Son House gets better as time rolls on!

[Michael Messer]

This is a beautiful film, split into two parts it is a wonderful 30 minutes viewing.

Part 1


(1977) Son House: Preachin’ the Blues

“In May 1975, an article about the documentary called ‘Son House on film’ appeared in an issue of a blues quarterly called ‘Whiskey, Women and…’. The article said that interviews had been done with “John Lee Hooker, Sonny Terry, Buddy Guy, Brownie McGhee, Junior Wells, Willie Dixon, and Dick Waterman.” More interviews were planned “with such blues notables as Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf and Johnny Shines,” and furthermore “Arrangements are also being made for B.B. King to do the film’s narration track.” a photograph showed a young man sitting with Son and Evie on the steps of 61 Grieg Street with the caption saying it was the “Director Louis Villalon.” Mix had brought Villalon in the intervening year. Mix’s documentary was suspended after the Toronto festival for lack of money. Mix gave some of his footage to another young Rochester resident named Mark Brady. Brady transferred some of the 16mm footage to the cheaper video format and added some sequences on Grieg Street and Genesee Street. He subsequently made a 30-minute black and white video documentary about House that aired on the local public television affiliate in 1978, and then – rather like its subject – disappeared from view from almost twenty years.”
- Daniel Beaumont, Preachin’ The Blues: The Life & Times of Son House

Part 2


(1977) Son House: Preachin’ the Blues

“In May 1975, an article about the documentary called ‘Son House on film’ appeared in an issue of a blues quarterly called ‘Whiskey, Women and…’. The article said that interviews had been done with “John Lee Hooker, Sonny Terry, Buddy Guy, Brownie McGhee, Junior Wells, Willie Dixon, and Dick Waterman.” More interviews were planned “with such blues notables as Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf and Johnny Shines,” and furthermore “Arrangements are also being made for B.B. King to do the film’s narration track.” a photograph showed a young man sitting with Son and Evie on the steps of 61 Grieg Street with the caption saying it was the “Director Louis Villalon.” Mix had brought Villalon in the intervening year. Mix’s documentary was suspended after the Toronto festival for lack of money. Mix gave some of his footage to another young Rochester resident named Mark Brady. Brady transferred some of the 16mm footage to the cheaper video format and added some sequences on Grieg Street and Genesee Street. He subsequently made a 30-minute black and white video documentary about House that aired on the local public television affiliate in 1978, and then – rather like its subject – disappeared from view from almost twenty years.”
- Daniel Beaumont, Preachin’ The Blues: The Life & Times of Son House

Shine On
Michael

[ken1953clark]

[leeophonic]

I wonder where the guitars that Son had a hand on are now, the early photos of him and a Duolian, I think Newport was a style O and in these clips a valco student model. I know there are stories around the guitars loaned to Son got hammered (Cone) and in the 60's or 70's cones were not readily available. Has anyone any museum memories or stories around the guitars I wonder.

Lee

[Michael Messer]

Lee, The 14 fret Duolian that Son used in the UK was and probably still is owned by Tom McGuinness. As for the others, some were lent to him for a show or tour and as for the guitars he owned, they all went in various directions at different times and as far as I know, not into collectors' hands. The problem with Son House's guitars and one or two others of the legendary blues masters, Blind Boy Fuller, Bo Carter are two that spring to mind, is that at one time or other everyone thinks they have their guitars. Someone does, and whoever that is doesn't and will never know they have, which in some ways I think is wonderful.

I never believe all those rumours and "a bloke told me" stories about stuff like crushing cones and such like. People just like to fantasise about these almost mythological characters and most of it is untrue.

Shine On
Michael