1 post tagged “memphis jug band”
Our timeshare week in Ballater (see Helpless Dancer On The Road link for photo diary) is always a great time to get some reading in.
As is our normal routine we spent Monday in Aberdeen where I picked up two books for the week.
The first, as illustrated below is more of a book to look at and dip into than read from front to back.
R Crumb is the leading light in the US "underground comix" movement and was the creator of the famous "Keep on Truckin" image, hs passion for music is reflected through his many sleeve illustrations incuding work for Janis Joplin.
This book is based on the collection of "trading cards" (like our footballer cards inside packets of bubble gum or cigarette cards ) he created in the mid 80's, the collection which forms this book features the illustrations and brief biographies of the artists and is enhanced by a 21 track CD of songs by some of the artists illustrated chosen by Crumb himself.
Below are a couple of the blues tracks and one from the country pioneers section each with a brief note and the relevant illustration.
Formed by Will Shade the group recorded between 1927-1934 and their "Bottle It Up And Go" from 1932 was a classic of the decade.
Charley Patton needs no introduction as he is one of the most influential musicians from Mississippi, he was a prolific recording artist recording 42 songs in one single year with "Pony Blues" perhaps being his defining moment.
Now here is one of the pioneers of what we now term "Country" though the music was more recognised in the 20's and 30's as "string bands"
"Doc" Boggs was a banjo picker of the highest order, born in 1898 he was a miner for most of his life. Most of his repertoire was module in charactor and he only ever recorded 12 tracks, 8 in 1927 and 4 in 1929.
The artist on the front cover of the book is bluesman Frank Stokes who was born in 1888 in memphis where he became one of the city's most popular entertainers, his best known tune was "Crump Don't Low It".
for more R Crumb blues illustrations visit:-
