Header Graphic
Dirty-South Blues Harp forum: wail on! > blind owl
blind owl
Login  |  Register
Page: 1

1847
3162 posts
Feb 02, 2016
5:27 PM

----------
if you appreciate what you have...
it becomes more.
mlefree
548 posts
Feb 03, 2016
3:52 AM
Alan Wilson fans should be aware of the biography, "Blind Owl Blues," by Rebecca Davis. Though un-credited, I am certain that it was the source of much if not all this young lady's information. She essentially recites a condensed version of Rebecca's book.

Blind Owl Blues

I know Rebecca and can attest to what a rabid Alan Wilson fan she is. This book was a labor of love many years in the making. In it Rebecca accumulates loads of unique information such as interviews with Alan's friends and relatives, visits to Bob Hite's home where Alan died, exclusive photographs and anecdotes and more. Rebecca is a bit of a tragic figure herself. Abused and stalked by her husband, she was forced to flee the Western Colorado home we shared and go underground. I haven't seen or talked to her in years.

The book is self-published and edited and it shows. It isn't a well-funded project by a professional journalist. It's an account of a super-dedicated fan who followed the trails as deeply as she could and reported it as best she could. Some of the reviews on Amazon are pretty brutal but they don't see "Blind Owl Blues" for what it is -- basically the longest, most detailed account of the life and death of Blind Owl Wilson extant, albeit one that is not with out flaw that reads like an unedited draft of a PhD thesis.

Though not perfect (and there isn't one of those anyway), I highly recommend the book to every Alan Wilson fan. It is captivating read that reveals a treasure trove of information I could not find elsewhere.

Another interesting Owl resource that doesn't get much mention is a downloadable 40-some minute harmonica lesson.

Alan Wilson Harmonica lesson

It was recorded on a portable tape recorder in the mid-60s by an unknown student. In addition to the lesson content, I find it interesting for the light it sheds on Wilson's background and personality, like his deep Massachusetts accent. Other than some rare in-cut comments on CH records, it's the only recording of Alan's spoken word that I'm aware of.

Canned Heat was my first exposure to blues music so admit to having a special fondness for the band and its central figure. Coincidentally I was just listening to my CH library just a couple days ago. Their work stands the test of time IMO.

Alan Christie Wilson was an uber-talented but tragic figure who deserves far more attention among harmonica players than he gets any more.

Michelle

----------
SilverWing Leather - Custom leather creations for musicians and other eccentrics.

Last Edited by mlefree on Feb 03, 2016 3:59 AM
Martin
961 posts
Feb 03, 2016
6:38 AM
Michelle is right about the Wilson biography. It´s not a masterpiece of style and editing but informative and well worth reading.
If anything, since this is a harmonica and not a lit-crit forum, I´d wished for a little bit more of "harder" harmonica and musical stuff. That is my bias: the "life" aspect was well covered, a bit thinner on the "work".
Still, a good book about this interesting and talented character, and I fully realise that there are plenty of people out there who don´t give a hoot about technical details.


Post a Message



(8192 Characters Left)


Modern Blues Harmonica supports

§The Jazz Foundation of America

and

§The Innocence Project

 

 

 

ADAM GUSSOW is an official endorser for HOHNER HARMONICAS