If you can't be Black....... be Jewish

At first glance the above statement may seem odd, is it a mantra by which I live my life?, no its not as important as that ........

As a longtime devotee of the blues there is always seems to be a point where someone brings up the argument can white people play blues. Personally I think the answer is anyone can play it, but here's the thing- all the blues I really like is 50's black music or things that sound like it. To me it is the benchmark by which you judge your own playing (would Otis Rush have played this ???). So the situation for me is a little confusing..........

There are still those who believe that no-one can play the blues like the early black players as we have not suffered the hardship of those people. Not a view I agree with , but I see its validity, maybe the music was the only way of escape from harsh reality ( after all its not all doom and gloom and crying into your beer , that's why God created Country music!).

So for any of those white middle class aspiring blues musicians, what do you do. Well if you want any kudos the answer is be Jewish! (also rich and tragic... but we'll come to that in a bit).

Two under sung favourites of mine, Michael Bloomfield and Hollywood Fats, were rich Jewish kids !!. This didn't stop them gaining the respect of all their black contemporaries ( Bloomfield as a teenager in the 50's sat in with Howlin Wolf and Muddy Waters, Hollywood Fats got his nickname from Buddy Guy). Unfortunately both are now dead due to personal demons and substance problems- Bloomfield was found dead in his car in 1981 aged 37. Hes was suspected to have overdosed on synthetic heroin, but there are many rumours surrounding the circumstances. Hollywood Fats died of a heroin overdose in 1986 he was 32.








So there you have it two tragic greats of the blues, rich Jewish kids who wanted the funkier side of life ..

All this talk of race and blues reminds me of two statements . When playing golf with Dean Martin , Sammy Davis Jr was asked by Martin what his handicap was, to which he replied " I'm a one eyed Jewish Nigger". (He really did say this).

Or on a more serious note from Miles Davis ( He was middle class and his father was a dentist)-


"I don?t care if a dude is purple with
green breath as long as he can swing."

......and another one

Another guy to check out, especially his 50's stuff is Clarence Gatemouth Brown. A really great guitarist and bandleader . Apparentley a bit of a gruff guy , but whats that matter when you can do this

If you like blues guitar , then maybe....

When people ask me , as they occasionally do, why I got into blues music and which guitar players I like , I really tend to struggle to answer and give a list of about 20 or 30 and then keep thinking of more after the event . If I had to put it down to one person I always say Hubert Sumlin !. His work with Howlin Wolf did and still does blow my mind , see below for him talking to Chicago blues guitarist Dave Specter



And here he is in action

Welcome to my world !

Having decided there weren't enough quality blues based blogs about , sometime Guitar Spot owner and half of popular Nottingham duo Moules and Wiggins has decided to start his own !

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