Chris Rodriques and the Abby the Spoon Lady - ANGELS IN HEAVEN

Someone (and I really wish I could remember who) send me this link a while ago.  

Abby the spoon lady started as a hobo. She travelled the US hitching rides on freight trains and seeing the country.  She taught herself the spoons so she could busk and make a little money.  She made it into a couple of documentaries and continues to advocate for buskers and free speech.  She has a number of videos online here and there but this is one of my favorites...

It's a little different but I hope you enjoy

Click here 
for Angels in Heaven (note that the percussion is a bell and old license plate tied to Chris' boot)

Click here 
if you want to hear a spoons solo.

Kingfish - BEEN HERE BEFORE

 Christone "Kingfish" Ingram

Tony, this one is for you.  More traditional blues than what we have been sharing lately.

 Christone "Kingfish" Ingram, from Clarksville Mississippi has been playing for quite a while, and if you search around you can find him playing with Joe Bonamassa, Keb Mo, Buddy Guy and others... and he is in his early 20's!!!!

The first song Been Here Before I play a lot, I have always liked that acoustic style of blues and you really get to appreciate his voice on this one.

However, if you are sitting back (or working) the second link is 60minutes of blues from his 22 birthday bash.  Quite a variety of blues, all well done and worth a listen if you can find an uninterrupted  hour.

Listen to - Been Here Before

Birthday Concert

And a complete Spotify playlist of Unsolicited Song Recommendations can be found here ( click here for Spotify playlist)

Katie Webster- PUSSYCAT MOAN

Katie Webster who was often referred to as 'The Swamp Boogie Queen' or 'Two-Fisted Mama' was a master of the boogie-woogie, blues piano and PussyCat Moan is a great example of her energy and talent.

Katie WEBSTER - the Swamp Boogie Queen

In a documentary she described her music as a kind of gumbo.  It's got some soul, some blues, some zydeco, some gospel, some country stirred with Texas and Louisiana influence.  It all comes together and she together in what Katie calls - Katie Webster gumbo..  

She was known around the south and played with many artists, but I think most notably she was the opening act for Otis Redding for a couple of years.  I just can't imagine how good that would have been.

I got to see her with Detroit blues singer Thornetta Davis, and Bonnie Raitt in a Women of the Blues concert. 

What a great show that was.

Have a listen to this version which comes from a tribute to Alligator Records performance

PussyCat Moan

Rev. Gary DAVIS - SAMSON AND DELILAH

 

Rev. Gary DAVIS

Rev. Gary Davis was born in 1896.  He travelled the south as a blues and gospel singer and was credited with a very unique finger picking style that went on to influence many.  He only used this thumb and first finger to play the guitar.  

While this post is about Samson and Delilah, I have included a link to Hard Walkin' Blues at the end of this post which shows a video of this unique stylings.

The Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan and many others credited 'Blind Gary' as the influence to a number of their songs.   

Samson and Delilah was covered by groups as diverse as the Grateful Dead and Peter Paul and Mary -  although for some reason the latter changed it's name to If I Had My Way.

LINK: Here is the original version of Samson and Delilah. 

LINK: Here is the Grateful Dead version

LINK: Here is Peter Paul & Mary version

LINK: Hard Walkin' Blues