Some July Blues Births:
· July 1st, 1915—“Big” Willie James Dixon
· July 18th, 1929—Jalacy “Screamin’ Jay” Hawkins
· July 30th, 1940—“Big” Jack Johnson, aka The Oilman
· July 1st, 1915—“Big” Willie James Dixon
· July 18th, 1929—Jalacy “Screamin’ Jay” Hawkins
· July 30th, 1940—“Big” Jack Johnson, aka The Oilman
Answer To The June 2015 Blues Question: the bluesman we were looking for is/was Arthur “Sam“ Jackson, aka “Peg-leg Sam” or “Peg Pete”, born December 18th.,1911, in Jonesville, South Carolina. In the blues question I had stated earlier that he had hoboed all over the U.S. and other countries. When doing so in the “States” he would most often hop a freight train, as did a lot of the bluesmen of the period. On one of those rides he fell off and lost part of a leg, hence the nickname. In his travels he would perform in the streets, at picnics and fairs, even on ships while in route to other countries. He did this type of travelling from about 1921 up into 1972. While in the U.S. during that time he chose to work in “medicine shows”, stating that it paid the best over other venues. Some of the ones he performed with were the “Doc” Thompson Carnival, the Emmet Smith Medicine Show, “Doc” W R Frank “Smiley” Kerr’s Indian Remedy Company Medicine Show (that one was with him performing with Pink Anderson—the Pink of Pink Floyd). The last group he travelled/ performed with was the Chief Thundercloud Medicine Show (the Chief’s real name was Leo Kahdot, a Potowatomie Indian from Oklahoma). Peg-leg recorded with that group and then with Rufe Johnson and Louisiana Red (Red was in last month’s blog). From 1972 on, until his passing on October 27th.,1977, in Jonesville, of natural causes, he mostly played at festivals and occasionally in the recording studio. He has stated that his two main influences were Pink Anderson and Elmon “Keg-Shorty” Bell (an Atlanta harp player).
Blues Question for July 2015: this bluesman was born, raised, and worked on a farm. He got his first instrument at eight years of age and at nine years of age he was a “sideman” at local country dances, suppers, and fish fries. His first recordings were at age nineteen. Over his career he recorded on at least seven different labels, as a solo performer, a duo, and as a band member. He was known for bantering, clowning and shouting back and forth with his audiences. He toured and performed all over the U.S., Canada, and Europe. He penned at least fifteen original songs. One of his four children is a gospel singer. Any idea who this man is/was ?? I’ll give you this much—he’s originally from Texas
Blues Trivia for July 2015: Sometimes the trivia will be regarding places or things that are not about just the performers. If you’ve been to Memphis, there are four places you should have seen: usually first and most obviously Beale Street with its various nightspots and museums. Then, second, the Peabody Hotel, which is the focal point for this trivia session. Its present location is not the original building, but is an exact duplicate of it. The original was at the corner of Main and Monroe streets, built in 1869. It closed in 1923. The current one, at 149 Union Avenue, was built in 1925. It went bankrupt in 1965 and was sold in a foreclosure auction, to the Sheraton Hotels chain. It closed again in 1973. It was sold by the county in 1975 to Edward Hanover, who then sold it to his son-in-law, Jack A.Belz, for the same amount he paid for it-- $400,000.00. Belz spent $25 million renovating it and re-opened it in 1981. This hotel should be remembered for two good reasons: first, that blues musicians of the period were recorded in that hotel in 1929/1930, and second, for the Peabody ducks, a tradition which began in 1933. By the way, the ducks now have had built, just for them, a “suite” of their own, on the top of the hotel, complete with it’s own staff. The third place to see is the W.C. Handy Home and Museum on Beale Street, a location to which it was moved in 1980, from its original location on Jeanette Place. The fourth place to see is Sun Records, which started out life as the Memphis Recording Service, at 706 Union Avenue. It was founded by Samuel Cornelius “Sam” Phillips on January 3rd.,1950. Next month’s trivia section will be on Sam Phillips and Sun Records. Oh, by the way, these places to see in Memphis are all equally important, so choose your own order.
Some July Blues Passings:
· July 1st, 1977—Robert Henry “Baby Boy” Warren
· July 15th, 1997—“Big John” Thomas Wrencher
· July 27th, 1974—Otis V. “Lightnin” Slim” Hicks
· July 1st, 1977—Robert Henry “Baby Boy” Warren
· July 15th, 1997—“Big John” Thomas Wrencher
· July 27th, 1974—Otis V. “Lightnin” Slim” Hicks
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