History of Willie Brown

Subject: History of Willie Brown
From:
Date: 18 May 99 - 06:36 AM

First of all, there seems to have been three Willie Browns in the history of folk music. I mean the one that accompanied Charlie Patton and who sang "Future Blues" and "M & O blues".

I think he was a really good guitarist. He didn't have Patton's style or voice; but I think I prefer his playing. What happened to him after he made his records.

Murray

Subject: RE: History of Willie Brown
From: dwditty
Date: 18 May 99 - 09:22 AM

As far as I can tell, Stefan Grossman seems to be the authority on the "Willie Browns." The phone number of his Guitar Workshop is 973-729-5544. I particularly one of the other Willie Brown's Ragged and Dirty.

DW

Subject: RE: History of Willie Brown
From: Rockaday Johnny
Date: 18 May 99 - 10:35 AM

"That" Willie Brown also recorded "Make Me a Pallet on Your Floor" for Lomax in 1941-Actually there were two "Willie Browns" who played with Patton - for a great bit of history on this see "Can't tell my Future" The Mystery of Willie Brown" a great chapter in "Chasin' That Devil Music by Gale Dean Wardlow -also comes with a great CD.

Subject: RE: History of Willie Brown
From:
Date: 19 May 99 - 04:25 AM

I didn't know Grossman was the expert. Actually Stefan Grossman has a discussion forum called "The Woodshed", perhaps I will post the question there.

The URL of "The Woodshed" is here

Murray

Subject: RE: History of Willie Brown
From: Mark Roffe
Date: 21 May 99 - 10:32 PM

Well tell me this: is that the same Willie Brown who did the "Mississippi Blues" that went:

Goin' down to the delta, where I can have my fun (2x)
Where I can drink my white lightnin' and gamble, try and bring my baby home..."

and then a few verses later...

"She treats me dirty, but I love her just the same (2x)
It just breaks my heart to hear some other man call out her name..."

Is it he??

This one a great piano-like finger picking number, with a kind of boogie-woogie break or two.

I think that THIS Willie Brown may have been a barber. So tell me, is he is or is he ain't the Willie who did "Future Blues" and "M & O Blues?"

Bark Woof

Subject: RE: History of Willie Brown
From: Rockaday Johnny
Date: 21 May 99 - 11:22 PM

Nope - different Willie Brown!

Subject: RE: History of Willie Brown
From: Jon W.
Date: 21 May 99 - 11:58 PM

Hey Bark Woof, if you've got a recording of that will you tell me the label/title/etc of it. I've been trying to hear the Willie Brown version for at least 10 years. One of my favorite blues pieces.

Jon W.

Subject: RE: History of Willie Brown
From: Mark Roffe
Date: 22 May 99 - 01:53 AM

Jon, I have it on cassette. I'll send you a copy. Be sure to have me send it to a safe place because you can't trust people you meet on the internet. :) Send me a private email through the 'cat.

Bark Woof

Subject: RE: History of Willie Brown
From:
Date: 22 May 99 - 09:46 PM

I also have a copy of Mis. Blues by Willie Brown. It comes with an older version of Grossman's "Play Country Blues".

In fact it was listening to it, and trying to play it that led me to start this thread.

Murray