To say that Sonny & Brownie hated each other and didn't speak to each other for thirty years is gross exageration. I was in their company on their first UK visit in 1958 and saw them on all their subsequent visits spending time with them back-stage at Hammersmith and in their "dressing room" at the 100 club. Having spent considerable amounts of time with various blues musicians, jazz musicians and musicians in other fields it is not uncommon to hear insults being traded backward and forward between them often as a form of entertainment and showing off of improviational capability. Playing the dozens for instance. Also to stave off the boredom of endless time spent in each others company sitting around in dressing rooms or travelling for hours. Sonny and Brownie's partnership lasted for around thirty years, much longer than many marriages Spending this amount of time together having to perform night after night would be enough to try anybody's patience. It is not surprising therefore that there would be periods when they would rather be elsewhere. Inevitable I would say. Nevertheless I never ever saw them give a bad performance. Last night's programme showed this off very well and when you have been performing so long together the act becomes a polished machine needing litle verbal ineraction.No time wasted asking what key or number was coming up next.

Was it really interesting to see that Sonny had pockets in his shirt?
I guess I'll have to take up harmonica now.

Hoot