Obit: Snooks Eaglin (18 Feb 2009)

Subject: Obit: Snooks Eaglin
From: PoppaGator
Date: 18 Feb 09 - 07:35 PM

The great Fird "Snooks" Eaglin pased away this afternoon, Wednesday 2/18/09.

http://blog.nola.com/keithspera/2009/02/snooks_eaglin_19372009.html

There's a YouTube video included with the Times-Picayune/nola.com obit, which is OK ~ but you also ought to play a few of his other YouTube clips, which will be easily available once you play the linked-to clip.

Snooks was often called "the Professor Longhair of the guitar," and quite justifiably ~ his style was not only original and highly complex, it was also an absolute embodiment of New Orleans joyful polyrythmicism.

Subject: RE: Obit: Snooks Eaglin
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 18 Feb 09 - 07:46 PM

Shucks, a name from the past, used to love his stuff.

RIP Snooks my man.

JM

Subject: RE: Obit: Snooks Eaglin (18 Feb 2009)
From: Anglo
Date: 18 Feb 09 - 11:15 PM

I was blown away when I heard his take on High Society, decades ago. Sad to see him pass, but I didn't know he was still around.

Was it an old Folkways album? Something called Snooks Eaglin: New Orleans Street Singer, as I recall.

Subject: RE: Obit: Snooks Eaglin (18 Feb 2009)
From: GUEST,Will Fly, at a strange computer
Date: 19 Feb 09 - 03:21 AM

Correct, Anglo - and one of the first guitar albums I bought. It was recorded by a New Orleans doctor on his front porch with a very young Snooks playing a 12-string guitar. You can hear birds singing in the background. I was amazed by his playing which, in those days, I thought was original and intriguing. I have later albums of him playing electric with a blues band, but it never quite caught the thrill of that first, simple album.

A great man. RIP.

Subject: RE: Obit: Snooks Eaglin (18 Feb 2009)
From: Leadbelly
Date: 19 Feb 09 - 03:57 AM

Another great musician left this old world.
I'm a fan of his early recordings like eg "I'm a country boy", "Alberta" and "Well, I had my fun". Hope you have had it, Snooks!
RIP

Manfred

Subject: RE: Obit: Snooks Eaglin (18 Feb 2009)
From: GUEST,Will Fly, at a strange computer
Date: 19 Feb 09 - 08:52 AM

"You can push and pull, baby, all night long,
But baby don't you tear my clothes."

Priceless.

Subject: RE: Obit: Snooks Eaglin (18 Feb 2009)
From: PoppaGator
Date: 19 Feb 09 - 09:55 AM

Perhaps my opinion is colored by having been privileged to enjoy many live performances over the last 30 years, but I feel very strongly that his more (relatively) recent work as an electric-guitar-playing bandleader is every bit as great as that early acoustic "New Orleans Streetsinger" stuff, and indeed greatly superior.

Snooks was able to create a deeper and more solid groove than anyone, ever. All you guitar players ~ fingerpickers, especially ~ ought to take a close look at a few of his YouTube videos, focusing in on that amazing right hand.

Plus which, he was always lots of fun. He may have been a world-class virtuoso, but for him playing gigs was never about showing off his skills, it was always a simple matter of creating an infectious atmosphere of fun and enjoyment for everyone, including himself and his bandmates.

I can't believe he's gone. I passed up my last two or three chances to attend his Rock 'n' Bowl gigs, always telling meself I could always catch his act next time. Now there will be no more next times.

Subject: RE: Obit: Snooks Eaglin (18 Feb 2009)
From: Leadbelly
Date: 19 Feb 09 - 12:18 PM

PoppaGator, on " Funky Malaguena" he plays a bluesy "spanish" guitar. Never heard a version of Malaguena like this before and after. As I said, a great musician has left the scene.

Subject: RE: Obit: Snooks Eaglin (18 Feb 2009)
From: PoppaGator
Date: 19 Feb 09 - 02:35 PM

"Funky Malaguena" was one of the first Snooks tunes I ever heard, and I heard it many times over the years, recorded and live. No one else could ever have thought of it, let alone play it!