Nat Reese, West Virginia Bluesman

Subject: Nat Reese, West Virginia Bluesman
From: Kent Davis
Date: 16 Oct 07 - 11:05 PM

Nat Reese is retiring. The story and some links follow.

By GREG JORDAN
Bluefield Daily Telegraph

PRINCETON — One of West Virginia's most celebrated musicians has decided that it's time to hang up the guitar.

Actually, Nathaniel H. "Nat" Reese, Sr. still plans to pick up the guitar once in a while. He had played a lot of concerts ever since he played for the sum of $6 when he was 9 years old.

He has garnered his share of recognition, everything from seeing one of his albums archived at the Library of Congress to receiving a resolution from the City of Princeton and being named an Honorary Mountaineer by West Virginia Gov. Joe Manchin.

Reese sang blues, swing, gospel and other music at venues ranging from the coal camps of Appalachia to the blues festivals of Belgium and Germany. He sang in the rain. He sang before small groups and audiences in the hundreds and thousands.

But now the time has come to slow down. He played his last official concert Oct. 5 at the Capitol Center Theater in Charleston.
"I decided that I'd hang it up," Reese, now 83, said Friday.


http://www.wvculture.org/goldenseal/Vandalia2k/natreese.html

http://www.mustrad.org.uk/articles/reese.htm

Subject: RE: Nat Reese, West Virginia Bluesman
From: Janie
Date: 16 Oct 07 - 11:20 PM

Thanks for the links, Kent. The mustrad article is a real gem.

Janie

Subject: RE: Nat Reese, West Virginia Bluesman
From: Big Mick
Date: 16 Oct 07 - 11:32 PM

There's a lot of wannabe bluesmen out there, and then there is Nat. When you are talking bluesmen, this is the real deal. I hate that he is hanging it up. But I suspect we will hear him again.

Mick

Subject: RE: Nat Reese, West Virginia Bluesman
From: Azizi
Date: 17 Oct 07 - 07:30 PM

That mustrad article was interesting reading.

Kent Davis, thanks for calling our attention to this musician.

Subject: RE: Nat Reese, West Virginia Bluesman
From: Kent Davis
Date: 08 Dec 07 - 10:24 PM

Nat Reese is one of the featured performers on "Always Lift Him Up", a tribute to Blind Alfred Reed. I can't wait to get it. You can hear a cut here: http://shopping.yahoo.com/p:Always%20Lift%20Him%20Up:%20A%20Tribute%20to%20Blind%20Alfred%20Reed:1922881695

Or so I assume. I don't have a speaker on my computer. Enjoy it for me.

Kent

Subject: RE: Nat Reese, West Virginia Bluesman
From: Kent Davis
Date: 09 Dec 07 - 10:48 PM

Another sample of the West Virginia Blues Man: http://www.fiddletunes.com/pages/cd9.htm

Kent