The Blues Blogger

The previous post I wrote featured Etta Baker. It was derived by some rather mocking and playful remarks made TheBluesBloggersWife or for short TBBW. She felt I was totally overlooking some of the more influential women that played the blues. She was right!

I then started the research process … What I was looking for was a woman that made a major influence on the blues that didn’t necessarily have a tragic demise. This unfortunately is not commonplace when it comes to the blues. However, there are exceptions to the rule… When it comes to the blues you won’t find a female guitarist and singer as influential as

MEMPHIS MINNIE

She would earn the respect of record buying fans and the praise of all the blues artists that she worked with throughout her long successful career; a profession which spanned over four decades. Big Bill Broonzy recalls Minnie as being,

“the best women blues guitarist he has ever heard.”

Memphis Minnie was born Elizabeth Douglas on June 3, 1897, in Algiers Louisiana and was the oldest of 13 brothers and sisters. Like most things in that era, music was also homemade. In 1907 a blues musician would play in all kinds of places like house parties, barrel houses, work camps, and traveling shows. Influenced by the local string players that performed at these parties, Minnie would obtain her first guitar at 11 years old.
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Tags: Blues Reflections by The Blues Blogger
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If there’s one thing you should know about me it’s this; I drive my wife nuts … I’m always asking her about my articles. “What you think?” “Is this a good idea?” “How does it look?” After hearing me pontificate yet again, my wife TBBW gives me a steady gaze and says,

TBBW: Your articles are nice dear. They’re interesting … They have a good flow. (mockingly)…You need good flow. So it moves along fine … Has a nice pace … Then suddenly …They’re Dead! … Dead I tell ya!

TBB: …They’re not all dead … May I remind you it’s a reflective blog!

TBBW: That’s right and there’s plenty of women that play the blues that you haven’t even mentioned … Why don’t you do a little reflecting on Etta Baker? A woman who played great blues and made an impression on so many people …Of course she died of natural causes … (pause) But I forgot …your blog only features people who are either strangled or choke on something!

Sort of made me think …

ETTA BAKER

was born on March 31st 1913 in Caldwell County, North Carolina … She started to play guitar at the age of 3 and was taught by her father Boone Reid, who was also a long time player of the Blues.

Etta was just one of eight children. Often the clan would walk to neighbour’s houses to make music. Etta’s family was paid to play dances for businessmen and their families who would retreat at nearby cabins for leisure and entertainment on the weekends.

It wasn’t until 1956 that Etta gained notoriety when she appeared on a compilation album called “Traditional Music of the Southern Appalachians,” Her father had taken the family to nearby Cone Mansion. Folksinger Paul Clayton happened to be walking the grounds and Baker remembers,

“My daddy asked Paul to let me play One-Dime Blues. He was over the next day with his tape-recorder.”
—Etta Baker

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Tags: Blues Reflections by The Blues Blogger
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As mentioned on many past articles, I grew up listening to a lot of music around the house while growing up. In my teens I worked in a fairly upscale record store. However, I wasn’t anywhere near these places when I was first heard Roy Buchanan’s music.

I was in high school and one of my best friends played the guitar. We were constantly spending time in the school’s music room. Occasionally we would get into a bit of hot water because we would miss classes while we played guitar. I never knew how to play, but I sure liked to pretend. It kept me entertained, even though I knew I should have been in class. Oh well, guess there’s worse things to get in trouble over other than admiring music.

Roy Buchanan

was born September 23, 1939 in Pixley California and made his recording debut in 1957 playing the solo on Dale Hawkins “My Babe” for Chicago’s Chess Records. Three years later, Buchanan headed to Canada, where he took lead guitar role in Ronnie Hawkins band. One of the group’s teenage players Robbie Robertson studied guitar under Buchanan, and took over the lead guitar spot when Buchanan left the group. This would eventually mold itself into the group The Band.
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Tags: Blues Reflections, The Seventies by The Blues Blogger
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I am aware that some articles I write are going to appeal to some of my readers more than others. We all have different tastes. I am purposely testing my boundaries when it comes to these posts. Remember it is a reflective blues and jazz revue! It does lean mostly towards the blues genre, but the blues gave birth to jazz and its improvising form. It is a major influence for me and therefore a necessary topic for me to discuss…

The seventies were just about closing … That’s the era in music that had a major impact on me. I listened to and was so influenced by music that I would constantly dream of getting a job in the industry. I rode that challenge in 1979 onboard a flight to my new home of New York City.

I often think about what artists I was listening to in that time frame leading up to my New York move. One of the artists that strongly influenced my love for, especially acoustic jazz was guitarist Ralph Towner. His album“Solo Concert.” will always remind me of my bizarre youthful spirit. The music was far from dangerous and most certainly adventurous. Great memories and crazy times …

Ralph Towner

is best known as the lead composer, guitarist, and keyboardist for the acoustic jazz ensemble “Oregon.” He has also seen a rich solo career on the ECM label and has collaborated with contemporary musicians such as John Abercrombie, Larry Coryell, Keith Jarrett and Gary Peacock. Just to name a few.

Towner was born in Chehalis, Washington on March 1st, 1940. Like his parents, his first instruments were the trumpet and piano. Towner was raised in an environment where explorations into the musical fold were strongly encouraged. In 1958, Towner enrolled in the University of Oregon as an art major, but later he would change his major to composition. It was during this time that he met bassist Glen Moore and would later form a future partnership.
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Tags: Jazz Reflections by The Blues Blogger
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