I saw Son House perform at Indiana University in about 1970 or 71. I had heard of him, but hadn't heard any of his recordings prior. Picture this: Son House slowly walks on stage to applause without his guitar. Dick Waterman (I think it was) said a few words about Son and handed him his guitar. Son got comfortable with the guitar for a moment. Then he rolled back his head and let loose a blues moan that made the hair stand up on the back of my head. He slapped his slide against the neck of the guitar in imitation. I can still feel the chill of that moan. I've never seen or heard anything like it before or since. I am glad I had the chance to attend.
@themeadowlarkminutewithpau81848 ай бұрын
That’s awesome.
@odie11236 ай бұрын
Wow! I swear ! Same thing exactly happened to me at Memorial Auditorium in Burlington, Vermont, same time era. When he hit that guitar the whole world changed. The only thing I can add is that I remember them sayin’ something like that he was rediscovered in Rochester NY ( I think ) working as a janitor. SOB , he was OLD and when he hit that guitar it was like you said.
@AnthonyRecenello3 жыл бұрын
By the way Edward, this is the first video essay I've seen on your channel. Not sure if you've done this before but PLEASE do more! This is so excellent.
@donsurlylyte3 жыл бұрын
very very excellent
@PaisleyPatchouliАй бұрын
Another beautifully and lovingly presented biography of one of the most influential bluesmen of them all, Son House. Thanks!
@TheGuitarMan713 жыл бұрын
Son House, Lightning Hopkins, Robert Johnson, Albert King, BB King, Muddy Waters are just a few of the legends to come out of the South
@altonpack94192 ай бұрын
You could list names till the machine says no more 😂 that's how good it is down here
@davidbranin9693 жыл бұрын
Whoa. Howling Wolf let him have it.
@donsurlylyte3 жыл бұрын
the wolf had it straight.
@kurtrightmyer5 ай бұрын
@@donsurlylyteWolf was dead wrong. House wrote Preaching Blues, not Wolf. So Wolf had no business preaching to House about his drinking.
@dylanwilliams78682 жыл бұрын
It's a shame that Americans know so little of their incredible music history. Jazz & blues are easily some of the finest genres of music ever created imho. Thanks Edward. Love your channel.
@AnthonyRecenello3 жыл бұрын
I was just listening to him this week. He’s a beast. To me he’s the reason why heavy rock music exists.
@nellymoriarty_57833 жыл бұрын
I wish I'd known his stuff What a special style
@nellymoriarty_57833 жыл бұрын
Cool
@erinbarger38223 жыл бұрын
My all time favorite. He has as much influence on the blues and in turn Rock n Roll as Robert Johnson but rarely gets the credit he deserves.
@alabastardmasterson3 жыл бұрын
I'm totally confused how you would make the leap from House to metal? Especially, when there are documented routes
@AnthonyRecenello3 жыл бұрын
@@alabastardmasterson blues doesn’t have a connection to rock and roll? Rock and roll to rock? Rock to metal? Metal to heavy metal? I’m think maybe I’m confused?
@chrisjackson1023 Жыл бұрын
Son House rattles me right to my core. This is the sound of a soul laid bare and begging for redemption.
@markforster27943 жыл бұрын
If the blues was an ocean and it was reduced to a sea, then a lake, then a pond, then a puddle. Then a drop - that drop would be Son House.
@schizoidman59573 жыл бұрын
Son is awfully underrated
@jeffruebens83553 жыл бұрын
The Stones, Sabbath and Led Zep got vinyl blues albums and spread this music worldwide, as a harder and faster genre, especially by adding electric guitars for harder songs and acoustics for softer more folk songs.
@larrytron19923 жыл бұрын
Son House was the ultimate master of delta blues. I really love his cover of Patton’s Pony Blues
@michaeldonaghey3 жыл бұрын
Charlie Patton ,Willie Brown, Robert Johnson, Kid Bailey and Tommy Johnson would all be equally entitled to be called ^ultimate master of delta blues.^
@rodjones117 Жыл бұрын
@@michaeldonaghey Not to mention Bukka White or Skip James...
@highclass30413 жыл бұрын
I love Son House....they were some real hard ass killers back then too....House had 2 killings under him and leadbelly had one too Little Walter was accused of it a time or 2 as well. They could make u dance or break ur legs just as easy...I love the blues!!
@douglaspaterson52692 жыл бұрын
R.L. Burnside shot a man in a dice game.
