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Who is Homesick James Williamson?

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El Jam

Who is Homesick James Williamson?

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Posts: 32

Mar 11 06 10:37 PM

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A lot of the articles and books I've read claim that Homesick James was cousin to Elmore James. A few claim that he was cousin to Sonny Boy Williamson II (aka. Alex "Rice" Miller) and just used the Elmore James connection to help his career, with Elmore's approval.

Who was Homesick James Williamson?

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Taff

#1

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Deepest Blue

Posts: 4578

Mar 11 06 10:52 PM

Born 1910 in Somerville TN, he has recorded 14 albums.

You can read about him on Allmusic Guide.com

One of these mornings baby, an' it won't be long, I'm gonna catch the first thing smokin' and down the road I'm goin'

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Blueswriter

#2

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Deepest Blue

Posts: 6748

Mar 12 06 12:41 AM

QUOTE (El Jam @ Mar 11 2006, 05:37 PM)

A lot of the articles and books I've read claim that Homesick James was cousin to Elmore James... Who was Homesick James Williamson?

Steve Franz points out in The Amazing Secret History Of Elmore James that Homesick and Elmore were cousins, but he doesn't explain how close or distant the relationship was, other than stating that Homesick's father was related to the James family. Elmore's given name was Elmore Brooks, the last name of his mother, Leola. He later adopted the last name of his father, Joe Willie "Frost" James.

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JuniorJackson

#3

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Deepest Blue

Posts: 1632

Mar 12 06 1:38 AM

Homesick James was also a cousin of John Lee "Sonny Boy" Williamson. The first Sonny Boy, not Rice Miller.

http://launch.groups.yahoo.com/group/Bluesville

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Slim Lively

#4

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Deepest Blue

Posts: 10499

Mar 12 06 2:58 AM

I believe I told this story before, but while in San Francisco a few years back, I saw an in-store performance at Border's Books by Keb' Mo' and Alvin Youngblood-Hart. Between songs Keb' reached over to put a capo on his guitar and a voice from the back of the room shouted out, "Real men don't use gadgets!" Everybody turned around to see who made the comment and there was Homesick James with a big grin on his face.

Homesick is a real gentleman and I have enjoyed the shows I've seen him perform. Here is a photo of Homesick in Portland at The Roseland Theater that the Cascade Blues Association hosted several years ago. Charlie Musselwhite was also part of this show and the two finished the night off jamming together.

Slim
--------------------
Click here to view the attachment

Slim Lively

8-time Nominee Cascade Blues Association Muddy Awards
2000, 2008 & 2011 Back What You Believe Recipient
2008 Lifetime Achievement Recipient
2006 Friend of The Blues Foundation Outstanding Achievement Recipient
2-time Nominee Portland Music Awards Outstanding Achievement in Blues (2010 & 2011)
2012 Portland Music Award nominee as producer of Best Compilation Recording, Puddletown Blues, Vol. 1

Portland, OR

". . . And then in the end, it's family and friends, loving yourself, but not only yourself, it's about the good walk and the hard walk, and the young girls you made cry, it's about making a little music everyday 'til you die, it's a beautiful ride . . . " Dewey Cox

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El Jam

#5

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Posts: 32

Mar 12 06 5:04 AM

Awesome picture Slim.

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warabe53

#6

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Deepest Blue

Posts: 621

Mar 12 06 11:39 AM

I have read contradicting reports on who he is or isn't related to, but most seem to come up with the notion that he was indeed a cousin of Elmore James, what I do know is this, I absolutely adore this guys music and can't wait to see him at Maryport blues festival in July

Warabe

North Wales UK

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snakehips

#7

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Posts: 396

Mar 12 06 12:50 PM

Hi there !

Well, firstly, I'd love to have heard what the reply was to the comment about "real men" and capo's !!!

Secondly, I think Homesick James has spouted a lot of duff info over the years.
He claimed HE taught Elmore to play slide. If that is the case, the pupil sure overtook the teacher ! I can easily see plausible that Homesick might have showed Elmore a slide being used, perhaps even in open D (or E) and rudimentary guitar bits - BUT - I do think Elmore must have worked out ALL the rest himself. Purely my thoughts here !

