groyster1
184 posts
Jul 04, 2010
10:43 PM
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it is confusing to me when sonny boy williamson is mentioned you have to ask which one? it further mystifies me as to why rice stold john lees identitythere was no mistaking one for the other as their style of playing was totally different rice miller had the advantage of living until the mid 60s and was able to tour europe and get the recognition he richly deserved he was a brilliant enough harp player to stand on his own merit and understand he was censored on his king biscuit radio show by john lee and rightly so
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Joe_L
426 posts
Jul 04, 2010
11:08 PM
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If you've learned enough about the history of Blues, you should have to ask the question, "which one?" You ought to know.
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Harpaholic
170 posts
Jul 05, 2010
9:09 AM
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It was all about money, and fame. Rice used John's identity/name to promote himself when he was starting out. Apparently John didn't tour much, so Rice took advantage of that.
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groyster1
185 posts
Jul 05, 2010
9:14 AM
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thanks harpaholic
his identity theft was not malicious as it is today by stealing peoples visa cards,etc but it did have the potential to affect john lees livelihood its no doubt they both left a strong legacy for the modern harp players of today despite the changes they want to make in advancing their own careers
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barbequebob
1001 posts
Jul 05, 2010
11:42 AM
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The both of them are HUGELY influential musicians, not just as harp players, but also for the songs and the way they sang them. Clearly, you can hear the influences of both of them in LW's playing, even Big Walter's playing, Cotton, you name it.
Rice Miller's stuff is easier to find these days, but the first one's still has stuff available and you can easily find them at http://www.bluebeatmusic.com and tho his own stuff is pretty cool, from a harp playing standpoint, I'd also get the stuff he did as a sideman with Big Joe Williams.
Tho he never recorded amplified, there are pictures of the JOhn Lee Williamson playing amplified harp using a Gb mic that was not on a stand, alto a number of older black harp players I've met often me mentioned seeing Rice Miller as probably the first guy they ever saw using amplified harp, but back then, when you bought an amp, that amp was also functioning as your PA as well.
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Sincerely,
Barbeque Bob Maglinte
Boston, MA
http://www.barbequebob.com
CD available at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/bbmaglinte
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