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Post by Pickers Ditch on Jul 4, 2020 11:53:48 GMT
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Post by tallsailor on Jul 4, 2020 13:34:45 GMT
Sad and fascinating in equal measure. |
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Post by slide496 on Jul 4, 2020 15:29:55 GMT
Thanks PD. I had heard about that but its great to read more about it.
Lawd lawdy,
Harriet
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Post by ricks on Jul 4, 2020 15:40:48 GMT
Thanks for the link - an interesting point ( for me ) raised as to whether a young, white musician 'should' have helped Son back to some sort of musical prowess - having seen House perform in 1967, I can only say that I'm glad he did, for Son was very competent & powerful by then, & wonderful to see & hear; I also recall that around that time I bought an album by a re-discovered Peg Leg Howell, which I found pretty well unlistenable because his abilities were so diminished - maybe if he'd had similar kind of sympathetic coaching, he could have regained some of his earlier magic?
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Post by pete1951 on Jul 4, 2020 16:57:25 GMT
I saw Al play with Son ( in fact he used my C harp at the gig) and at the time had no idea that he had ‘nursed’ Son back to playing. It is (to me) shocking that Son was about my present age when I saw him, and how old he seemed, we owe Al a debt that can never be repaid.
Pete
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Post by chromatic on Jul 10, 2020 10:06:46 GMT
What an excellent article and a reminder to post this
Birmingham, England, Town Hall mid/late 60's and early 70's had occasional American Blues Legends (or a similar title) concerts and one featured a very accomplished Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee.
Another had a brief appearance from Son House who was escorted on and off stage, complete with chair, and played for only a short time. I remember that he looked old and frail.
I've had a look at various websites but can't find details or if my memory is playing tricks.
Anybody else there?
Cheers
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Post by pete1951 on Jul 10, 2020 21:38:10 GMT
Son was on the 1967 American Folk Blues tour, October?
Pete
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Post by chromatic on Jul 15, 2020 11:43:37 GMT
Excellent detective work, thank you. It also solves the thought I had that Jim Simpson of Big Bear was involved, but have found that they do AMERICAN BLUES LEGENDS starting in the 70's.
The 1967 American Folk Blues album has a track 'Got a letter this morning' which I guess will be this from 1967, with it's correct title,
Cheers
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Post by Mark Makin on Jul 16, 2020 10:35:34 GMT
Son House performed at Birmingham Town Hall on October 25th 1967...and I carried his National to the edge of the stage just after he signed my programme. Yeaaah! (Sorry about the Venetian blind...the photo's behind glass in my office!)  The other artists on the bill were Bukka White, Skip James, Sonny and Brownie, Little Walter, Hound Dog Taylor, Koko Taylor, Odie Payne and Dillard Crume |
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Post by Michael Messer on Jul 16, 2020 10:52:20 GMT
I like the Venetian blind, or should that be Blind Venetian.  Shine On Michael |
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Post by chromatic on Jul 16, 2020 11:21:33 GMT
A question for Mark - can you remember him being helped on and off stage or could it have been Bukka White?
Cheers
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Post by Mark Makin on Jul 16, 2020 11:58:21 GMT
Yes, he was helped on to the stage. He was very frail and leaned on my shoulder wheezing heavily while he struggled to sign my programme - he pressed on so hard, the indent of the biro went through all the other pages! He had a helper on each arm to support him as they took him from the dressing room to the stage. That's why they left his national standing against the wall. I spotted it and followed the three of them to the stage and passed it up to them.
bukka White was a big, strong, vibrant character. It was he who got me all the other signatures in the dressing room. He just grabbed my programme and rushed round the room, forcing Little Walter and Skip James to sign. He even kicked Sonny Terry in the leg to wake him up in his armchair to rubber stamp his picture!
While this was going on, I strummed a Martin D35 that was standing by the door. I heard a high pitched voice behind me say "Be careful of that boy, it's worth more than both of us!".....Skip James
MM - I DO like 'Blind Venetian!"
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Post by chromatic on Jul 20, 2020 10:30:13 GMT
That's a great story so thank you
Cheers
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Post by snakehips on Jul 21, 2020 21:50:40 GMT
Hi Mark, "Son House performed at Birmingham Town Hall on October 25th 1967...and I carried his National to the edge of the stage just after he signed my programme. Yeaaah!" And "The other artists on the bill were Bukka White, Skip James, Sonny and Brownie, Little Walter, Hound Dog Taylor, Koko Taylor, Odie Payne and Dillard Crume" OMG ! You saw all these guys  That's just not fair ! Boo Hoo ! I was only born in 1971 !!! |
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