Not sure how these two separate half hour documentaries from the early 1970s came to be festooned together, but Lightnin' Hopkins and Roosevelt Sykes provides fabulous samplings of two of the great blues artists of the twentieth century. I've posted about both men before -- Hopkins on his own and Roosevelt Sykes as pianist accompanying Mary Johnson early in his career (he really got going in 1929, according to his own testimony here).
The vibe in both parts is definitely similar, but with Hopkins hanging out and performing in various types of venues near Houston, Texas, and Sykes doing the same in and around New Orleans. Priceless footage of both dudes in their element particularly for anyone who digs the blues. They are very much in a zone I like to be in.
The DVD is also titled as part of a series, Masters of the Country Blues. From my notes, it appears that Sam Lightnin' Hopkins was directed by Charles D. Peavy (Jack Bauer, producer for KUHT Film Productions University of Houston, circa 1971); the credits for the second part are Roosevelt Sykes / A film by Pasquale Buba & Dusty Nelson, 1972.
Today's Rune: Fertility.
4 comments:
Whether he can play the guitar or not, he has got IT. Wonderful and as American as it gets. Maybe we could show it to grammar school students and new citizens about to take the oath. This is our country -- now watch this video.
Well, I started a blog in no small part due to the inspiration of this immense, cultural diary of yours'. If you want, take a look.
http://markthomaskrone.wordpress.com/
Take care!
Mark
Do you ever read James Sallis's work? He writes mysteries, literary mysteries. He really knows his early Jazz and blues and mentions a lot famous folks in his books. He's talk about Lightin' Hopkins, I know.
...I am so lowcalibre as far as music goes :)
and lady gaga is coming to India with her entourage!
Oh cool, thanks for the comments~~! Mark, I'll get on it. Charles, I'm pretty sure my parents have read him b/c of a similar conversation about "Blind Blake." Mona, I see Lady Gaga has been doing some Lady Godiva type surprises lately -- I'll bet it'll be a crazy time in India, too.
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