Acoustic Blues guitarist, pianist and songwriter Bukka White (Booker T Washington White) was born on this day in Houston, Mississippi in 1906. ( Wanna hear a BLUES story, chillun` ?) White started in music by learning fiddle from his father. He longed to play guitar, but his grandmother wouldn`t allow ?that devil`s music?in the house. Eventually Bukka`s father bought him a guitar. At fourteen, White moved in with an uncle in Clarksdale, Mississippi and passed himself off as a 21 year old, using his guitar skills to attract women. Eventually, he crossed paths with Charlie Patton, who no doubt lent instruction to the young Bukka in both areas of endeavor. White also pursued sports, playing baseball in the Negro League, and also doing some boxing. White made some recordings for Victor in 1930, but only 4 of 14 songs recorded were released. The Depression set in, and White didn`t get another chance to record until 1937, when Big Bill Broonzey invited him to Chicago to record for Lester Melrose`s Bluebird label. By this time, White had gotten into trouble with the law. ( White maintains that he and a friend had been ambushed by a man on a stretch of highway, and Bukka shot the man in the leg in self-defense.) He took Big Bill`s invitation, and jumped bail. He recorded 2 sides (one 78 rpm record) before being apprehended and hauled back to Mississippi for a 3 year stint on Parchman Farm. While he was serving time, Shake Em On Down became a hit. Bukka recorded two songs for John and Alan Lomax while at Parchman Farm, and upon his release, returned to Chicago to record twelve sides for Lester Melrose.These 12 sides became the backbone of White`s career, and that session is generally regarded as the pinnacle of White`s recording career. Among the songs recorded was Fixin` To Die Blues. White then dissapeared, taking jobs in the factories during WW2. In 1961, Bob Dylan covered Fixin` To Die Blues on his debut Columbia LP. Most folks assumed any old Bluesman who had written a song like that had in fact, died. Two Blues enthusists, Jon Fahey and Ed Denson, were more skeptical, or at least hopeful. (Fahey, himself a guitarist, later became famous for his biography of Charlie Patton, and produced the fabulous Patton box set Screamin` and Hollerin` The Blues) Another song on the Melrose sessions was Aberdeen, Mississippi, so the pair wrote a letter addressed to Bukka White (old blues singer) C/O General Delivery, Aberdeen, MS. It turned out a relative of Bukka`s worked at the post office, and the letter was forwarded to White in Memphis. In 1963, Bukka signed on with Arhoolie Records and began a new career. While some of White`s recordings from the 60s and 70s should not be overlooked, curious Blues fans should start with The Complete Bukka White on Columbia/ Legacy.
Posted on: Wed, 12 Nov 2014 13:44:22 +0000
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