I read in a guitar magazine interview (years ago) with Taj Mahal about favourite blues tunes - I don't remember if it was a favourite blues tune, a favourite slide tune or a favourite Elmore tune. However, Taj stated his favourite was "The Sky Is Crying". He felt the overall guitar sound was just unbelievable ! He apparently had discussed this with Homesick James at an earlier date - I think looking for helpful info. Homesick told Taj that the "special" guitar tone wasn't in fact an echo effect but actually Homesick himself doubletracking Elmore's guitar part - playing in unison !!! That to me is just utter BULL**** !!!

Actually, having experimented for years with guitars and pickups, trying to get the "Elmore" sound, I have now settled on an acoustic (actually a Kay) with the same Dearmond pickup Elmore used. That Rhythm Chief pickup GIVES that sound. With some decent echo added - you DO get the Sky is Crying sound - NO doubletracking required !

Pinch of salt is required with stuff Homesick says.

If interested to hear what I sound like, click on this link :
http://www.soundclick.com/snakehipsodonnell
My YouTube page :
http://www.youtube.com/user/snakehips81/featured

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Muddylives

#8

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Deepest Blue

Posts: 5141

Mar 13 06 8:54 AM

QUOTE (snakehips @ Mar 12 2006, 12:50 PM)

Pinch of salt is required with stuff Homesick says.

Sometimes with what he plays and sings too.

Muddy

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The Blindman

#9

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Deepest Blue

Posts: 7079

Mar 13 06 9:46 AM

From Bill Dahl, All Music Guide

QUOTE

Homesick James Williamson
His correct age may remain in doubt (he's claimed he was born as early as 1905), but the slashing slide guitar skills of Homesick James Williamson have never
been in question. Many of his most satisfying recordings have placed him in a solo setting, where his timing eccentricities don't disrupt the proceedings (though he's made some fine band-backed waxings as well).
Williamson was playing guitar at age ten and soon ran away from his Tennessee home to play at fish fries and dances. His travels took the guitarist through Mississippi and North Carolina during the 1920s, where he crossed paths with Yank Rachell, Sleepy John Estes, Blind Boy Fuller, and Big Joe Williams.
Settling in Chicago during the 1930s, Williamson played local clubs and recorded for RCA Victor in 1937. The miles and gigs had added up before Williamson made some of his finest sides in 1952-53 for Art Sheridan's Chance Records (including the classic "Homesick" that gave him his enduring stage name).
James also worked extensively as a sideman, backing harp great Sonny Boy Williamson in 1945 at a Chicago gin joint called the Purple Cat and during the 1950s with his cousin, slide master Elmore James (to whom Homesick is stylistically indebted). He also recorded with James during the 1950s. Homesick's own output included crashing 45s for Colt and USA in 1962, a fine 1964 album for Prestige, and four tracks on a Vanguard anthology in 1965.
Williamson has never stopped recording and touring; he's done recent albums for Appaloosa and Earwig. No matter what his current chronological age, there's nothing over-the-hill about the blues of Homesick James Williamson. ~ Bill Dahl, All Music Guide

Blindman

Aberdeen - Scotland

user posted image

Not even Forumer is Gonna Put Me Down!

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tanta07

#10

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Deepest Blue

Posts: 9133

Mar 13 06 6:01 PM

QUOTE (warabe53 @ Mar 12 2006, 11:39 AM)

I have read contradicting reports on who he is or isn't related to, but most seem to come up with the notion that he was indeed a cousin of Elmore James, what I do know is this, I absolutely adore this guys music and can't wait to see him at Maryport blues festival in July

Warabe

Count me in as another Homesick fan!

The Buzz Brothers Band

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Les Forgue

#11

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Deepest Blue

Posts: 6205

Mar 13 06 6:26 PM

Me too.
I enjoyed a close association with Homesick about 25 to 30 years ago.

Much as I love him I must admit he has never been a reliable source of accurate information, especially on the subject of himself. He may not be the king of slide but he may have been in time past the king of B S.

