Honeyboy Edwards; Still Worth Hearing?

Subject: Honeyboy Edwards; Still Worth Hearing?
From: Fred McCormick
Date: 03 May 08 - 04:42 AM

I could use a candid opinion on this one.

Honeyboy Edwards, that last living legend of the Mississippi Delta blues will shortly be touring Britain. On June 2nd he is appearing at the Pacific Road Arts Centre in Birkenhead, which means I can actually get to see him. The problem is that, although I've seen Honeyboy twice before, and been blown away by on both occasions, can he, at 87, still turn in a creditable performance?

BTW., if that sounds at all ageist, it isn't intended that way. I still remember when the Newfoundland fiddler, Rufus Guinchard played the Liverpool Maritime festival at 88 and blew the roof off the place.

Subject: RE: Honeyboy Edwards; Still Worth Hearing?
From: Fred McCormick
Date: 05 May 08 - 05:49 AM

Refresh

Subject: RE: Honeyboy Edwards; Still Worth Hearing?
From: dwditty
Date: 05 May 08 - 06:28 AM

Actually, Honeyboy Edwards will be 93 in June, and yes, he is still touring. I saw him a few years ago - the atmosphere was electric. Name a bluesman from Charlie Patton to any of the guys in Chicago in the 40's & 50's and Honeyboy knew them. If I were you, I would go see him, even just to witness the women going crazy for him. And, be sure to buy his book, The World Don't Owe Me Nothing - a fantastic read.

dw

Subject: RE: Honeyboy Edwards; Still Worth Hearing?
From: Fred McCormick
Date: 05 May 08 - 07:17 AM

Sorry, I've spent so many years trying to knock a few years off my own age that it's become habit forming. I think you're right. Honeyboy is just too important for me not to be there.

Subject: RE: Honeyboy Edwards; Still Worth Hearing?
From: GUEST,Mary Katherine
Date: 05 May 08 - 10:56 AM

I also have a strong feeling of "see him/her while you can" about all the elder statesmen and women of our music. Every time we have an opportunity to see and hear them perform live may be the last time. A few missed notes on the guitar, or the occasional crack in the vocals brought on by old age, are a small price to pay for the incredible privilege of being in the presence of giants.

Subject: RE: Honeyboy Edwards; Still Worth Hearing?
From: GUEST
Date: 05 May 08 - 12:39 PM

Well said, Mary Katherine. A lot of the feeling I had seeing Honeyboy came from the fact that he is the "Kevin Bacon" (as in the game Six Degrees of Kevin BAcon)of blues. Name any bluesman from the late 20's on up, and there is a short link to Honeyboy Edwards. He was there the night Robert Johnson was poisoned.   And the Willie Mae Robert sang of was Honeyboy's cousin. Honeyboy makes a great appearance in John Hammond, Jr's video - Searching for Robert Johnson.

dw

Subject: RE: Honeyboy Edwards; Still Worth Hearing?
From: Tweed
Date: 05 May 08 - 08:08 PM

I saw him perform in Clarksdale, MS weekend before last at the annual Juke Joint Festival. Honeyboy did good, go and see him. Maybe you can get him to tell some stories.

Here's a photo of him that I took down there.
Honeyboy

He's still going pretty strong and doesn't seem to be ready to leave yet at all.

Tweed

Subject: RE: Honeyboy Edwards; Still Worth Hearing?
From: dwditty
Date: 05 May 08 - 10:56 PM

Great photo Tweed. If you go to the Blues Music Awareds, look for Dom.

dw

Subject: RE: Honeyboy Edwards; Still Worth Hearing?
From: Tweed
Date: 08 May 08 - 11:49 AM

I won't make it DW. Still have yet to go to the actual award show, but it's getting somewhat like the Grammys lately.

I have more fun running amuck in rural Mississippi.

I was in Rolling Fork last October and got introduced to one of Muddy Water's half brothers, Reverend Robert Morganfield, who still lives in town. He writes childrens books and still preaches. Amazing who you'll find out there in the country.

Subject: RE: Honeyboy Edwards; Still Worth Hearing?
From: Willie-O
Date: 08 May 08 - 05:37 PM

I saw Stan Hugill sing only once (several times on one wonderful weekend actually), when he was 86 I believe. Genuine old salt, actually chanteyed on the original Cutty Sark in the old days. Geez, he tended to ramble a bit and may have forgotten a line or two here or there, and god knows his voice wasn't a thing of beauty.

Less than a year later he died.

Was it worth my while to see him perform? Are you kidding me?

W-O