Directions and Influences - chapter 4
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Country Blues curriculum 
Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee
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Lightin Hopkins
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It was at this time Charlie Whisker (now a renowned Irish painter), Hayden McClenahan myself and a few others were sneaking into Hayden’s older brother’s room to listen to his great collection of Jazz and blues. Most of the time we were listening to country blues, Lightnin’ Hopkins, Big Bill Broonzey, Sonny Terry and Brownie M, Sleepy John Estes, Blind Lemon Jefferson to name a few. On the Jazz menu it was Charles Mingus, Roland Kirk, Count Basie, Duke Ellington and the great singers like Billie Halliday. This was heady stuff for young teenagers and forged all of our tastes in music for future decades. I know Charlie still listens to ‘Ole Lightnin’ in his “black Cadillac, sittin’ up there lookin’ all black, with white teeth and white eyes” (from ‘Black Cadillac blues’ monologue).
Charles Mingus
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NEXT: chapter 5 - Angry young Them and Van Morrison |
