I'VE GOT THE BIG RIVER BLUES (1933) by the Delmore Brothers

I am a big fan of Doc Watson's performance of 'Deep River Blues'. In finding out about it's origins, I came across the Delmore Brothers, who did a version in 1933 entitled 'I've Got the Big River Blues'. I really like their close harmony singing and their straightforward approach to music, which morphed from rootsy country ballads to later up tempo tunes which were clearly influential on the development of rock and roll.

The Delmore Brothers were Alton and Rabon Delmore, and were country music pioneers and stars of the Grand Ole Opry in the 1930s. They, together with other brother duets such as the Louvin Brothers, the Blue Sky Boys, the Monroe Brothers, the McGee Brothers, and The Stanley Brothers, had a profound impact on the history of country music and American popular music, in general. The brothers were born into poverty in Elkmont, Alabama, as the sons of tenant farmers amid a rich tradition of gospel music and Appalachian folk. Their mother, Mollie Delmore, wrote and sang gospel songs for their church. The Delmores blended gospel-style harmonies with the quicker guitar-work of traditional folk music and the blues to help create the still-emerging genre of country. In addition to the regular six-string acoustic guitar, the duo was one of the few to use the rare tenor guitar, a four-string instrument that had primarily been used previously in vaudeville shows. In 1931 The Brother's did their first recording session for Columbia; cutting, "I've Got the Kansas City Blues" and "Alabama Lullaby" which became their theme song. In 1933 they signed a contract with Victor Records budget label Bluebird, during which they recorded this song. They became regulars on the Grand Ole Opry variety program. Within three years, they had become the most popular act on the show. Disagreements with Opry management led to the brothers leaving the show in 1939. While they continued to play and record music throughout the 1940s, they never achieved the same level of success they had with the Grand Ole Opry.

In 1946 they expanded from their acoustic two-piece arrangements into a full band, with bass, mandolin, steel guitar, fiddle, harmonica, and additional guitars. Some of those additional guitars were supplied by Merle Travis. The most important backup musician on these sides was Wayne Raney, who played a "choke" style of harmonica that was heavily influenced by the blues. The Delmores were also leaning increasingly towards uptempo material that reflected the upsurge in Western swing and boogie-woogie. By the end of 1947, they were also using electric guitar and drums. Raney (who also sang) in effect acted as a third member of the Delmores in the late '40s and early '50s, when they plunged full-tilt into hillbilly boogie. These are the most widely available and, in some ways, best Delmore Brothers sides. They were also the most successful, and in the late '40s the brothers reached their commercial peak, releasing a series of hard-driving boogies with thumping back beats and bluesy structures. (Source - Wikipedia).

I have done a slideshow video using every image I could find of the Delmore Brothers. Comments are welcome.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Delmore
• Brothers
• Deep
• River
• Blues
• Doc
• Watson
• country
• roots
• Louvin
• Everly
• close
• harmony
• vocals
• acoustic
• michaelbackhouse

[terrisonb]

I love the picture at 1:47 with them singing in to an RCA 74 microphone...The same type that I use on my youtube videos. (mine was made in 1947) I wonder when that picture was taken? This recording sounds so much cleaner and more modern than Jimmie Rogers recordings from that same year, I wonder why that is? Do you know what label they recorded for?

[wilsonmcphert]

@terrisonb

There were several labels, and these are listed in their Wikipedia entry and Amazon has a list of their CDs available. I checked out your site and it certainly is a big microphone and sounding good. Thanks for the comment.

[chkjns]

Nice JOB ! ! ! 10th addition to my 1933 list. My music playlists cover every year back to 1900, the evolution of pop music over 5 generations.

A trip back in time to the sounds of the past is waiting for you . . . . . . . . .

[wilsonmcphert]

@chkjns

I've never seen so many playlists! You will need playlists for your playlists! I will check them out. Thanks for your comment.

[Romamb]

love the song, adore their performance. so glad you posted this recording :)

[marfak1000]

Got that right..Guess we'll have to wait for Springsteen to rediscover them..

[PatrickWall12]

Good music - blues.

[pariperenti]

@Shwimpgumbo yes! Alton and my great aunt Thelma's daughter Debbie helps to keep their memories alive there in Alabama!  :-) Also, their son, Lionel Delmore co-wrote the very famous song called "Swinging" with John Anderson who sang that song, and it became the biggest #1 hit of 1983, back when i was in college and they played it for 13 weeks straight! I am a singer, too, as was my mother and her sisters, so i came from a very musical family! :-)

[pariperenti]

great video of my great uncle! albon was married to my grandmother's sister! :-)

[ratherknotty]

I think its a disgrace they were not elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame untill 2001, They have been so key to the development of Country Music its amzing how they have been largely overlooked..It seems they are finally being recognised for their true value and quality. Way ahead of their time.

[cowboytony47]

Awseome videos my friend,I love this

[borntrippin]

Awesome is all that one can say!!