Hmmmm Cocker.. well each to his own.

Interesting thing, though... In the mid-to-late 60s, many old blues guys toured over here in the UK.. some well-known (I remember seeing John Lee Hooker, Jesse Fuller, Jimmy Reed) and some obscure.. possibly hoiked out of jobs as janitors and waiters... to cash in on awareness brought about by people like the Stones referencing them. But when we bring up names of people who're still around, whose influences hark back to the blues... they're invariably white and more often than not, British. Black artists, and it was black music after all.. had already moved on - into Soul and Motown (at least, those who got famous), mostly, when the blues revival took shape.

It is an unfortunate fact of history that most white artists benefited far more from the influence of black music than the black artists that originally created it.

Email  

Don,

Well said and very important to remember.

While most music artists have gotten screwed by their management or record companies, black artists REALLY got screwed.

If one follows the history of blues/rock, it parallels the unfortunate racism that is still so prevelent in the U.S.
I have always felt that Racism of all kinds has been the "achilles" heel of the U.S. and as a citizen and someone who cares deeply about this country, it is important to discuss and be aware of.

I do feel a debt of gratitute for the "British Invasion" artists from The Beatles, to Alvin Lee to The Rolling Stones, Clapton, etc, etc, etc who listened, understood what they were hearing, covered all those songs, added another dimension to that great "American Form" and most importantly, gave credit to and helped promote the artists who inspired them.

Sadly the Brits and Europeans were more exposed to the great American artists than white Americans were.

Jon

PS: Is anyone interested in the trivia question answer ?????

Email