Another Blues Historian

Article from Penn State about blues historian Jerry Zoltan and his research on Paramount records.  Paramount was a furniture store in Grafton Wisconsin in order to sell record players, Paramount started to record music. The most sought after being blues recordings of artists like Blind Lemon Jefferson, Charlie Patton, and Skip James.

To read more click HERE. To read the Wiki about Paramount click HERE.

Jerry McCoy And The Hammers: Whistle Blowin

Jerry McCoy and the Hammers video performed at the famous Ground Zero Blues Club.

Casey James: Georgia

Cool Delta Blues by Casey James. 

Tommy Johnson: I Wonder To Myself

Interesting song by Tommy Johnson.  Sounds similar to Mr. Crump by Frank Stokes, and a little like Hot Tamales by Robert Johnson.  This is a very cool ragtime blues song, with some great Kazoo playing!

David Honeyboy Edwards RIP

The last of the great delta bluesmen has passed on.  David "Honeyboy" Edwards died today he was 96 years old.  You can read more about his amazing life from this article in the Chicago Tribune.  I will post more, and add updates as more information becomes available.

UPDATE
From Bob Kieser of Illinois Blues.

Dear Blues Fans,
 
It is with great sadness that I pass on the news that 

the great Bluesman Honey Boy Edwards has died. He was 

96 years old. He died of congestive heart failure 

early Monday morning in his South Shore Chiicago apartment. 
 
Honey Boy Edwards was the last of the original Delta Bluesmen. 

He was a contemporary of Robert Johnson and was even there with Robert Johnson 

the night Johnson died.
 
Here is a link to a story of his passing in the Chicago Sun Times:
 
http://www.suntimes.com/7352665-417/chicago-blues-great-honeyboy-edwards-dies-at-96.html 
 
Visitation will be from 2 to 7 p.m. Thursday at the 

McCullough Funeral Home, 851 E. 75th St. 

There will be an open mike between 7 and 9 p.m. for remembrances from friends 

and fans. A friends-and-fans gathering will begin at 8 p.m. at 

Lee’s Unleaded Blues, 7401 S. Chicago Ave. 
 
Services will be private on Friday. In lieu of flowers, 

it is requested that donations be made to the National Blues Museum.
 
Bob Kieser

UPDATE 

From Bob Corritore

August 29, 2011

• RIP Honeyboy Edwards - June 28, 1915 to August 29, 2011. The legendary Delta blues artist Honeyboy Edwards passed away peacefully at his Chicago home at 3am this morning. He was 96. Honeyboy had formally retired earlier this year, due to a weakened state of health that did not allow him to tour. He is well known as a pioneer of Delta Blues, who made pre-WWII recordings. Honeyboy was a close associate of Robert Johnson, and the man who traveled from the south to bring Little Walter to Chicago for the first time. Born in Shaw, Mississippi in 1915, Honeyboy left home at age 14 to travel and perform with Big Joe Williams, which became the early model of his life's activities. Honeyboy's wonderful recording career started in 1942 when famed folklorist Alan Lomax recorded him in Clarksdale Mississippi for the Library of Congress. His prolific recording career boasts of releases for many labels over many years; ARC, Sun Records, Chess, Folkways, Trix, Testament, Evidence, Roots, Blue Suit, Blue Horizon, Genes, Blue Shoe, APO, Wolf, and of course the Earwig Record Label. He has received 2 Grammy Awards, 2 BMAs (Blues Music Awards), has been inducted in the Blues Hall Of Fame, received a fellowship from The National Endowment for the Arts, and won a KBA (Keeping The Blues Alive Award) in the literature category for his brilliant biography The World Don't Owe Me Nothing. His performances and recollections have provided us a window into the past. One must mention Honeyboy's long association with Earwig Music label chief Michael Frank. The two met in 1972 and Michael would grow into the role of Honeyboy's manager, harmonica player, and traveling companion. Michael has done so much to guide Honeyboy's career, and we pray for his strength during this time of grieving. Visitation will be 2 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, Sept 1, at the McCullough Funeral Home, 851 E. 75th Street, Chicago, IL 60619. There will be an open mike between 7 and 9pm for remembrances from friends and fans. A friends-and-fans gathering will begin at 8 p.m. at Lee’s Unleaded Blues, 7401 S. Chicago Ave. Services will be private on Friday. In lieu of flowers, it is requested that donations be made to the National Blues Museum. Honeyboy's charm, wit and musical brilliance will leave a gap in the blues, never to be filled. The deep blues emotion that poured out of Honeyboy Edwards in each performance has left a lasting impression on the blues world. Thank you Honeyboy for the blessing of knowing you.
  To hear Honeyboy Edwards 1942 Library of Congress recording of "Spread My Raincoat Down" click http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fATSQa-0iII
  To hear Honeyboy's 1951 recording of "Who May Your Regular Be" click http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EDhHexniKWs&playnext=1&list=PLD9FD48CC027445C6
  To hear Honeyboy's 1951 recording of "Build A Cave click http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QVr_ZlqfQvo
  To see Honeyboy in the 2004 documentary film,Lightnin' In A Bottle, click here
  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q7UV0JKEfVQ
  To see a photo page that we put together to honor Honeyboy Edwards, click http://www.bobcorritore.com/photos101.html

Mississippi Heat: Keep Your Hands Off Her!

