Sunday, April 5, 2009

BLIND WILLIE McTELL, "Statesboro Blues"


Blind Willie McTell was a Piedmont Blues musician and was highly influential on the modern music and art scene, although his songs never earned mainstream popularity. He really was blind and was impressively able to read and write music in Braille. His sound helped to bridge the gap between the earlier blues and newer renditions of the 20th century that had a more refined sound. “Statesboro Blues” was first recorded in 1928 and refers to the town of Statesboro, Georgia. McTell's family moved to Statesboro and that is where he learned to play the guitar. McTell borrowed part of the lyrics for the song from “Up the Country Blues, a Sippie Wallace recording from just five years earlier. The song has been very influential and was recorded by Taj Mahal, David Bromberg, The Allman Brothers Band, The White Stripes.
To hear the Statesboro Blues, click here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j50nfZIO5ZQ
Blind Willie McTell. Statesboro Blues. Columbia Records. Released: 1928

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