If he thought he could get away with it he would claim he was Robert Johnson. Or that he taught Charlie Patton.

However I don't think Homesick's claim to have showed Elmore James how to play Dust My Broom was one of Homesick exagerations, I think it is true because Homesick would say that in the presence of such as Floyd Jones and Eddie Taylor and others who would not have let it slide if it had been a lie.

BTW Homesick played bass guitar on Elmo's first Dust My Brrom (and SBW2 played harp).

Brother Snakehips, If any Elmo James fans think that Elmo was so far out and away ahead of Homesick in slide talent, I think they just haven't heard enough Homesick.
Have you heard such as Homesick's record "Tell Me Who Been Putting All Them Ideas In Your Head" (maybe that's not the exact title)? Have you heard his all acoustic album (it is boring but it does show he is a slide master)

Now one thing Elmo had Homesick beat on was his singing voice, no question about that. There have been very few in this world who could out blues-sing Elmore James. THAT was his greatest gift IMO.

Les from Chicago

"Nobody sits on a rolling stone".
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tMRWhmqJwHc

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Les Forgue

#12

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Deepest Blue

Posts: 6205

Mar 13 06 6:32 PM

May I had another thing about Homesick?
One thing I witnessed that made me proud of him and Floyd Jones, One night at a Chicago Blues Club, I forget was it Mines or Elsewhere on Linclon, or BLUES on Halsted, but I think it was Elsewhere, anyway there were a tourist from Europe who wanted to take pictures of Homesick and Floyd (who both happened to be African American) but this tourist did not want the drummer Mott (Tom McDonough?) in the picture. Mott happened to be Whiteman. Unspoken was the idea That would taint the authenticity of the poor guy's photos.
Homesick and Floyd refused to pose without Mott, and told that tourist about a good place to shove his camera. That made me proud of them.

Les from Chicago

"Nobody sits on a rolling stone".
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tMRWhmqJwHc

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MaskedMarvel

#13

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Deepest Blue

Posts: 6919

Mar 13 06 7:38 PM

QUOTE (Les Forgue @ Mar 13 2006, 08:26 PM)

Now one thing Elmo had Homesick beat on was his singing voice, no question about that. There have been very few in this world who could out blues-sing Elmore James.

Definitely. IMO Elmore James had the cleanest slide guitar sound he and Tampa Red from the recordings I listened to. That gives him IMO another big advantage over Homesick James who was IMO trying too much to sound like Elmore James on many occations on record. I have no doubts though Homesick James is a master slide guitarist.

All the above written is in my opinion unless it is someone else's opinion, or a fact.

Location: Zur Moshe, Israel

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Muddylives

#14

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Deepest Blue

Posts: 5141

Mar 14 06 6:52 AM

Homesick is not Elmore, for sure.

I have to admit to having never been a Homesick James fan. I just draw a blank with him. He sounds to me rather out of tune, and just doesn't hit me with any sort of musical impact. I have even burned copies for myself of Chicago blues compilation discs only in order to remove Homesick James tracks that I don't like listening to.

Muddy

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Les Forgue

#15

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Deepest Blue

Posts: 6205

Mar 14 06 3:23 PM

QUOTE (Muddylives @ Mar 14 2006, 12:52 AM)

Homesick is not Elmore, for sure.

I have to admit to having never been a Homesick James fan. I just draw a blank with him. He sounds to me rather out of tune, and just doesn't hit me with any sort of musical impact. I have even burned copies for myself of Chicago blues compilation discs only in order to remove Homesick James tracks that I don't like listening to.

Muddy

Out of tune don't bother me long as some good blues is happening.
But I don't particulary like most of Homesick's records either, just only a few I do like a lot though.
I have affection for Homesick because of the time we hung together decades ago. He welcomed me into some inner circles where I as a rank amateur did not really belong. He gave me valuable tips about my guitar-string attack methods.
Before I met Homesick there were 2 or 3 of his records I liked a lot and still do, for a while I was into Elmore and J B Hutto and Homesick and Hound Dog Taylor to a degree. Elmo James stands out far above the other 3, not IMO because of his guitar skills but because of his singing. One of my favorite Elmore J records didn't even feature slide guitar at all, "Sunnyland".

