Robert "Guitar Slim" Findley
Venue: The Corner Cafe
Location: El Dorado, AR USA
Performer: Robert "Guitar Slim" Findley... Bernice, LA
7/28/05
Last thursday evening at the Corner Cafe, I suddenly realized that this little city of 21K had become a nexus for good music. This fact was driven home to me by the appearance of an unexpected visitor to the thursday night open jam.
This tall,thin,gentleman walked in dressed all in black, and carrying a white-bodied guitar with a fire-engine red pickguard....I didn't know his name, but I knew what he was, this was a bluesman!
It didn't take very long for the crowd to recognize this as well when Robert "Guitar Slim" Findley took the stage. Totally at ease, as if he performed here regularly, "Slim" jumped right in and took control. Starting off solo, Slim performed an original to break the ice and then was joined by Mike Duke on percussion & Jeremy "Irish" Williams on bluesharp.
What followed could best be described as a "jukin'" session...something reminiscent of the old Mississippi Juke Joints. People stood up from their chairs and tables and began to dance in place. Arms were upraised, and shouts rose up from the crowd. Slim tore into a couple of ribald blues tunes such as "Stoop Down, Baby", and "Gonna Buy Me A Bulldog" and I thought the place was going to ignite!
My wife and I had the unique pleasure of sharing a table with Slim's lovely wife, Patricia, and I couldn't help but watch her grin widely at her man while he held the whole cafe in the palm of his hand. Gazing quickly around the room, it was easy to see that the audience's attention was totally centered on this performer.
Slim finished up with a fiery solo and a great rendition of "Down Home Blues" by the late, great, Z.Z. Hill and literally left the crowd spent. I couldn't help but feel that we had just witnessed something special and according to the comments, everyone else felt the same.
I, for one, felt priviledged to once again witness such a thing. There are very few of this type of "bluesman" left in this day and time. We may not have too many opportunities to enjoy such wonderful treasures.
"Slim" doing his thing
--------------------
Click here to view the attachment
Venue: The Corner Cafe
Location: El Dorado, AR USA
Performer: Robert "Guitar Slim" Findley... Bernice, LA
7/28/05
Last thursday evening at the Corner Cafe, I suddenly realized that this little city of 21K had become a nexus for good music. This fact was driven home to me by the appearance of an unexpected visitor to the thursday night open jam.
This tall,thin,gentleman walked in dressed all in black, and carrying a white-bodied guitar with a fire-engine red pickguard....I didn't know his name, but I knew what he was, this was a bluesman!
It didn't take very long for the crowd to recognize this as well when Robert "Guitar Slim" Findley took the stage. Totally at ease, as if he performed here regularly, "Slim" jumped right in and took control. Starting off solo, Slim performed an original to break the ice and then was joined by Mike Duke on percussion & Jeremy "Irish" Williams on bluesharp.
What followed could best be described as a "jukin'" session...something reminiscent of the old Mississippi Juke Joints. People stood up from their chairs and tables and began to dance in place. Arms were upraised, and shouts rose up from the crowd. Slim tore into a couple of ribald blues tunes such as "Stoop Down, Baby", and "Gonna Buy Me A Bulldog" and I thought the place was going to ignite!
My wife and I had the unique pleasure of sharing a table with Slim's lovely wife, Patricia, and I couldn't help but watch her grin widely at her man while he held the whole cafe in the palm of his hand. Gazing quickly around the room, it was easy to see that the audience's attention was totally centered on this performer.
Slim finished up with a fiery solo and a great rendition of "Down Home Blues" by the late, great, Z.Z. Hill and literally left the crowd spent. I couldn't help but feel that we had just witnessed something special and according to the comments, everyone else felt the same.
I, for one, felt priviledged to once again witness such a thing. There are very few of this type of "bluesman" left in this day and time. We may not have too many opportunities to enjoy such wonderful treasures.
"Slim" doing his thing
--------------------
Click here to view the attachment
