Josh White: Two Songs

[portraitartistdamour]

One reader asks why Josh White is not as well known as Miles Davis. It is because the average American listens to only what his or her friends listen to. Fortunately for me, I had a father and mother that exposed my to all the great music of the 1940's, 50's and 60's, no matter where in the world it came from. Josh White was one of our favorites. I will always be grateful to my parents for exposing me to the great musics of the world.

[davidhertzberg]

Josh White was a legend, not only because of his artistic skill but also because of the enormous impact he had on the evolution and development of American music -- perhaps more so than any other musician in the 20th century. I have added some tracks from an old LP, in case anyone wishes to hear some recordings that until now have not been posted on YouTube. The playlist is here: view_play_list?p=754E923FFB4E0­F24

The LP is scratched up but I'll ll try to post more tracks soon. Thanks.

[JoshWhite66]

He kicks Eminem square in the ass.

[timjmoran]

@JoshWhite66 yeah.. true dat...that Eminem is a Crappy folk Singer.

[MilesPittman]

The upstate of SC. Home of Josh White, Pink Anderson, and Rev. Gary Davis! whew! Must be something in the water.

[MartinRaetzJr]

Many thanks for share this rare recording here. I never did seen it before.

[JosephMalicke]

Why isn't Josh White as well known as Miles Davis? He should be

[j05hy84]

I'm Josh White

[MagicFrankBlues]

I once asked him to play a train song he was famous for complete with powerful train-like sounds on the guitar for my girlfriend. He explained he was in far too much pain having a medical condition with his fingers, there's not enough space to go into here. Later, when he hit the stage, he winked at me and played it anyway. I loved the guy. He was wonderful to be around--a gentle man and a gentleman.

[subterranean47]

You're extremely lucky to have had such a wonderful experience with an amazing man like Josh White.

[BinaryReaper]

@MagicFrankBlues

What a wonderful story the world needs more people like that! And there is no time like the present to try and become one my self! ;)

[cantorgasma]

@MagicFrankBlues Your note is simply amazing. I had the EXACT SAME EXPERIENCE with him at Chicago's Gate of Horn when I auditioned there in the very early 60s--62, I think. .I asked him to do "Jim Crow Train", he said he couldn't and then did. An immortal.,

[quinoacat]

RIP Josh. You are making fans still.  Fine Blues Man you will always hold a place in my heart since I first heard Little Brother Blues. 5*'s

[stevevandien]

Josh White was a fine artist!

[fmalitz]

I knew Josh White. He was always classy and a gentlemen--never militant or angry in my presence. By the way, he told me he wrote House of the Rising Sun. He developed the original prototype of the Ovation guitar but died before the brand got traction so he did not benefit financially. He played in pain due to a type of psoriasis that attacked his fingernails. He played all over the world. A superb guitarist/song stylist, I miss him to this very day. One of the all-time greats!

[juice6669]

"By the way, he told me he wrote House of the Rising Sun."

House of the Rising Sun is an old blues ballad, dating from at least the mid-late 1800's. Josh White most definitely did not write House of the Rising Sun.

[juice6669]

"He developed the original prototype of the Ovation guitar but died before the brand got traction so he did not benefit financially."

White did not develop the original, Ovation had planned on doing a Josh White signature guitar, and even built a prototype Josh White guitar, but never went through with putting it into production, by the time they were ready to do so, acoustic music and the guitars White played were losing popularity in favor of electric guitars and bands like the Beatles etc.

[itssuperb]

i think you are confused. 1965 Guild built him a signature guitar (12 fret neck) with plans of putting into production, but in 1967 Ovation put a guitar into production.

(he is still the first African American musician to have a signature guitar)

[fmalitz]

Josh showed me the Ovation Josh White prototype in 1966. I was a guitarist but never saw one before. He was a spokesman for Ovation, using the instument at every concert and explaining its innovation. As far as his claim of writing "House", he probably changed a traditional version and claimed ownership. Interstingly, the bastards in Led Zepplin did far worse in appropriating blues songs and giving no credit to the authors. Josh was a kind man--a great perfomer who brought the races together.

[quinoacat]

I was only 6 years old in '66....this is an awesome reply and so true....Page also ripped off the "Cello Bow on the Guitar Stings trick" too when he saw another Guitarist doing it. Josh had an odd shaped custom guitar I have seen in pics of him that looks like it could have spawned ideas that became Ovation Style shape.

[doctorpep1]

I just find it amazing how a man from the state which had more slaves than any other- a state in which the treatment of blacks was terrible- was able to speak to the U.S. government, in a beautiful and proud way, defending his position on Civil Rights and stating his feelings on Communism.

[doctorpep1]

Well, I read Elijah Wald's biography of Josh White. Apparently, White took it upon himself to speak a certain way, and he had extremely conservative parents who gave him a real sense of discipline and etiquette.

[ZeropointZero70]

love to find a version of Free and Equal blues. Great stuff.

[stoictales]

loved all over the world

[bevrich]

I just started reading the bio "Josh White-Society Blues" and can't seem to put it down.

[doctorpep1]

Listen to how he speaks. He is consciously aware that blacks needed more than just freedom and equality according to law. They also needed to master the language and etiquette present in the society to which they were transported, in order to show whites that they were every bit as cultured and intelligent as they were. And, of course, at the same time, they weren't going to take orders from whites and be second-class citizens. It's a brilliant strategy. The music here is great too!

[wookie72]

I understand what you're saying, but I think he was just talking the way he talked. He didn't want to put on a fake accent or tone.

[doctorpep1]

To me, he used the standard English language as a weapon to combat racism, in the same way that Malcolm X did, years later. White should be viewed as a musical AND a Civil Rights hero, and not a traitor to blacks or to America. Those are the feelings I came away with after reading Wald's book.

[wookie72]

I don't know how anyone could consider him a traitor to blacks, other than people who might accuse him of "acting white." Somebody should make a movie of his life, but Hollywood would probably ruin it. :)

I'd never really heard of him until I heard his version of "House Of The RIsing Sun," which is probably the best version of the song I've ever heard.

[doctorpep1]

Yes, Hollywood would ruin a movie about the great man. I don't think I've heard his version of "House of the Rising Sun"! Is it on Youtube?

[doctorpep1]

Many white Country Blues fans thought that he and his sound wasn't "black enough", and the U.S. government accused him of being a Communist and basically ruined his career. Have you read "Society Blues"? It's White's biography, written by Elijah Wald. It's a wonderful read.

[wookie72]

I haven't found it here. I heard it on a UK magazine collection of songs that influenced Bob Dylan. IMHO, it's the best version of the song I've heard.

[peglegsam]

I'll buy this dvd! Josh White is such an inspiration :)