@iicjguitar04162 жыл бұрын
Tail-Dragger Jones shot and killed his guitarist in 1993.
@electricgypsyblues47613 жыл бұрын
Aww Man, You have really done with this one. Its all here. I commend you for making such an informative video. Son House was it Brother
@freddysr34373 жыл бұрын
My favorite bluesman
@pn25433 жыл бұрын
@7:30 What a cool story - Canned Heat's Alan Wilson re-teaches Son House guitar he had forgotten! There's a movie in there. 'Fathers and Sons' indeed.
@gregarnold1696 Жыл бұрын
I'm a blues fan. First time I heard death letter it shook me haven't got over it to this day the blues is a life long education program it will show you yourself
@vladtheimpaler7878 Жыл бұрын
Son is one of the greatest bluesman, and my absolute favorite. Love deep delta blues.
@harigeorgeson58853 жыл бұрын
This was really well done Edward. Son House was the real deal indeed.
@frankmirra82432 жыл бұрын
Yeah Son House was the deepest man who ever lived.
@robydeibeatcircus74383 жыл бұрын
the great Son House ... thanks Alan Blind Owl Wilson for bringing Him back to the 60s !!! (R.I.P.)
@phillippettitt30713 жыл бұрын
Edward please don't stop making these..... history channel series anyone????
@jdonland3 жыл бұрын
Something to note about House's birth year: Statements he made regarding his own age would seem to place it around 1886. It's not clear whether he was just exaggerating his age, was genuinely mistaken about it, or was really significantly older than his legal documents implied. If he really was born in 1886, he would have been 102 years old when he died, which seems somewhat unlikely given his lifelong alcoholism.
@el_chief_dannyboy3 жыл бұрын
One of the greatest bluesman ever, along with Sonny. Boy Williamson ll.
@r.l.six-musicandrecords5522 жыл бұрын
If you haven't done one, please do one on Skip James.
@laurietongish79418 ай бұрын
Watch him play Death Letter Blues. It's some of the most amazing guitar playing I've ever seen. Makes me tear up just thinking of it.
@alabastardmasterson3 жыл бұрын
The history is just as entertaining as the picking. This video should have exponentially more views
@QHarefield21 күн бұрын
Fascinating hearing that verbal tussle between Son and Wolf! Thanks.
@PaulTheSkeptic2 жыл бұрын
Son House is great. I guess that's all I have to say about him. Great blues man.
@Manandmachine7723 жыл бұрын
Thank you for the history really enjoyed it
@goodun29743 жыл бұрын
John Mooney, another good modern slide player, hung out with Son in Rochester. On KZfaq you can find Warren Haynes and Sonny Landreth covering "Death Letter Blues" , and Larkin Poe doing Preaching Blues ( which of course is very different from the Robert Johnson version).
@genri.a91283 жыл бұрын
Oh god, the Larkin Poe version is horrible..😅
@johngore77446 ай бұрын
I’ve been listening to him for 40 years. Death Letter is one of my favourite songs.
@rossfairleigh7545 ай бұрын
Death letter best song I've ever heard
@stuartknowles82063 жыл бұрын
Son House has an intensity that is unmatched.... he’s my all time favourite musician. Anybody interested in Son should read the book Preachin’ The Blues. There’s more power in Son House than Led Zeppelin in full flight..... Thanks for the great video essay. 👍🇦🇺♥️🇺🇸😎
@bobbywright34793 жыл бұрын
This was great Edward
@michaeltakesthegun91753 жыл бұрын
My wife says your voice sounds familiar- she is from Franklin Tennessee... I really do learn a lot from you .. keep up the good work , them ghost 👻 of Mississippi are happy I’m sure
@jacqueskibu3 жыл бұрын
Awesome story! Son House is my favourite blues musician ever since I heard ‘Grinnin’ in your face’.
@jasonkeith93172 жыл бұрын
Jack White??
@applejack94823 жыл бұрын
Que vida dura tenían y en cambio que grandes eran Estos son los padres de U.S.A.
@74dartman133 жыл бұрын
I wonder if you've ever listened to Rory Block? She was heavily influenced by Son House. I saw her once, and sat in the front row of a small church, on a college campus. It was one of the best shows I ever saw. She was incredible! It was almost like listening to Son, himself!👍😎🎸🎶
@TheNerdyMusician2 жыл бұрын
Been listening to Sun house and other great Blues guitarists for the past 12 years I love him. Awesome little bio about him here
@woodrowmeeks50093 жыл бұрын
My first blues album was by Son. I loved the song Baptist Preacher.
