Alan Govenar
Page 40
18. Ibid., October 14, 2008. In Mojo Hand, this cafe became the basis for the Raleigh Palace Bar.
19. Ibid.
20. Ibid.
21. Ibid. In Mojo Hand, Phillips based the character of X. L. Millson on Billy Bizor.
22. Ibid.
23. J. J. Phillips, e-mail correspondence, May 27, 2009.
24. Ibid., May 23, 2009.
25. Ibid., October 13, 2008.
26. Ibid.
27. Ibid.
28. Mrs. Frook and Mrs. Johnson in Mojo Hand are based on two of the older women that Phillips met in Hattie’s shop. Hattie’s store became the artificial flower shop in the novel.
29. Phillips, May 20, 2009.
30. J. J. Phillips, letter to Albert Murray, 2002.
31. J. J. Phillips, interview by Alan Govenar, May 31, 2009.
32. Ibid., May 28, 2009.
33. Ibid., October 14, 2008.
34. Ibid
35. Ibid., October 23, 2008.
36. Ibid.
37. Ibid., June 3, 2009.
38. Ibid., October 14, 2008.
39. Ibid.
40. Ibid.
41. Ibid., October 23, 2008.
42. Ibid.
43. Ibid., May 28, 2009.
44. Harriet Doar, “Blue Notes and Voodoo,” Charlotte Observer, November 6, 1966.
45. Jane Phillips, Mojo Hand, New York: Simon & Schuster Pocket Books, 1969.
46. Albert Murray, The Omni-Americans, New York: Outerbridge & Dienstfrey, 1970, 125–126.
47. Phillips, October 23, 2008.
8. An Expanding Audience
1. Ken Sharp, “Backstage Pass: It Don’t Come Easy for Ringo Starr,” Goldmine, May 22, 2008.
2. Les Blank, interview by Alan Govenar, May 30, 2008.
3. Les Blank, Dizzy Gillespie, Flower Films, 1965.
4. Les Blank, God Respects Us When We Work, But Loves Us When We Dance, Flower Films, 1968.
5. Les Blank, interview by Alan Govenar, May 30, 2008.
6. Ibid.
7. Ibid.
8. Ibid.
9. Ibid.
10. Ibid.
11. Ibid.
12. Ibid.
13. Ibid.
14. Mike Leadbitter, Nothing But the Blues, London: Hanover Books, 1971, p. 168.
15. Roger Greenspun, “The Screen: 2 Studies of Popular Music Groups Open,” New York Times, December 21, 1970.
16. Mike Leadbitter, liner notes to Lightnin’ Hopkins: King of Dowling Street, Liberty/UA Records [UK], LP 83254.
17. Chris Strachwitz, interview by Alan Govenar, May 20, 2009.
18. Harold V. Ratliff, “Texas System to Lose Stand By, Colorful, Towering Bud Russell, Prison Transfer Agent, Retires,” Dallas Morning News, May 25, 1944.
19. Arhoolie LP 1034.
20. Carroll Peery, interview by Alan Govenar, May 22, 2009.
21. Bill Minutaglio, “Saying Goodbye,” Houston Chronicle, February 2, 1982.
22. “Legendary Blues Artist Dies of Pneumonia at 60,” Houston Chronicle, February 1, 1982.
23. Between 1965 and 1970, International Artists released twelve albums and thirty-nine singles and was primarily known for its roster of Texas psychedelic rock bands, including the 13th Floor Elevators, Red Crayola, and Bubble Puppy.
24. Mansel Rubinstein, interview by Alan Govenar, May 7, 2009.
25. John David Bartlett, interview by Alan Govenar, October 26, 2008.
26. Duke Davis, interview by Paul Drummond, e-mail, May 6, 2009. For more information, see Paul Drummond. Eye Mind: The Saga of Roky Erickson and The 13th Floor Elevators. Port Townsend, WA: Process, 2007.
27. Other Houston shows from this period (listed in the Houston Post’s “Nowsounds Calendar”) are: January 26 and 27, 1968 at Love Street Light Circus, with the Starvation Army Band; and March 23 and 24, 1968 at Love Street Light Circus, with the Shaydes.
28. Danny Thomas, interview by Paul Drummond, e-mail, May 6, 2009.
29. Bartlett, October 26, 2008.
30. Don Logan, interview by Alan Govenar, August 7, 2008.
31. Ibid.
32. Ibid.
33. Ibid.
34. John Lomax, Jr. and Alan Lomax also appeared at the event (“A Tribute to the Lomax Family” was part of the program). Muddy Waters and Skip James were featured as well. For a full text of the program and a full listing of the roster of the 1968 Festival of American Folklife, see www.archive.org/stream/1968festivalofam00fest/1968festivalofam00fest_djvu.txt.
