Josh White (1914-1969) - Free and Equal Blues

Joshua Daniel White (February 11, 1914-September 5, 1969),

I had the good fortune to hear Josh White in a small venue, two years prior to his death. I went to a matinee where folk songs and children's music were featured. I wish now, I had gone to the night time show, and heard some of that "grown folks' music." I'm sure it was smokin' hot.

"Langston Hughes... wrote in the liner notes of the 1944 Josh White album Songs by Josh White: "You could call Josh White 'The Minstrel of the Blues' except that he is more than just 'The Minstrel of the Blues.' The Blues are Negro music, but although he is a Negro, Josh is a fine folk singer of anybodys songs—southern Negro or southern white, plantation work songs or modern union songs, English or Irish balladsSongs that come from the heart of the people."

"White also would become the closest African-American friend and confidant to the president of the United States, Franklin D. Roosevelt. Ironically, however, White's anti-segregationist and international human rights political stance presented in many of his recordings and in his speeches at rallies resulted in the right-wing McCarthyites incorrectly assuming that he must have been a Communist. Accordingly, from 1947 through the mid 1960s, White was caught in the vise grip of the anti-Communist Red Scare, and combined with his resulting attempt to clear his name, his career was harmed immeasurably."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Josh_White

Your voice is in our hearts, Josh White.

Thank you

Snaps

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Josh
• White
• Blues
• Folk
• Protest
• Segregation
• Racism
• African
• American
• Black
• History
• Activism

[MrPlaymaker3]

I am Josh White's other son (love child), But I know that my brother and my sisters are grateful that our father has been vindicated(due to the blackballing by Senator Joe McCarthy of our father during the RED SCARE era) as one of America's premier African American artists. He truly was a man ahead of his time, racially,musically, and politically. Daniel Josh White.

[synapsecracklepop]

thank you for posting

[synapsecracklepop]

admiring my own uploads.... tell me he ain't rappin

[MrRobbieboy74]

Wow!  Modern day rap can learn SO MUCH from this... Imagine if rap had the wit and incisiveness of Josh White...

[Appleriver3]

Love it! Thank you!

[RXOXGXEXR]

The best video recordings of Josh White were made by Swedish Television around 1964, when I was 14, and he was the reason I bought a guitar. Nobody has ever played the guitar in a more dynamic and almost explosive style. His voice could also change from very soft ballad style to a very powerful voice. I have only seen one of those recordings on youtube, where his daughter and a Swedish bass-player are performing with him. Greetings from Sweden

[Jennysquib]

This is brilliant! I have it on a 78 record - a treasured possession.

[MsJerrie123]

This is so great.... He was very popular with college students back in 1961...

[stevedach]

he was the first bluesman i ever heard. that was about 50 years ago and he still sounds as good today as he did then.

[dena1936]

I just now got a chance to listen to this. Nice.

[samarroon]

This man is like GOD to me. if i live to be 100 i will never hear such a talent. nobody , but nobody did, or could do what he did. it's sounds cliche, but he was simply THE GREATEST EVER!! thanks so much for posting. confoundingly, good quality like this posting is hard to find. lots of the current Cd collections don't compare to the origianl vinyl for some mysterous reason...

[MerlePsyA]

Josh White is a great iconic figure, brilliant innovative musician who played traditional roots and every other kind of music, and made his mark as a social activist. He helped change the American social climate and made a major contribution to American music. We are in the presence of genius. I grew up hearing his music -- Defense Factory Blues, Strange Fruit -- in a society that was racist . His music and activism helped change the world.