Historical October 1988 report or notice. Original dates, prices and contacts describe the source period; current availability has not been established.
Selections from rarely-seen blues film footage and an afternoon of blues performance workshops will provide an in-depth look and listen to the development of blues in the United States on Sunday, October 16 from noon to 6 p.m.
This session of the Benson and Hedges Blues Festival will be held at ‘the History ‘Museum in the Jefferson Memorial’ Building in Forest Park.
There is no admission charge. Michael Chertock, whose renowned collections of blues film footage is reputed to be the largest in the world, will present the film which shows early Mississippi styles, the classics and the influences on rock and roll.
The country blues of the 20s and 30s will open the program with clips of Son House. Bukka White and John Lee Hooker. Bessie Smith. Ida Cox and Jimmy Rushing will be heard in classic blues. Names from post World War II are Sonny Boy Williamson, Willie Dixon and Muddy Waters.
With selections from Louis Jordan, Little Richard and Chuck Berry, the film will show how blues has affected other styles of music. Chertock will invite the audience to participate in a discussion following the film. Ron Edwards of St. Louis and John Campbell of Festival Productions in New York willlead the instrument workshops, with Edwards playing the bottleneck guitar. Campbell said the line-up of musicians would include Doc Terry and Snooky Pryor on the harmonica; Pinetop Perkins and James Crutchfield on piano, with Henry Townsend playing St. Louis blues; Hubert Sumlin, guitarist for Howling Wolf, Jimmy Rogers and James Deshay on the electric guitar; and Sam Lay and Bob Stroger as accompanists. “There should be considerable discussion among the players, and the interaction will most likely spark an open jam session:’ said Campbell.
The audience will be encouraged to join in the discussion of the unique styles demonstrated by the musicians.
Original photograph caption
Snooky Pryor. The Times of Skinker-DeBaliviere, October 1988, page 7. Photographer not credited.
Originally published in The Times of Skinker-DeBaliviere, October 1988.
Read this article in the original newspaper issue.
Original source: SD_Times1988_10.pdf, printed page(s) 7; PDF page(s) 7.
