Author Archives: peterblowry

Joe & Odell Thompson – photograph by Peter B. Lowry

Joe & Odell Thompson – vo/vln; vo/bjo Cedar Grove, NC – May 26, 1979 Another Lornell “capture”, these two cousins once held square dances at their homes in days of yore. Kip and I initially kept up with them and … Continue reading

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Dink Roberts – photo by Peter B. Lowry

Dink Roberts – vo/bjo/gtr Haw River, NC – ca. fall 1973 Dink was a “find” of Kip Lornell, who had some great luck over time in North Carolina and Virginia – he located guitarist/pianist James “Guitar Slim” Stephens and guitarist … Continue reading

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Alonzo Williams, Elester Anderson, George Higgs – photos by Peter B. Lowry

Alonzo Williams/Elester Anderson/George Higgs– vo/gtr Tarboro, NC – December 16, 1973 As a result of folks like us meeting Les-T a couple of years before this date through Danny McLean, Anderson began to practice his music and got his chops … Continue reading

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Oddenda & Such – 15

It must have been 1969 when both Mike Leadbitter and Simon Napier (Simon’s only trip. I do believe) came the US leaving Blues Unlimited temporarily without an editor! Through them, I was able to have my first contact with the … Continue reading

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Oddenda & Such – 14

Most of the blues musicians we listen to seem able to be placed within some portion of an ongoing traditional musical stream that W.E. are comfortable with – their community bothers less with labels. Others have something going musically that … Continue reading

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Oddenda & Such – 13

“New York City” does not exist except as a true geographical concept (or conceit!) for the world at large. In fact, New York, NY is an urban entity made up of five “boroughs”: Manhattan (an island), The Bronx, Brooklyn (once … Continue reading

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Oddenda & Such – 12

Not all blues musicians that make it onto a record are virtuosi with major instrumental or vocal talent – Big Boy Crudup, or Jimmy Reed, anyone? Some are journeymen or women, performers with a greater or lesser ability in their … Continue reading

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Oddenda & Such – 11

It was not with any feelings of high expectation that we left the home of Pink Anderson on Carpenter Street, Spartanburg, SC with our police escort still in place across from his place! (O&S #10) Squeaky’s directions to Baby Tate’s … Continue reading

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Oddenda & Such – 10

When Roy Book Binder was here in Sydney last year, he told me about a book he’d been interviewed for. It was about music in Spartanburg, SC and it included a chapter on blues, one that dealt with Pink Anderson, … Continue reading

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Oddenda & Such – 9

During my decade of active field-work in the Southeast, many of my informants became friends (unlike Buddy Moss) and a few became very close and special. Among that latter, smaller category was Willie Trice – ironically, it was Moss who … Continue reading

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