MP3 Live in Dallas - BLUES: Delta Style

These four artists represent the last connection to the start of blues as a genre.

18 MP3 Songs
BLUES: Delta Style, BLUES: Electric Blues



Details:
Once in a lifetime you may experience a brief moment
when the stars align and something truly extraordinary
happens. This was the case in October 2004, when four of
the greatest living blues legends were assembled in
Dallas, Texas for one incomparable night of music. At the
time they ranged in age from 89 to 94 and all had
received the National Endowment for the Arts Heritage
Fellowship Award, the highest honor in the USA for
traditional arts. These musicians have devoted their
entire life to playing the blues, and staging such an epic
event was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Once
reunited, the old magic reemerged. It was if they were
long lost school buddies. There was a time when
Dallas was viewed as an epicenter for the blues. It was
home to such legends as Blind Lemon Jefferson, Huddie
âLedbellyâ Ledbetter, T-Bone Walker, Freddie King and
others. The Longhorn Ballroom in Dallas and the
Magnolia in Fort Worth catered to well-dressed
audiences who were transfixed by the soulful shouts of
Johnny Taylor, the screaming Telecaster of Albert Collins
and the eerie cry of Albert Kingâs Flying V. On October
16th, 2004, Dallas once again reclaimed its place as a
blues capitol when the four remaining elders of the blues
reunited on the stage of the historic Majestic Theater for
a grand performance. It was a night that was 90 years in
the making, but will live on for eternity.


Henry James Townsend

He goes by the name of Henry James Townsend but his
friends call him âThe Muleâ. Though the nicknameâs origin is a
mystery, it could refer to his stubborn will to keep playing. At
the time of this recording, the dean of St. Louis blues and
reigning patriarch of the blues, Henry James never had played
Dallas in his 94 years. He is the only American recording artist
to have recorded in every decade since the 1920âs. Henryâs
music is a unique combination of country and city blues,
tempered with just the right amount of influences from
Lonnie Johnson and Roosevelt Sykes. The best part about
Henry is the wisdom he shares with the audience about his
life and his music. Itâs insightful, provocative and timeless.

Joe Willie âPinetopâ Perkins
Born July 7, 1913 in Belzoni, Mississippi, Grammy Award
winner Joe Willie âPinetopâ Perkins took up piano mid-career
after he was stabbed in the arm. Early on, Perkins
accompanied such blues legends as Big Joe Williams and
Sonny Boy Williamson. By 1953, he was well known as both a
back-up player and solo act. This was also the year he made his
first solo recording with Sun Records. Now living in Austin,
Perkins used to visit Texas regularly when he played piano for
the legendary Muddy Waters Band. Today, âPinetopâ Perkins is
regarded as one of the worldâs greatest blues and boogiewoogie
piano players.

DAVID âHONEYBOYâ EDWARDS
David "Honeyboy" Edwards was born June 28, 1915 in Shaw,
Mississippi. To listen to Mr. Edwards and his skilled slide
guitar playing is to journey back in time to the Mississippi
Delta and the street corners of Clarksdale, Mississippi. There,
Honeyboy played a pivotal role in shaping the seminal
moments of blues history. He is sought after by documentary
filmmakers for his detailed accounts of blues folklore,
especially his recollections of the day Robert Johnson died. He
describes Deep Ellum, east of downtown Dallas, as if it were
yesterday. He recounts with incredible accuracy his escapades
near the âCentral Trackâ (now Central Expressway) that
bordered the west side of this area known for its colorful
nightlife in the 30âs and 40âs.

ROBERT LOCKWOOD, JR.
Ninety-year-old Robert Lockwood, Jr. or âRobert Jr.â to his
friends used to âplayâ one-month gigs in Fort Worth during
the 50âs and 60âs. He learned to play guitar from the legendary
Robert Johnson, who lived with Lockwoodâs mother during
his formative years. He learned his first song, âSweet Home
Chicagoâ, in about three weeks under Johnsonâs tutelage.
Robert is also one of the original King Biscuit Boys who once
opened for King Biscuit Time, now the longest running live
radio show in America. Today, Mr. Lockwood is recognized as
one of the most prolific guitar players in the world. His
unique chord progressions have earned him two honorary
doctorate degrees for music theory.

THE BLUE SHOE PROJECT
The legends of the blues and those influenced by it are aging or
passing and with it their rich history and culture. These
legendary figures made a profound impact on American music
and our society. Students at all levels should know it, be proud
of it and experience it. The blues is Americaâs gift to the world,
idolized around the globe, and no other culture can lay claim to
its mighty influence. As a learning organization, our mission is
to educate students on the blues and their heritage. Texas
played a pivotal role in that heritage. Texas blues legends such
as Blind Lemon Jefferson, T-Bone Walker, Sippie Wallace,
Victoria Spivey, Lightnin' Hopkins, Albert Collins, Freddie
King, Johnnie Taylor and Stevie Ray Vaughan all left an
indelible mark on Texas and the world. Every opportunity
should be taken to promote this rich history for the benefit of
our youth and our community. www.blueshoeproject.org