Elder Roma Wilson This Train

I do not own the copyright to this recording. This video is for historical and educational purposes

Roma Wilson was born in 1910 in Union County, MS. Different sources list his birthplace as Tupelo, Hickory Flat, or Blue Springs. His mother left home when he was fifteen and he soon followed suit, not liking the way that his father had taken over the household. He learned how to play harmonica on worn-out instruments that his older brothers had discarded. He teamed up with a blind slide guitar player by the name of Rev. Leon Pinson to tour the state playing music and preaching the gospel. Not everyone was a fan of his music, some claiming that his "choking" harmonica style was too close to the blues. Wilson's reply to them that he was man of God, and would never play the blues. The churchgoers around the state that weren't so critical reveled in the performances by he and Pinson. He left Mississippi in the 1940's for Detroit. In his younger days he worked for the railroad, in a steel mill, and later for a construction company owned by one of his sons. In 1948, Wilson and three of his sons entered a record shop on Hastings Street in Detroit owned by Joe Von Battle. (Who would soon operate his own JVB Records label). Wilson and his sons didn't know it at the time, but Von Battle had talked them into performing six songs. While they were performing, Von Battle was recording them. Von Battle then licensed two of the recordings to the Pennsylvania label Gotham Records. The one 78 RPM record became a collector's item among gospel collectors years later. ("Lilly Of The Valley"/"Better Get Ready", Gotham 726) Only a fortunate few owned an actual copy, others around the world had to listen to it on tape trades. George Paulus found the other four songs and issued them on an album on his own label in the 1980's. along with the two issued tracks. Wilson was a mystery to the gospel collectors for decades. In the 1980's he returned to Mississippi and was reunited with his old friend Rev. Pinson. They wound up playing together again at various blues and jazz festivals around The United States. Wilson never heard his 1948 recordings until he was 80 years old and had no idea that he had worldwide fame as a gospel musician. In the 1990's he was brought into a studio to record in a legitimate manner for the first time. I have found no evidence of Wilson's death. If he his still living, he is approaching the 100 year mark.

Elder Roma Wilson:Vocals & Harmonica

Three of Roma Wilson's sons are also playing harmonicas on this recording. Their individual names are unknown.

Recorded at Joe's Record Shop, Hastings Street, Detroit, MI. 1948

Originally issued on the 1983 album "Harp Suckers!:Detroit Harmonica Blues 1948" (St. George STG-1002) (LP)

This recording taken from the 2001 CD "From Spirituals To Gospels"

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Elder
• Roma
• Wilson
• Postwar
• Gospel
• 1940's
• Harmonica
• This
• Train
• Detroit
• Mississippi

[cowboytony47]

very super awesome video my friend,thumbs way up high :)

[randomandrare]

@cowboytony47 Thank you for your comment and for viewing! Mike

[camking88]

Thank you so much for this. I heard this song on a gospel radio station a while back and I recognized the song, but not the artist. I'm glad I finally found it thanks to you.

[randomandrare]

@camking88 You're very welcome and thank you for viewing!

[cowboytony47]

your welcome ,love it my friend,:)

[garydeves]

@ZKitty05

Hello, my name is Gary Deves and I am from the Netherlands, Europe. I am with the Dutch radio for which I have done interviews with people like James Brown and Fats Domino, but also with many gospel legends from the 30s and 40s. I would love to do a short phone interview with your grandfather. Would you be able and willing to get me in touch with him? Please email me at gerbren.deves@amsterdam.msf.or­g

Hope to hear from you, thanks!

Gary

[Yogie38]

@camking88 this is my grandfather and yes he is still living in Detroit we are planning a birthday party for him turning 100 in Dec. but the party is Nov. 13 at 2:00pm. eastpoint community center 8mile rd.

[ZKitty05]

Yes he is still alive he's my grandfather, my fathers father and he will be 100 on Dec 22, 2010

[Yogie38]

Just to let you all this is my granfather and he is still living here in Detroit getting ready to turn 100 yrs old.

[tripharmonica]

those gents can blow!!!!