Country and the Blues
My experience in music includes some backup sessions with several country music artists who have expressed their roots as being deep into blues. Hank Williams Sr. was heavily influenced by Teetot Payne and I learned from the Carter family that Jimmy Rodgers was influenced by all of the old Delta musicians.
When I happened to perform on the Grand Ole Opry back in the early 50's, there was an old African-American performer by the name of Deford Bailey who was both a Blues and Country Music artist.
Then in the mid 50's when I was in Memphis, I met several Blues artists cutting records for Sam Phillips at Sun Records. I can personally attest that the Rockabilly movement that became part of the Rock and Roll explosion was seated in Country and Blues.
Any comments?
When I happened to perform on the Grand Ole Opry back in the early 50's, there was an old African-American performer by the name of Deford Bailey who was both a Blues and Country Music artist.
Then in the mid 50's when I was in Memphis, I met several Blues artists cutting records for Sam Phillips at Sun Records. I can personally attest that the Rockabilly movement that became part of the Rock and Roll explosion was seated in Country and Blues.
Any comments?
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Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Dixie Hippie on -
Yep Roi. He had a shoeshine stand in Nashville back in the 50's after he was fired from the Opry. He was a true gentleman who I admired very much.
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Permalink Reply by Larry on -
My own feeling is that all the labels we put on American music to some extent create artificial differences. Musicians in allm the genre of American music influenced each other. I have a recording of Mississippi John Hurt doing Jimmy Rogers; "Waiting For A Train."
Is it a country song when Rogers does it and a blues when John Hurt sings it?
To my mind, the original music of America is a big stew, which all of us from me, to you, to Thelonious Monk, to Jimmy Rogers to Lightnin Hopkins all use to create our individual voices.
Call it the blues.
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Permalink Reply by Fred Willard on -
I think a lot of the labels were invented by the music company people based on who they saw the audience as being.
One thing for sure, musicians love to steal licks and put their own spin on the music.
That's what keeps it growing and makes it so good.
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Permalink Reply by Aaron Burton on -
well said Larry
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Permalink Reply by Fred Willard on
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For sure, and I think the blues influence started way back. If you listen to the fiddle music of Nova Scotia vs. that of the Southern Appalachians you can hear the blues influence in the southern music.
A specific example at the birth of country music would be Leslie Riddle, the Piedmont bluesman. He was friends with A.P. Carter, performed with him, taught him some songs and taught Maybelle Piedmont style finger picking.
Maybelle later recorded some songs in that style and even some with open tunings and slide.
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Permalink Reply by Dixie Hippie on
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John Jackson, one of the great blues artists was heavily influenced by the appalachian music. In fact, John was a very accomplished banjo player in addition to a great guitarist.
I'm not sure who taught whom between Mother Maybelle and Leslie Riddle. Not many people could teach Mama Maybelle anything! (Just kidding). Anyone interested in hearing some of the appalachian blues, take a look at this link to original 78's. Lot's of artists here.
http://honkingduck.com/BAZ/honkingduck78s.php?qt=artist&ap=10&a...
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Permalink Reply by Aaron Burton on
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this link didn't work for me- great discusion, you've had some amazing experiences!
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Permalink Reply by Larry on
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I just uploaded Mississippi John Hurt singing "Waiting For A Train." It's on my page. Check it out. It's from the stew of American Traditional Music.
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Permalink Reply by Dixie Hippie on
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Thanks Larry. Gotta love those Hill Country Blues.
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Permalink Reply by Aaron Burton on
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very cool- "Frankie and Johnny" is another one Hurt and Rodgers both did but Hurt's was "Frankie and Albert"- I sing the Rodgers lyrics and play it more like Hurt.
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Permalink Reply by Rhys D Webb on -
I'm always a little puzzled by the apparant conflict between what people want to call 'country' and what they want to call 'blues'. Perhaps that's because I often well and truly straddle the line between the two.
To be honest, I'm not sure why it matters what you call it.
It seems just as silly to me to like something because it is called "Blues" , even if it's rubbish, as it is to dislike something just because it's called "country", even if it's great. Likewise the reverse. Particularly since the line between the two has, IMHO, always been quite blurred and is becoming more and more blurred as the years go by.
But hey, what would I know?
I'm an Australian and that's about as far from the "delta" as you can get. Culturally as well as geographically.
It sure sounds cool to me though.
Cheers
Rhys
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Permalink Reply by Roddy Gordon on -
I think you are right Sue all music evolves etc,I was born in Scotland with an Irish mother,listened to and sang Celtic stuff then moved to London sixties scene soaking up and playiing rock and blues ,then moved To Australia and at that time plenty of gigs on the country scene so ended up soaking up a lot of country ,both Australian and American..
So now I love playing gigs where I can move from scots Irish American or Australian music.If you want pain and suffering listen to some of the old Scots /Irish stuff
I believe exposure to all musical voices enhances rather than detracts from the end product.
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