@Beachbumartist2 жыл бұрын
Great video man. Son House has a great song called Levee Camp Blues you would be great at playing. Thank you.
@johndufford55613 жыл бұрын
First time I didn't hear you play on this channel. Have to say that I missed it, Sir, but your commentary on Son House is extraordinary! Learned a lot of important things & I thank you very, very much.
@tomsilberberg19783 жыл бұрын
What a wonderful little documentary, great work Edward!
@weika10003 жыл бұрын
Yes man, thanx for the work you did...
@velvetbees3 жыл бұрын
All these musicians were so important. Rock and roll came from their genius.
@lowellcalavera60453 жыл бұрын
Why NOT listen to Son House?!! He influenced an in incredible number of musicians.
@ralph_s3 жыл бұрын
Great video, would love to see more about other influential blues artists.
@TheNavalAviator2 жыл бұрын
Dude, this reminded me of so much I knew about the blues.
@sapelesteve3 жыл бұрын
Thanks Edward for that amazing Blues history lesson about Son House! Obviously he was the real deal when it comes to the Delta Blues. Just imagine the life that he lived. 👍😉🎸🎤😉👍
@user-kz3uj6gi2y5 ай бұрын
HAPPY HEAVENLY BIRTHDAY LATE GRATE ONE BLUES MAN LIVING LEGEND SON HOUSE 🎂🎂🎂🎂🎊🎊🎊🎊
@Brother_Dre19003 жыл бұрын
"Pearline" was my mother's favorite Son House song.
@fnurbz3 жыл бұрын
Beautiful story
@adequatebus82803 жыл бұрын
thank you, Edward. i’ve been listening to every Son House recording i can find since the early 80’s. thank you for assembling this excellent piece. -C
@mattkane53293 жыл бұрын
He's got that one song where the train is chugging by on the background to almost the foreground. Love it. Maybe somebody will develop the technology to bring the 30s & 40s recordings up to the fidelity of the 60s
@charlesrich47493 ай бұрын
I truly believe his story and Honey Boy Edwards story about Robert Johnson more than any other. When Son House says Johnson was gone six or eight months, then I believe that's how long he was gone, not a year, or a year and a half, or two years because he was there. In other words, we hear it from the horses mouth. There's another account somewhere online where Son House tells this same story but that version also says that Johnson walked in the joint where they were playing in Banks, Mississippi with his guitar slung over his shoulder and Son leaned over and asked Willie Brown if that's who he thought it was. He also said that Johnson had added a 7th string to his guitar and that their mouths fell open when Johnson started playing. Son House's musical style, to me, is the most haunting of all. The way he plays that resonator is unmatched. Thanks Ed for posting this. Keeping the blues alive!
@TOMPDUDE3 жыл бұрын
What a stellar video and excellent commentary. Can we tip this guy already!?
@jamesbrown553 жыл бұрын
Thank you so much for this history lesson
@jimjim5063 жыл бұрын
I really liked this video, a new style of content from you Edward but really good and in your own style which compliments and fits in nicely with other videos on your channel, great stuff.
@harrypeachey66594 ай бұрын
I was at the Son House concert at IU as well. I believe that was in 1972. As I recall, after Son played his first tune, those in attendance erupted in applause, and Son was moved to tears. It took him a bit to regain control and move on to his second number.
@Funz20223 жыл бұрын
Great job using the latest discovered photos (of Son and RJ) and using the available audio and video. It's all out there on the internet to use but it's still rare to see an independent content-maker do as good a job as you've done here. As someone who's been a House fan for 25+ yrs seeing the knowledge and expertise behind this video has been a pleasure, thank you.
@Caramou3 жыл бұрын
Thanks, some of the pictures are fantastic, Son House, Skip James and Mississippi John Hurt together, what a trio !
@Happygilmore8310 ай бұрын
What a blues legend. Had the opportunity to play his guitar. Was an amazing experience
@josephloehr96173 жыл бұрын
Recently got some Son House CDs. He SENDS me, and damn but makes me wanna get a Resonator.
@hardthunder99133 жыл бұрын
I met a man one time, back in the 1980's. In Texas. His name was Little Joe Nolan. He played a Bass Piano. Big, up right, wooden, piano. Said popular back when nickelodeons were out-lawed. Your video brought that memory back.
