The Son House Birthday Show - 115 years young
featuring
Genesee Johnny – Vocals
National Steel and Guitar
Aleks Disljenkovic – guitar
Dan Lopata – Bass
Tim Brinduse – Harmonica and harmony vocals
Special guests include Gordon Munding and Joe Beard
Eddie James “Son” House Jr. was a blues singer and slide player, known for his chilling, expressive style. Though initially adverse to secular music, Son began playing the blues at 25 years old, applying the emotionality of preaching to his music. Sidetracked by a stint in Parchman Farm prison, he soon began to share the stage with the legendary Charley Patton. Patton invited him to a 1930 recording session with Paramount records, and though the wax didn’t sell Son became locally famous and had great influence on Robert Johnson and Muddy Waters. In ’41 he was recorded again by Alan Lomax and John Work for the Library of Congress, before putting down his instrument and fading into obscurity for over twenty years. In ’64, however, he was “rediscovered” by Dick Waterman and co, who convinced him to pick up his guitar again and take to to the stage. With the help of Al Wilson from Canned Heat, Son relearned how to play his old songs, and found success on the circuit again, playing folk festivals and recording a number of albums. Son House died in 1988.