Live concert footage of Mississippi Heat.

Jim Jackson: Kansas City Blues

Cool song by Jim Jackson.  This song has deep roots as one of the oldest blues songs.  Other songs that have equally as long roots, are C C Rider, Stagger Lee, and Joe Turner Blues (Not KC Jump blues artists Joe Turner, but a sheriff in Mississippi)

Taylor Hicks: Dust My Broom

Its been awhile, but the Taylor Hicks fan club has clued me in on a great  video of Dust My Broom.  Enjoy!

The Mystery Blues Woman: Crow Jane

I have no idea who this young lady is, but she does a great job on Skip James's Crow Jane!  If anyone knows who she is please let me know!   Thanks!

Stop Breaking Down: The Robert Johnson Story

A cool clip from a filmed thesis made by Glen Marzano When he was at Loyola Maramount.  I would love to see the whole thing.  This clip in particular shows Robert first as a young man learning the blues and then later the night before he dies. 

Todd Rundgren Is Doing WHAT???

I got a tip from a fellow bluesman that Todd Rundgren is making a tribute CD to Robert Johnson. All I have to say is WHY! Why do we need another tribute disc to Robert Johnson. I Mean, Peter Green, Eric Clapton, and John Hammond all have CDs already out, do we really need one more. Seriously how about a Charlie Patton, Skip James, or Tommy Johnson tribute?? Or perhaps a Son House, Johnny Shines, or R L Burnside tribute???

Seriously Todd, lets spread the love around! There are plenty of great songs by great delta blues artists that you could record. In fact the family of Bukka White would love for you to cover his songs so that they could see some money.

We all love Robert, and I have blogged a lot about him over the years, but please, lets give some other old bluesman some LOVE!

John Lee Hooker: It Serves Me Right To Suffer

Classic John Lee Hooker

Taylor Hicks: Dust My Broom

Taylor Hicks performing a classic Robert Johnson tune. BTW, Taylor is the little brown blip in the bottom middle of the screen:-)

Taylor Hicks_Dust My Broom_Biloxi MS_9-11-09 from Janibeth on Vimeo.

Garland Jeffrays: Washington DC Hospital Blues

Garland Jeffrays does a loving rendition of Skip James Washington DC Hospital Blues. The song was a true story written by Skip James about his stay in the hospital back in the early 60s. James had become the legendary forgotton bluesman. Perhaps even a phantom in the mists of time. Yet, James amazingly shows up at the Newport Jazz festival in 1964 and is rediscovered. James eventually died of Cancer in 1969.

Chris Thomas King: Come On In My Kitchen

Chris Thomas King performing a classic Robert Johnson tune in Clear Lake Iowa, and unfortunately to an uneducated crowd who had no idea who he was. I am ashamed to be an Iowan right now:-(

Delta Cultural Center In Helena Arkansas

The Dallas Morning News, has a very nice article about the Delta Cultural Center in Helena Arkansas. What is nice about the article is that they get the history right too! To read the article CLICK HERE.

Eagle Park Slim

I love digging though Youtube looking for cool blues performers. This is Eagle Park Slim, from Eugene Oregon. Unfortunately this is not the complete song, but I like this guy a lot. Slim proves what I have said for a long time, that the blues is alive and well you just have to look hard for it sometimes. Some of the best blues performers are the guys and gals who live in your town who just show up every week like clockwork to either perform on the street or the local blues jam for free. as I always say SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL BLUESMAN AND BLUESWOMAN!!!!!!!!!!!

Charlie Patton: High Water Everywhere

One of them cool, and haunting videos that have been floating around Youtube for years. Don't know how they do it, but it is very weird.

Son House: Low Down Dirty Shame

Rare color footage of the great Son House. Son had a long career that spanned all the way back to Charlie Patton and Robert Johnson.

Sam Carr

Delta bluesman Sam Carr is ill and is recuperating in a nursing home. Bob Corritore sent an update.

• Sam Carr Health Concerns: The following message came to us from Geni Ward, the sister of Sam Carr: "I would like to let everyone know that Sam Carr has taken ill and is in a nursing home in Clarksdale, Mississippi:

Greenbrough Nursing Center

Room 308

340 DeSoto Avenue Extension

Clarksdale, MS 38614

Phone: (662) 627-3486

He has a blood clot in his leg, and his kidneys are beginning to fail. The doctors are treating him for the blood clot, and are giving him medicine to treat his kidneys. I would like for everyone to send up prayers on his behalf, and if anyone lives in the area, please go and visit him. Steve Kolbus has been going by to see him every day; if someone comes to see him often, they will give him better treatment. Thanks!"

-Geni Ward