@davisworth51143 ай бұрын
Son was not in any way "overshadowed' by RJ in the 60s, he was dead. Son had more soul than Robert, no question. Johnson was a better picker, but there are a lot of country bluesmen that ranked RJ, never mind what Eric Clapton might say. I heard many stories about RJ from his runnin' buddy, Johnny Shines. I came to understand that RJs constant rambling and train jumping were a response to what today would be diagnosed with anxiety disorder, so many mental cases from those brutal times for our black brothers and sisters. And Son was traumatized by his stay in Parchman Farm, which remains a hell hole today.
@KBRblues3 жыл бұрын
Your channel is fantastic!
@one-handstrumman4616 Жыл бұрын
Love Son House
@cobraferrariwars3 жыл бұрын
Thanks for putting this together. Great man. Been to Friars Point, Robinsonville, Tunica, Lake Cormorant, the ground of Clack's store, Clarksdale, Stovall's, Parchman, Helena, etc. A time like that is singular. Not going to come again. Fortunate to have some connection.
@sdgc543df3 жыл бұрын
Really enjoyed this, would love a similar video on Mance Lipscombe 😎
@musicislife62503 жыл бұрын
Amazing! Son House is amazing, this Channel is amazing! Please, do more videos like this.
@j1w2t33 жыл бұрын
excellence video
@jasonjodice86352 жыл бұрын
love the joint of howlin wolf cuts on son. ...."thats plum out of it'....wise man said. respect.\ bro
@sonnyblack712 жыл бұрын
This is the man that Muddy Waters called king!!!!
@duaneholcomb84082 жыл бұрын
History is interesting. Thanks. For this. I enjoyed it,,,
@GymRat12173 жыл бұрын
more of these historical videos!! i’d love to see history on blind joe reynolds or kokomo arnold
@jameshogan187110 ай бұрын
Thanks Edward :^)
@njcranes3 жыл бұрын
I went to college just down the road from Clarksdale. Fell in love with that music!
@myfootinurass3 жыл бұрын
Great job on this one sir
@PN12963 жыл бұрын
I don't like the content on this channel. I love it. Ha if I enjoy the content on this channel, I live for the content on this channel.
@nellymoriarty_57833 жыл бұрын
Ditto
@AndyDugganYT3 жыл бұрын
Love your videos dude. Was wondering if you'd consider doing a video on Bukka White and Parchmann Farm/ Mississippi State Penitentiary. Place of great suffering but recognised as a heritage location in the story of blues
@KevinBrownmusic3 жыл бұрын
Superb docu...well researched and presented..historically correct. Son was my mentor and inspiration...met him in 69/70 via Dick Waterman his teaching influenced everything I do today xx
@nellymoriarty_57833 жыл бұрын
Great stuff Thank you so mucj
@J-Loe10 ай бұрын
Committed Son House fan. Thanks for a great tribute!
@briantownsend9892 жыл бұрын
Tanks
@9blucats9 ай бұрын
Hey thanks for this.
@lesshrubb2033 жыл бұрын
A brilliant video, Edward. Thank you for bringing the story of Son House to us.
@kevindean1327 Жыл бұрын
I think Charlie Patton is the guy before R. Johnson that needs to be listened to. Charlie Patton and Blind Willie Johnson.
@Art-What.. Жыл бұрын
Sad life..like any man says to himself I could have did more, been more, should have,could have,would have.. what a great blues player..
@TheNerdyMusician2 жыл бұрын
Can you do a video like this about Furry Lewis or Rev Gary Davis or Mississippi John Hurt?
@SteveSmith-qy4ty Жыл бұрын
Lucky to own a copy of Patton's Down the Dirt Road Blues and Johnson's Dust my Broom. Don't think I will ever own a Son House paramount but can dream. This video is great and I love your performance of Death Letter Blues Ed.
@clintondagenais45453 жыл бұрын
Awesome, thanks for sharing this. Son House personified essential blues, his voice was so powerful and moving and didnt need an instrument to back him up (ie. Grinnin in your face). He is part of my favorite 3 including Robert and Charlie.
@HarryRemer2 жыл бұрын
Thank you for the education!
@Helo_rides_for_commies3 жыл бұрын
Wonderful short documentary.
@Hoganoutdoors3 жыл бұрын
Fantastic! Thanks for introducing me to this man's music.
@TheEasyeman2 жыл бұрын
Great video. So glad we have recordings like Son’s songs to learn from
@alertofdanger3 жыл бұрын
We need more of this content the history is really amazing and shows the greatness of American music. Also I want to see some electric blues that stuff get me feeling bluesy