35. Ed Pearl, interview by Alan Govenar, July 16, 2008.
36. Bromberg, October 14, 2008.
37. Ibid.
38. Tony Joe White liner notes to California Mudslide (and Earthquake), Vault LP 129.
39. Robert Earl Hardy, A Deeper Blue: The Life and Music of Townes Van Zandt, Denton, TX: University of North Texas Press, 2008, p. 62.
40. Adam Machado, liner notes to Hear Me Howling, Arhoolie CD 518 and Arhoolie CD 519.
41. Strachwitz, May 20, 2009.
42. Alan Govenar, Texas Blues: The Rise of a Contemporary Sound, College Station, TX: Texas A&M University Press, 2008.
43. Logan, August 7, 2008.
44. Ibid.
45. Ibid.
46. Dan Morgenstern, Living with Jazz, edited by Sheldon Meyer, New York: Pantheon Books, 2004, p. 511.
47. Dick Waterman, Between Night and Day, San Rafael, CA: Insight Editions, 2004.
48. Ibid.
49. David Benson, interview by Alan Govenar, November 14, 2008. See also, Sam Charters, “Po’ Lightnin’: Some Thoughts about Lightnin’ Hopkins,” booklet in Lightnin’ Hopkins: The Complete Prestige/Bluesville Recordings, Fantasy, 1991, p. 29.
50. Ed Pearl, July 16, 2008.
51. Ibid.
52. Ibid.
53. Bernie Pearl, interview by Alan Govenar, July 17, 2008.
54. Ibid.
55. Ibid.
56. Ibid., July 16, 2008.
57. Ibid.
58. Ibid., July 17, 2008.
59. Ibid.
60. The other contenders were “Blues Piano Orgy” with Little Brother Montgomery, Roosevelt Sykes, and Sunnyland Slim; “Walking the Blues” by Otis Spann; and “Live at Soledad Prison” by John Lee Hooker, with whom Lightnin’ recorded on May 16 and 17, 1972, for an album that was not released until 1993 on a CD called It’s a Sin to Be Rich (Gitanes 517 514-2). The CD was a mishmash of recordings that included not only Lightnin’ and John Lee Hooker, but Jesse Ed Davis on guitar; Luther Tucker, guitar; Mel Brown, guitar/piano/organ; Charlie Grimes, guitar; David Cohen, guitar; Clifford Coulter, piano/melodica; Michael White, violin; Joe Frank Corolla, bass; and Lonnie Castille, drums.
9. The Last Decade
1. Mack McCormick, liner notes to Robert Shaw, Texas Barrelhouse Piano, Almanac LP 10, 1966.
2. Leadbitter, liner notes to Lightnin’ Hopkins: King of Dowling Street, Liberty/UA Records [UK] 83254.
3. David Benson, interview by Alan Govenar, November 7, 2008.
4. Ibid.
5. Ibid., January 30, 2002.
6. Joe Kessler, interview by Alan Govenar, September 3, 2009.
7. Benson, January 30, 2002.
8. Ibid.
9. Ibid., November 7, 2008.
10. Ibid., January 30, 2002.
11. Kessler, September 3, 2009.
12. Sam Charters, March 13, 2008.
13. “Lightnin’ Hopkins,” Vol. 12 of Legacy of the Blues, GNP Crescendo. 1992.
14. Benson, January 30, 2002.
15. Robert Palmer, “Jazz: Master,” New York Times, May 15, 1977.
16. Over the years, Lanny Steele and his SumArts organization hosted hundreds of blues and jazz artists, from John Lee Hooker, Muddy Waters, Koko Taylor, Big Mama Thornton, and Albert King to Milt Larkin, Eddie “Cleanhead” Vinson, Alex Moore, Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown, Albert Collins, Johnny Copeland, and Texas Johnny Brown. For more information, see Jim Sherman, “Goodbye to Lanny Steele,” Houston Press, November 3, 1994 a
nd “Houston Celebrates Juneteenth with Parade of Black Progress,” in Chronicle-Telegram [Elyria, OH], June 19, 1977, p. A-10.
17. Benson, January 30, 2002.
18. Ibid.
19. The Rising Sun Collection, Vol. 9, featuring Lightnin’ Hopkins, vocal/electric guitar, Phillip Bowler, bass; and Walter Perkins, drums, Just a Memory CD 009-2, released in 1996.
20. Benson, November 7, 2008.
21. Ibid.
22. Ibid.
23. Ibid.
24. Ibid.
25. Ibid.
26. Norbert Hess, “Europe,” Living Blues 36 (January/February 1978); and Norbert Hess, interview by Alan Govenar, May 14, 2009.
