Blind Simmie Dooley. Any info? Thanks.

Subject: Blind Simmie Dooley. Any info? Thanks.
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 19 Jul 01 - 11:01 PM

Hope this isn't a bad week to be asking for some REALLY obscure info, but I'll give it a shot.

Pink Anderson (about whom I know lots) and Blind Simmie Dooley recorded the amazing little piece "C C and O Blues", with a double guitar feel that simply JUMPS off the vinyl (or whatever CDs are made of). Other than the fact that Simmie WAS blind, and played with Pink, I know nothing about him. They both play serious guitar and I GUESS that it's Pink doing the fingerpicking. Does anyone have any biographical material on this fine artist (despite his squeaky voice!)?

Thanks

Rick

Subject: RE: Blind Simmie Dooley. Any info? Thanks.
From: catspaw49
Date: 19 Jul 01 - 11:17 PM

Not a lot on the web that I find........He was born in Hartwell, Georgia on July 3, 1881. Hartwell is on the South carolina border and he seems to have lived a good part of his life in and around Spartanburg, South Carolina which is just a few miles to the north. He died on January 17, 1961 of heart disease (musician--big shock). Also the following mention from another site:

A member of Spartanburg's first platinum group, the Marshall Tucker Band, when asked about the musical history of Spartanburg, said, "Man, there isn't any." And while Spartanburg might not be on everybody's list of musical must-visit destinations, Cooper's narrative, besides the above-mentioned Tucker Band, includes Piedmont songster Pink Anderson, whose mentor, Blind Simmie Dooley, also lived in Spartanburg.

The album they recorded together seems to be from 1928 and recorded in Atlanta.

That's about it for now, I'll keep looking.

Spaw

Subject: RE: Blind Simmie Dooley. Any info? Thanks.
From: IanC
Date: 20 Jul 01 - 05:42 AM

Rick

As 'spaw says, not much on the web, but there's a little more. Seems he also influenced Rev. Gary Davis. There's a small amount of info on each of the following websites (sorry no time for clickies) from which you may be able to piece together a bio.

http://www.wompblues.com/scconnections.htm
http://www.bluesaccess.com/No_35/catfish.html
http://users.efortress.com/doc-rock/1960.html
http://www.northsidetavern.com/wall.html
http://www.io.com/~tbone1/blues/ECblz/gardav.html
http://www.io.com/~tbone1/blues/ECblz/pinkan.html
http://sunsite.kth.se/feastlib/mrf/yinyue/pw/ANDPIN.HTM
http://www.oafb.net/once107.html
http://www.guitarvideos.com/interviews/davis/core3.htm

Cheers!
Ian

Subject: RE: Blind Simmie Dooley. Any info? Thanks.
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 20 Jul 01 - 01:15 PM

Ian and Spaw. THANK YOU! Once again "The Cat" comes through. I'm afraid I simply didn't have the time yesterday to do an in-depth check on Mr. Dooley. I owe ya, guys!

Cheers

Rick

Subject: RE: Blind Simmie Dooley. Any info? Thanks.
From: GUEST,frankie
Date: 20 Jul 01 - 01:31 PM

I think Willie Walker was also from Spartanburg or thereabouts. Some of those people at Stefan Grossman's Woodshed might be able to help out (or perhaps Stefan himself) which can be found at that last address that Ian mentioned. Good luck, frankie.