Alabama in Pre War Blues Forum

0 Points

Add Reply New Topic New Poll

<< Previous Topic Next Topic >>

Alabama

Author

Comment

angmack

Alabama

Lead

[-]

Posts: 1698

Jan 30 07 3:14 PM

Tags : None

I am wanting to know more about the early Alabama blues scene and also information about race relations particularly in Birmingham or Montgomery in the 1920s and 30s.

Any history buffs out there or people who lived/live in Alabama?

angmack

Reply Quote

LoneWolf

#1

[-]

Posts: 2407

Jan 30 07 6:49 PM

The Atlanta blues scene is a lot more obsecure than the Delta scene and Texas scene for example, but some of my favorite pre-war artists are from there.

We have a guy here at the BBF who goes by the nickname of Robick. Apperantley he is a relative of the legendary Robert Hicks aka Barbecue Bob, which amazed me, and I hope that he is digging some information about the man. I sure hope he sees this thread.

We discussed Peg Leg Howell a few days ago, he is a really big inspiration to me, and his recording "Hobo Blues" is one of the most beautiful things I've ever heard.

Fred McMullen, Buddy Moss, Curley Weaver, Ruth Willis, Laughing Charlie ect. are some more big names.

Yep, great music came from Atlanta.

Reply Quote

CoyoteSlim

#2

[-]

Deepest Blue

Posts: 1973

Jan 31 07 2:01 AM

Uh, she said Alabama, Roi... Atlanta's a city in a different state. Don't worry, though, I'm sure most American kids don't know that either.

I think there were a few guys that were originally from Alabama, but I can't recall them right now. I know Johnny Shines lived in Tuscaloosa in the latter part of his life. One on CD he says "Down in Alabama they not supposed to like no blues..." But then describes how he'd be on the porch playing and people would "creep" by to listen to him.

Coyote Slim's website

Coyote Slim's Youtube Channel

Coyote Slim's Facebook Page

Coyote Slim on CD Baby

Rabbit told the 'possum, shake them 'simmons down."

Reply Quote

SarasotaSlim

#3

[-]

Deepest Blue

Posts: 467

Jan 31 07 4:48 AM

QUOTE (angmack @ Jan 30 2007, 03:14 PM)

I am wanting to know more about the early Alabama blues scene and also information about race relations particularly in Birmingham or Montgomery in the 1920s and 30s.

Any history buffs out there or people who lived/live in Alabama?

angmack

Try The Magic City Blues Society
user posted image

Gene SARASOTA SLIM Hardage

http://www.SarasotaSlim.com

Reply Quote

LoneWolf

#4

[-]

Posts: 2407

Jan 31 07 1:45 PM

Ooooooopssss.... I thought ATLANTA.....

God, how can ANYONE be so stupid??????

Reply Quote

Tom Rushen

#5

[-]

Deepest Blue

Posts: 4476

Jan 31 07 2:52 PM

QUOTE (CoyoteSlim @ Jan 30 2007, 10:01 PM)

Uh, she said Alabama, Roi... Atlanta's a city in a different state. Don't worry, though, I'm sure most American kids don't know that either.

I think I would fail any test Roi would send my way about Israeli geography!

Alabama race relations were certainly very tense in the late 50s and early 60s, the church bombing that killed several little girls in Birmingham in 1963, the ugly scenes of the late Bull Connor ordering beatings of peaceful civil rights marchers in Selma, and the late Gov. George Wallace blocking the door to a black student at the University of Alabama are images that stained that state's reputation to a lot of us.

Still, Alabama was not necessarily as terrible a place as Mississippi in terms of race relations prior to 1950. Even George Wallace first crafted a reputation as a race moderate in Alabama, at least until the 1954 Supreme Court school desegregation decision. At that point, a lot of southern politicians like Wallace tested the political winds and engaged in race baiting as a tool to win elections. Ugly, but true.

No less a figure than country music superstar Hank Williams, Sr. openly credited being influenced with his music by a local black man in Montgomery during the late 1930s and early 40s...and there is some speculation that that black man may have actually written some of Hank's best-known songs. Alabama race relations in the 1920s and 1930s still were segregated, and they could be tense at times...but they became a lot worse in the 50s and 60s.

Reply Quote

angmack

#6

[-]

Posts: 1698

Jan 31 07 3:05 PM

Ed Bell (Barefoot Bill) went to Selma College from what I understand. It seems that he died in a "Civil Rights" march in the 60s. After his blues recordings (like so many of the early blues guys) he went on to be a preacher. He actually went to Selma College to be a preacher. He pastored some churches in Montgomery, AL.

I wish I knew more about Ed Bell.

angmack

Reply Quote

7846529

#7

[-]

Deepest Blue

Posts: 1719

Jan 31 07 3:06 PM

QUOTE (Tom Rushen @ Jan 31 2007, 09:52 AM)

Still, Alabama was not necessarily as terrible a place as Mississippi in terms of race relations prior to 1950. Even George Wallace first crafted a reputation as a race moderate in Alabama, at least until the 1954 Supreme Court school desegregation decision. At that point, a lot of southern politicians like Wallace tested the political winds and engaged in race baiting as a tool to win elections. Ugly, but true.

No less a figure than country music superstar Hank Williams, Sr. openly credited being influenced with his music by a local black man in Montgomery during the late 1930s and early 40s...and there is some speculation that that black man may have actually written some of Hank's best-known songs. Alabama race relations in the 1920s and 1930s still were segregated, and they could be tense at times...but they became a lot worse in the 50s and 60s.

Muscle Shoals has been a major recording center since the late '50s. There have been a lot of reknowned musicians recording there over the years. Fame Studios was the first and here's a list of artists who have recorded there over the years.

Aretha Franklin
Duane Allman
Arthur Alexander
Backstreet Boys
Joe Simon
James & Bobby Purify
Joe Tex
Marty Raybon
The Tams
The Sweet Inspirations
Arthur Conley
Etta James
Bettye Swan
Tommy Roe
Clarence Carter
Lou Rawls
King Curtis
Marty Stuart
Donny Osmond
Candi Staton
John Hiatt
Little Richard
Bobbie Gentry
Paul Anka
Andy Williams
Mac Davis
Larry Gatlin & The Gatlin Brothers
Jimmy Hughes
Dobie Gray
Wayne Newton
Liza Minnelli
Marie Osmond
Tom Jones
Wet Wiilie
Odia Coates
Willie Hightower
Wilson Pickett
Jerry Lee Lewis
The Drifters
George Jones
Ronnie Dunn (Brooks & Dunn)
Wild Cherry
Bill Medley
Solomon Burke
Ray Stevens
Jerry Reed
Billy Ocean
Bill Haley & The Comets
Otis Redding
Travis Wammack
Sami Jo
Terri Gibbs
Ella Washington
The Osmonds
Linda Davis
Billy Joe Royal
Spencer Wiggins
James Govan
Marcel Strong
Clyde McPhatter
Don Covay
Soul Survivors
Baker & Myers
Dan Penn
Travis Wammack
Vern Gosdin
T. G. Sheppard
The Forrester Sisters
Lobo
Alabama
Shenandoah
The FAME Gang

As far as Alabama natives who went on to achieve some level of fame, visit the Alabama music museum site:

http://www.alamhof.org/mustour.htm

The black blues artist who was the primary influence in Hank Williams life was Rufus Payne, aka TeeTot. Unfortunately, no one ever recorded TeeTot but some older eyewitnesses have said that he was an exceptional guitar picker and could sing the BLUES!