I guess If you so deliberately removed Homesick from your listening CD, you would likely run away screaming from a typical J B Hutto record.

Les from Chicago

"Nobody sits on a rolling stone".
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tMRWhmqJwHc

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Muddylives

#16

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Deepest Blue

Posts: 5141

Mar 14 06 4:09 PM

QUOTE (Les Forgue @ Mar 14 2006, 03:23 PM)

I guess If you so deliberately removed Homesick from your listening CD, you would likely run away screaming from a typical J B Hutto record.

You got that WRONG, brother. I love J.B. Hutto. In fact, I think that J.B. is vastly underrated. He was a true original.

I can also tolerate "out of tune" if good blues is happening. For example, I love listening to a lot of that ragged down home stuff recorded by Sun and Modern in the South after the War (Willie Nix, Drfitin' Slim, Boyd Gilmore, etc.), even through those records can drift WAY out of tune.

As for J.B., he doesn't even sound out of tune to me, even though conventional musical analysis might say so. He sounds right to me, as if he is hitting the pitches that he is intending to hit, and for a musical reason.

There are artists for whom out of tuneness does bother me, however. Homesick James in one of them. CeDell Davis is another. In fact, I have trouble with a lot of the Fat Possum scene for that reason.

Muddy

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Blueswriter

#17

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Deepest Blue

Posts: 6748

Mar 14 06 4:33 PM

I have to say I do like Homesick but I can see where MuddyLives makes his point about something being a little out-of-whack with his recordings. And while I do enjoy his early Chicago sides, I can't say that they rank as highly as those by Elmore or J.B. Hutto - nor do they come close to what Hound Dog Taylor laid down!

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Les Forgue

#18

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Deepest Blue

Posts: 6205

Mar 14 06 4:43 PM

Sorry Muddy, please forgive me if I presumed to infer anything about your taste in music. Glad we agree about J B Hutto. My favorite J B Hutto record is probably "That's The Truth" (Your next door neighbor's spray going to kill some flies). One Homesick record that might not fit your general impression of his work might be "Somebody Been Talking". (The drummer contributes much to the excellence of that record, I don't know is it Below or maybe Kansas City Red or S P Leary?) Not that I'm trying to make any Homesick James converts.

As the Ink Spots sang, "To each his own". That CeDell Davis I don't know what does he sound like, one Fat Possum guy I like is T-Model Ford, he doesn't score high on originality but has a very distinct home cooked flavor. With Homesick I just happen to have a lot of affection for him, likewise for the late Floyd Jones and for harpist Snooky Prior, I have fond memories of time spent with them, but I don't particularly like sitting up listening to a whole lot of their recordings.
And MuddyLives, of course with our aquaintence limited to online forum interaction, I don't know you well, but I admire and appreciate your love for and knowledge of blues music, and one thing I know is that you know what you are talking about.

It might be of interest to note that one night I spent with Homesick and Snooky sitting up all night listening to open reel tapes Homesick had, by far most of the recordings were of Elmore James, not Homesick or Snooky!

Les from Chicago

"Nobody sits on a rolling stone".
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tMRWhmqJwHc

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MaskedMarvel

#19

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Deepest Blue

Posts: 6919

Mar 14 06 11:32 PM

The point about singing is valid. Even great slide guitarists that are as good as Elmore James and maybe better were overlooked , think about Robert Nighthawk and Earl Hooker just two names.

All the above written is in my opinion unless it is someone else's opinion, or a fact.

Location: Zur Moshe, Israel

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Muddylives

#20

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Deepest Blue

Posts: 5141

Mar 15 06 7:04 AM

Thanks for the compliments, Les Forgue. I admire your contributions to the board as well.

Don't get me wrong on Homesick James. I am not trying to make any sort of objective case against him. I am just saying that he doesn't rock my world at all.

Muddy

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Who is Homesick James Williamson?

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