| Blues on the road |
This is the festival season, a favorite time of year for music lovers.
STLBlues has been to a few great ones lately - the Blues
on the Fox in Aurora, Il., and the Mid-Mississippi
Valley Blues Festival in Davenport, IA. Both of these events have
one thing in common, besides the blues, and that's the rich musical
history that both cities possess. In 1937, Henry Townsend, Big Joe
Williams, Robert Nighthawk and the original Sonny Boy Williamson traveled
to Aurora, Illinois to record one of the most important sessions of
the Prewar period for the Bluebird label. The songs from that session
went a long way towards influencing the direction of the genre, particularly
as Williamson's harmonica work transitioned that instrument from an
accompanying role to that of a lead instrument, joining the guitar
and piano. Many of America’s most famous blues composers and
musicians performed and recorded legendary songs in Aurora between
May 1937, and December 1938. They include John
Lee “Sonny Boy” Williamson, Yank
Rachell, Robert
Lee McCoy (Robert Nighthawk), Washboard
Sam, and Bill “Jazz” Billium. They recorded for Bluebird
Records/RCA Victor in the Sky Club at Leland Tower (7 S. Stolp Avenue).
Sonny Boy Williamson, a songwriter and performer, became widely accepted
as the single most influential blues harmonica player of his day and
possibly all time.
Keeping the blues alive in Davenport today is the Mississippi Valley
Blues Society, with thier annual festival, and ongoing Blues in the
Schools events throughout the year! The Mid-Mississippi Valley Blues
Festival is in beautiful LeClaire Park, with the Mississippoi flowing
by on one side. The sight and sound of trains passing along the other
side of the park lent a strong feel to the atmoshpere of this exceptional
blues event! (For a great view of the river, pedestrians can walk
along the 50-foot high Skybridge in downtown Davenport that spans
600 feet and links the downtown with the waterfront).
With well over 35 years of performing experience, Michael
“Hawkeye” Herman is a Davenport native who exemplifies
the range of possibilities in acoustic Blues, and personifies versatile
musicianship, originality, and compelling artistry as a Blues storyteller.
Not to mention his award-winning Blues in the Schools shows. Long
before Hawkeye, there was Bix
Beiderbecke, born in Davenport, Iowa, on March 10th, 1903, who
came to symbolize the archtype of the Roaring Twenties, and developed
a unique jazz sound.
Then it was back to St. Louis! There's always lots of great music
to be found 7 days a week in this musical mecca known affectionately
as 'Da Lou'. Some great events are coming soon, and one of the favorites
is the Baby Blues Showcase! This annual event keeps getting better
and better, the brainchild of Jeremy Segel-Moss. One of those 'baby
blues' himself, Jeremy is a founding member of the Bottoms Up Blues
Gang (Bottomsupblues.com).
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