists.

Furry Lewis: When I Lay My Burden Down

Furry Lewis from the same film as Bukka White. For those into rock history, legend has it that a very young Elvis heard Furry playing blues on his front porch in Tupelo Mississippi, and the world was changed:-)

I also think that Forrest Gump taught Elvis to dance!