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Back in the good ole days, the Spring of 66 I think it was, my old buddy, Dave, and I drove over to Holmes County to visit Old Tunk. Tunk was a black man who had a black honky tonk out in the Holmes County country. Dave and me, well, we were white boys, but that didn't make no difference. Hell, hard times in Mississippi put us poor folks, black and white, in a class of our own...poor.

Anyway, when me and Dave got to Old Tunk's place, the joint was jumping. We went in and sat down at a table and Tunk brought us a beer. There was a fellow standing on the bar, playing guitar. His name was Little Jim Henry. Boy, he could play that thing! Me and Dave, both being guitar pickers, were really enjoying the fellow.

After a few numbers (played and smoked!), Little Jim took a break and came over to our table. We bought him a beer and had a good conversation. Little Jim said he was gonna be big someday. He said he had written a song that was gonna put him over the top if he could just find a good drummer and bass man.

We asked him to play the song for us, and he jumped on the chance. It was a 4/4 thing with a strange intro. He would hit a single note on each beat beginning with the open big E, followed by the octave E, then Bflat, back to octave E...Odd sounding. Then he sang...good voice but strange words.

When he finished, he wanted our opinion. Me and Dave, being the honest type, told him. "First", I said, "That opening is weird. Sounds like something you'd hear on a black sabbath or some other kind of devilment. Why not drop the Bflat and just have the open E followed by the octave E?

He tried it and liked it. Dave said, "Well, Jim. Gathering from the lyrics, I assume the name of the song is 'Purple Flurp'". Little Jim nodded.

"That don't even make sense! What in the hell is a 'flurp'?" Dave said. "Hell, there's gotta be something better than "Purple Flurp" to name it."

As we thought about it, my eyes began to burn from all the smoke in the place. I said,"Man! This damned smokey haze is gettin' to me!"

"That's it!" Dave shouted, "Purple Haze!"

"Yeah, Purple Haze...I like that!" said Little Jim.

"One more thing", I said, rubbing my burning eyes, "Ever thought about changing your name? Little Jim Henry sounds...well, it don't sound good."

"Any suggestions as to what?" Little Jim asked.

"How 'bout Jimmy Henry?" Dave asked.

"Well Jimmy is better but Henry ain't exactly right." I said. "Maybe Henson...Henley...Jimmy Henlicks...something like that. Hey, Dave, we gotta go. This smoke is getting to me."

We left.

Sometimes I think about Little Jim Henry and wonder what ever happened to him. Hell, for all we know, he may even be dead by now.

khandu