Sunday, April 20, 2008

Yahoo LAUNCHCAST Song Of The Day-Blind Willie McTell


Artist:Blind Willie McTell

Song:Loving Talking Blues

Album:Statesboro Blues:When The Sun Goes Down Vol. 9:The Secret History Of Rock & Roll




Blind Willie McTell was a pioneer of acoustic blues. He was a great singer & guitarist and his music holds up very well today. He was born William Samuel McTier May 5, 1898 in Thomson, GA. He was born blind in one eye and became completely blind later. Not sure where the name McTell came from but both his parents played guitar and he was also related to gospel pioneer Reverend Thomas Dorsey. He worked as a musician traveling with Medicine shows until he first recorded for RCA Victor in 1927. The recordings on this comp covers his Victor recordings from 1927-34. Loving Talking Blues was recorded in 1928. The thing that's confusing is that he recorded for several record companies under different names. He recorded as Blind Sammie on Columbia and Georgia Sam on Okeh and then the companies merged in 1930. He continued to record into the 30s but acoustic blues ground to a halt in the 40s. He did record for Atlantic post war but wasn't successful and retired from music due to ill health until his death on Aug. 19, 1959 at age 61. He was inducted into the Blues Foundation Hall Of Fame in 1981. Blues fans should check out Blind Willie McTell. Of course there's no video footage of Blind Willie McTell but animator Jim Clark has produced a series of virtual animated films of legendary blues artists. This one has Blind Willie McTell performing Broke Down Engine Blues.

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