Napolian Strickland >

[Michael Messer]

Thanks to Harriet (slide496) for telling me about these clips of film. Made my day! ....Thanks Harriet....







Shine On
Michael

[slide496]

I am wondering if you recognize the resonator he's playing? Sears catalogue?

Peace,
HArriet

[Michael Messer]

It is an early black/grey/burst National Duolian, before the ribbed coverplate, probably 1931.

These three clips of film are stunning!

Shine On
Michael.

[gaucho]

Harriet, I'm no expert but I'm guessing that's a 1932 Duolian. It looks exactly like mine! Thanks for the post. If you listen to the live, front porch type album of McDowell's ("Come and Found You Gone" excellent listen by the way, love the ambience!) you can hear several references to Napoleon and you hear his voice calling out as well. I know I will be killing some hours on that Alan Lomax Archive on You Tube.
The Sears Duolian had a different looking cover plate with one less diamond pattern grouping of the "sieve-holes", I think. Taylor Swift famously strummed one one the music awards show a few years ago... www.mtv.com/videos/misc/559926/innocent-live.jhtml#id=1647213

[Michael Messer]

Shine On
Michael

[Michael Messer]

NAPOLIAN is the correct spelling of his name.....

Thanks to Cascade Blues Association for this information...



Napolian Strickland 1924 - 2001 - By: Greg Johnson

Of all the traditional styles of Blues music being played today, perhaps the fife and drum bands of Northern Mississippi just may have the deepest roots. The percussive sounds are almost a direct link back to the Western Coast of Africa, where slave traders took their heaviest toll; a land where stringed gourds, woodwind instruments and drums played a major role within the communities, and the memories continued with the poor souls being brought to a new land. The fife and drum bands thrived in the Hill Country of Mississippi for many years, with standout performers such as Sid Hemphill and his granddaughter, Jesse Mae, Ed Young and Othar Turner. But, as the practitioners of this music have been passing on, the tradition appears to be dying.

Another key member of the fife and drum family departed this world on July 21, 2001, as Napolian Strickland died following a stroke. Strickland was arguably the premier fife player of the genre, having appeared at numerous festivals, on several recorded compilations and on film in the documentary, "The Land Where The Blues Began".

Napolian (this is the correct spelling, though it also appears frequently as the more common Napoleon) Strickland was born on October 6, 1924 near Como, Mississippi, where he lived most of his life. He was originally introduced to the fife by his father, but it was the great Othar Turner, nearly 20 years his senior, who taught him how to make his own instruments and how to work their magic. He also played the guitar, which he first learned through a homemade diddley-bow, and the harmonica. He was always willing to pass along the tradition of how to make the cane fifes to whomever asked; a process he accomplished by marking the finger-hole locations with spit and a pocket-knife, then burning them in with a hot poker.

Strickland was a reputed energetic performer in the region for several decades, possessing the power behind the fife to be clearly heard above the three drummers he played with. He was so beloved by the people of Como that in the early 1980s, they proclaimed an official "Napolian Strickland Day" in his honor. Later in the mid-1980s, Strickland was involved in an automobile accident, suffering injuries that forced him to retire. He soon moved into a care home in Senatobia, Mississippi, having lost partial use of his left arm. Though incapacitated in this manner, Strickland was still pleased to have visitors, occasionally requesting his caretakers to bring out his harmonica from the locked cabinet where it was kept, in order to entertain as long as his strength permitted. Napolian Strickland lived the remainder of his days in this home, but will be fondly remembered through the music of the Northern Mississippi Hill Country for years to come in the guise of the performers his percussive music influenced, most notably The North Mississippi All Stars. He was survived by his mother and son.
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Shine On
Michael

[slide496]

Thanks both for the info on the make of the resonator

gaucho - THey have really been posting quite alot of their films at the archive. I will pick up the Been here and gone, then!

Peace,
Harriet

[mikeshipman]

I just love these vids were you can see the guys making the music! I have some Napolian Strickland on cassette somewhere with a fife player and drummer if my memory serves me well - best go look it out....

[andrewt]

Thanks for sharing - lot's learn't from the Louise vid!

I've got the 'Come and Found you Gone' recording but did not realise it was Napolian Strickland that was mentioned.

[1928triolian]

Real music played by real people.

In the south of Italy you could still find a way of playing, partecipate to and living the ritual aspects of music very similar to the Fife and Drums picnics.
Alan Lomax documented and recorded around Italy.

These things are now disappearing, as long as the rural cultures which these musics were expression of, disappear themselves.