Friday, October 14, 2011

Delta Blues Legend Fred McDowell

It's about the Delta Blues. More to the point, it's about Mississippi Fred McDowell, my all time favourite bottleneck slide guitar master.

Although I've been a Blues junkie all my life, I hadn't run across McDowell until I discovered one of his LPs on sale in a record shop in Port Alberni, back in 1982.

The album was "I don't play no rock and roll," and the song, "Baby Please Don't Go."

The first track mesmerized me as McDowell related the story of how his uncle had given him a beef rib bone to use as a slide...as he winds the monologue down, he segues into a gripping version of "Baby please don't go" that left me wanting more... a LOT more.

That was nearly twenty years ago... and I own just about every album Fred and his wife recorded, and I still can't get enough.

I created a small web page about Fred and his music, and included some great YouTube clips...if you're into slide guitar, and haven't yet heard the master, click here and treat yourself.

Let me know what you think.

More Great Blues Lenses:

Hound Dog Taylor

Muddy Waters

Howlin' Wolf

Buddy Guy

John Lee Hooker

BB King

Elmore James

Big Mama Thornton

Koko Taylor

Bo Diddley

Willie Dixon

Big Walter Horton

Little Walter

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