Blind Boy Fuller & Sonny Terry (1937-1945)
Unlike blues artists like Big Bill or Memphis Minnie who recorded extensively over three or four decades, Blind Boy Fuller recorded his substantial body of work over a short, six-year span.
Nevertheless, he was one of the most recorded artists of his time and by far the most popular and influential Piedmont blues player of all time. Fuller could play in multiple styles: slide, ragtime, pop, and blues were all enhanced by his National steel guitar. Fuller worked with some fine sidemen, including Davis, Sonny Terry, and washboard player Bull City Red.
Initially discovered and promoted by Carolina entrepreneur H. B. Long, Fuller recorded for ARC and Decca. He also served as a conduit to recording sessions, steering fellow blues musicians to the studio.
Harmonica player Sonny Terry was one of the initial bluesmen who crossed over into areas not normally associated with the genre before he came along. Along with his partner, guitarist Brownie McGhee, Terry played on numerous folk recordings with the likes of Woody Guthrie, developed an acting career showcased on television and Broadway, and never compromised his unique high-pitched penetrating harmonica style called whoppin'
Blind Boy Fuller’s long-lasting partnership with Sonny Terry started in 1937. They met in Wadesboro whilst Terry was playing mouth organ on one side of the street, and Fuller was on the opposite side playing guitar.
After that the two musicians travelled around - sometimes accompanied by the Reverend Gary Davis and Bull City Red - until Fuller took Terry with him to Durham. Blind Boy Fuller recorded around 140 songs in the 5 years of his recording career for ARC. His last session was in 1940 for the OKeh label in Chicago with Sonny Terry and Bull City Red.
Blind Boy Fuller died shortly afterwards on the 13th February, 1941 in Durham in North
Carolina.
Amongst his greatest admirers were such musicians as Brownie McGhee, who was sold
at the beginning of his career as "Blind Boy Fuller II" and who became, along with Sonny
Terry, one of the most successful musicians of the Chicago music scene after Fuller's death. .
Blind Boy Fuller's name is synonymous with the so-called Piedmont blues and inspired in
spite of his early death following generations of blues guitarists and singers.
Here are the tracks :
New York City. December 12. 1937
1. Bye Bye Baby Blues - Blind Boy Fuller/Sonny Terry
2. Mistreater, You're Going To Be Sorry - Blind Boy Fuller/Sonny Terry
New York City. April 5, 1937
3. Mean And No Good Woman - Blind Boy Fuller/Sonny Terry
4. Pistol Slapper Blues - Blind Boy Fuller/Sonny Terry
Columbia. October 29. 1937
5. Stop Jivin' Me Mama - Blind Boy Fuller/Sonny Terry
6. Big House Bound - Blind Boy Fuller/Sonny Terry
New York City. December 28. 1937
7. Train Whistle Blues - Sonny Terry
8. New Love Blues - Sonny Terry
Memphis July 12. 1939
9. I'm A Stranger Here - Blind Boy Fuller/Sonny Terry/Oh Red
10. I Want Some Of Your Pie - Blind Boy Fuller/Sonny Terry/Oh Red
11. I Don't Care How Long - Blind Boy Fuller/Sonny Terry/Oh Red
New York City. March 05. 1940
12. Blues And Worried Man - Blind Boy Fuller/Sonny Terry/Oh Red
New York City. March 05. 1940
13. Harmonica And Washboard Breakdown - Sonny Terry/Oh Red
14. Harmonica Blues - Sonny Terry/Oh Red
15. Somebody's Been Talkin' - Blind Boy Fuller/Sonny Terry/Oh Red
New York City. March 06. 1940
16. Harmonica Stomp - Blind Boy Fuller/Sonny Terry/Oh Red
New York City. March 07. 1940
17. Twelve Gates To The City - Blind Boy Fuller/Sonny Terry/Oh Red
Chicago. June 19. ]940
18. I Don't Want No Skinny Woman - Blind Boy Fuller/Sonny Terry/Oh Red
19. You Got To Have Your Dollar - Blind Boy Fuller/Sonny Terry/Oh Red
Chicago. June 19.1940
20. Blowing The Blues - Blind Boy Fuller/Sonny Terry/Oh Red
Chicago. June 19. ]940
21. Bus Rider Blues - Blind Boy Fuller/Sonny Terry/Oh Red
22. Precious Lord - Blind Boy Fuller/Sonny Terry/Oh Red
New York City. January 24, 1944
23. Lonesome Train - Sonny Terry/Woody Guthrie
Chicago. June 19. 1940
24. Shake Down Blues - Sonny Terry/Brownie McGhee
New York City. 1944/45
25. Sweet Woman - Sonny Terry/Brownie McGhee
26. Fox Chase - Sonny Terry/Brownie McGhee
http://lix.in/-35a225
Peace
thank you great harp
can you please post some thing of deford bailey
Elon Yariv said...
September 27, 2008 7:20 AM
Thank you for this great blog, i had searching this record for a long long time.
Blind boy fuller & Sonny Terry, the best blues duo forever
Pele said...
March 3, 2009 9:22 AM
I run a website that features Anson Co. NC. (www.sandhillsvisitorcenter.com) I'd like to request reprint permission of the excellent bio of Blind Boy Fuller that you wrote. I'd also like to link back to your blog to encourage folks to hear his music.
I met Sonny Terry and Brownie McGee through Doc Watson some years ago - great musicians and very kind men. Thanks for keeping the music alive.
J said...
April 12, 2009 9:48 PM