Category Archives: ARTICLES

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 →

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 →

“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 →

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 →

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 →

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 →

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 →

So off to Atlanta much later than we had planned, thanks to the Newton County Sheriff’s Department and right into “The Southern Bad Hair Day – Part Two”. Our primary reason for going to Atlanta that day was to see … Continue reading →

This piece might have been entitled “The Southern Bad Hair Day – Part One”, for this day in 1972 was the worst one I had in my decade of field-work in the Southeast. I made mention of this day back … Continue reading →

Having recently obtained copies of the Leadbitter & Co. post-war discography, I will venture rather apprehensively into the discographical wars once more and hope that the snipers are kinder now. This time, though, I have more fact and less conjecture … Continue reading →