27. Benson, January 30, 2002 and November 7, 2008.
28. Ibid., November 7, 2008.
29. Ibid., January 30, 2002.
30. Ibid., November 7, 2008.
31. Timothy J. O’Brien. “Lightnin’ Hopkins: Houston Bluesman, 1912–1960,” MA thesis, University of Houston, 2006, p. 88.
32. Michael Hall, “Let There be Lightnin’,” Texas Monthly, June 2007.
33. Benson, November 7, 2008.
34. Ibid., January 30, 2002.
35. Mark Pollock interview by Alan Govenar, October 14, 2008.
36. Anson Funderburgh interview by Alan Govenar, October 15, 2008.
37. Ibid.
38. Ibid.
39. Ibid.
40. Doyle Bramhall, interview by Alan Govenar, October 14, 2008.
41. Ibid.
42. Funderburgh, October 15, 2008.
43. Bramhall, October 14, 2008.
44. Funderburgh, October 15, 2008.
45. Bramhall, October 14, 2008.
46. Tim Schuller, “Lightnin’ Hopkins at the Granada Theater, Dallas, Texas” Living Blues (November/December 1977).
47. Tim Schuller, “Lightnin’ Hopkins at the Granada Theater, Dallas, Texas” Living Blues (November/December 1977).
48. Benson, November 7, 2008.
49. Ibid.
50. Ibid., January 30, 2002.
51. Ibid., November 7, 2008.
52. Ibid.
53. Ibid.
54. Ibid.
55. Michael Hall, “Let There Be Lightnin’,” Texas Monthly (June 2007).
56. Anton J. Mikofsky, interview by Alan Govenar, August 28, 2008.
57. Mikofsky, August 28, 2008.
58. Ibid.
59. Ibid.
60. Benson, November 7, 2008.
61. Ibid.
62. Kessler, September 3, 2009. For more information, see Lightnin’ Hopkins: Rare Performances, 1969–1979, Vestapol Videos 13022.
63. Steve Ditzell, interview by Alan Govenar, April 17, 2009.
64. Ibid.
65. Robert Palmer, “Lightnin’ Hopkins at 68: Still Singing Those Blues,” New York Times, October 31, 1980.
66. Steve Cushing, interview by Alan Govenar, December 14, 2008.
67. Ibid.
68. Ibid.
69. Lightnin’s last recordings were not released until 1983 on Forever—Last Recordings, Paris (French) LP 3368.
70. “Legendary Blues Artist Dies of Pneumonia at 69,” United Press International, Houston Chronicle, February 1, 1982.
71. Anna Mae Box, January 29, 2002.
72. Ibid.
73. Ibid.
74. Ibid.
75. Ibid.
76. Ibid.
77. Benson, November 7, 2008.
78. Ibid.
79. Marty Racine, “1,000 Mourners Pay Tribute to Musician Lightnin Hopkins,” Houston Chronicle, February 4, 1982.
80. Ibid.
81. Bob Claypool, “Respects Offered at ‘Last Call’ for Hopkins,” Houston Post, February 2, 1982.
82. Benson, November 7, 2008.
83. Houston Chronicle, February 1, 1982.
84. All efforts to find Lightnin’s children Charles and Celestine have been unsuccessful.
85. Benson, November 7, 2008.
86. Sam L. Hopkins, Last Will and Testament, January 27, 1982, filed with the Harris County Clerk in Houston on February 19, 1982.
87. Box, January 29, 2002.
88. Interview outtakes to The Blues According to Lightnin’ Hopkins, 1969.
89. Huey Lewis covered “Good Morning Little School” for his LP Four Chords and Seven Years Ago, released on November 1, 1994. He insisted that he was covering Lightnin’s version of the song, even though Sonny Boy Williamson had recorded it first. Van Morrison covered Lightnin’s “Better Watch Yourself” in his song “Stop Drinking,” released on October 21, 2003.
90. Benson, November 7, 2008.
91. Letter from Chris Strachwitz to Antoinette Charles, February 3, 1982.
92. Chris Strachwitz, interview by Alan Govenar, May 22, 2009.
93. Letter from Chris Strachwitz to Antoinette Charles, February 3, 1982.
94. John Corry, “Sam Hopkins Returns,” New York Times, September 16, 1980.
95. David Evans, e-mail correspondence, June 16, 2009.
96. Benson, November 7, 2008.
97. Interview outtakes from The Blues According to Lightnin’ Hopkins, 1969.
98. Wolfgang Saxon, “Sam (Lightnin’) Hopkins, 69, Blues Singer and Guitarist,” New York Times, February 1, 1982.
99. Bill Minutaglio, “Saying Goodbye,” Houston Chronicle, February 2, 1982.
100. Interview outtakes to The Blues According to Lightnin’ Hopkins, 1969.
101. Houston Chronicle, February 1, 1982.
102. Les Blank, “Lightnin’ Hopkins, 1912–1982,” Living Blues 53 (Summer–Autumn 1982), p. 15.
103. Carroll Peery, interview by Alan Govenar, May 22, 2009.
104. Interview outtakes to The Blues According to Lightnin’ Hopkins, 1969.
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