With nearly a hundred years of recorded blues music in the cultural memory bank to draw from, I'm finding it rewarding to delve into the 20th century side of things. Daniel Beaumont's Preachin' the Blues: The Life and Times of Son House (Oxford University Press, 2011) synthesizes available sources and adds new material to present the fullest take on Eddie James Son House, Jr., yet, within the context of the American blues arc. I'm thoroughly enjoying it -- not only the accounts of House, his music and background, but also insight into his friendships, running buddies and two-way influences. Willie Brown is there, Charley Patton, Louise Johnson and Robert Johnson. Let's not forget Howlin' Wolf and Muddy Waters, too. The road for Son House (1902-1988) ends in Detroit, where he is buried.
Today's Rune: Movement.
2 comments:
This is why I'd like to live a thousand years. I'd love to do a study of the blues, but I'd love to do many things and cannot do them all. Another few lifetimes would be helpful.
Oh Erik, listening to the blues makes me blue!
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