| Author |
Topic: Big Joe Williams: 9 string archtop? |
Darryl Hattenhauer
From:
Phoenix, Arizona, USA
|
|
|
|
Dave Mudgett
From:
Central Pennsylvania and Gallatin, Tennessee
|
|
|
|
Darryl Hattenhauer
From:
Phoenix, Arizona, USA
|
Posted 6 Jun 2008 3:49 pm |
|
| Thanks for the link, Dave. I didn't know anything about this guitar until a few days ago. |
|
|
|
robert kramer
From:
Nashville TN
|
Posted 7 Jun 2008 10:24 am
|
|
| I had the good fortune to see Big Joe Williams a couple of times back in the early '70's when he toured on the blues coffee house circuit with Bukka White, Skip James and Son House. One time I even saw all them on a show at Carnegie Hall. Big Joe like to use a Harmony Sovereign because it had that large peg head where he could add his 3 extra tuning pegs to make his 9 string guitar. |
|
|
|
Darryl Hattenhauer
From:
Phoenix, Arizona, USA
|
Posted 7 Jun 2008 11:27 am
|
|
Robert,
That Carnegie show must have been overwhelming. |
|
|
|
robert kramer
From:
Nashville TN
|
Posted 7 Jun 2008 12:32 pm
|
|
| Darryl, The Carnegie Hall show was overwhelming. I still think about it. When Skip James started singing and tapping his feet, dust rose up from the stage floor. Bukka White could twirl his National around in mid-air and catch it on the beat. Son House would raise his right hand over his head and then bring it down and hit the strings. They were all playing good but I think Big Joe Williams was the only one who had never stopped gigging. To me, he was the closet we'll ever get to hearing Charlie Patton. |
|
|
|
Darryl Hattenhauer
From:
Phoenix, Arizona, USA
|
Posted 7 Jun 2008 12:38 pm
|
|
Sheesh. And whew. And every other expression when words fail.
As I recall, the earliest recording with Dylan on it was a Big Joe album with Dylan playing harmonica. |
|
|
|
Mike Perlowin
From:
Los Angeles CA
|
Posted 7 Jun 2008 8:49 pm
|
|
Back in the 60's I used to hang out at a traditional folk music club called the Ash Grove.
http://www.ashgrovemusic.com/
Herb Steiner used to hang there too. That's where we became friends. But while Herb was more interested in the country and bluegrass acts, I was more into the blues singers the club presented.
I missed Big Joe Williams, but I did see Son House, Skip James, Bukka White, Fred McDowell, Mance Lipscomb. Reverend Gary Davis, Robert Pete Williams, Muddy Waters, Howling wolf, Albert King, Albert Collins, Lightnin' Hopkins, John Lee Hooker, and countless others.
On the country and bluegrass side I also saw Doc Watson, Bill Monroe, Flatt and Scruggs, Clarence Ashley, and Merle Travis, among others.
Oh, I almost forgot. The place also had a guitar school, and I took flat picking lessons from a young bluegrass guitarist by the name of Clarence White.
Even at the time I knew that I was part of something very magical and special, looking back, I'm astounded that the place even existed, and grateful to have been there and seen all those great performers.
_________________
Please visit my web site and Soundcloud page and listen to the music posted there.
http://www.mikeperlowin.com http://soundcloud.com/mike-perlowin
Last edited by Mike Perlowin on 8 Jun 2008 12:26 am; edited 1 time in total |
|
|
|
Darryl Hattenhauer
From:
Phoenix, Arizona, USA
|
Posted 7 Jun 2008 9:34 pm
|
|
Mike,
You're making me feel like a musical virgin. Of all those players, I've seen only Earl Scruggs. (Don't tell bOb). |
|
|
|
