kudzurunner
1858 posts
Sep 16, 2010
10:54 PM
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Mr. Tater, a well known character, street musician, blues guy, died a couple of days ago after a brief illness. He was a Clarksdale, Mississippi personage. He hung around Cathead and Ground Zero. He wasn't much of a guitarist and I suspect his IQ was low. (My uncle is high functioning, IQ of about 85, and Mr. Tater was probably in that category.) Very sweet guy, though, and a thoroughly musical personality. He could get onstage at Ground Zero, grab the mic, and rock the crowd. A real showman. I shared the stage with him several times and was always glad to do so.
Here's a link to the story:
http://blues.about.com/b/2010/09/13/mr-tater-the-music-maker-r-i-p.htm
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bluemoose
303 posts
Sep 16, 2010
11:11 PM
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Looked up some youtube clips. A special guy. Real blues.
Thanks for that Adam.
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Joe_L
636 posts
Sep 16, 2010
11:38 PM
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I met him briefly when he was out here with Sam Carr, Super Chikan and Bilbo Walker ten years ago. He seemed like a really nice guy.
Last Edited by on Sep 16, 2010 11:46 PM
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Helix
49 posts
Sep 17, 2010
4:19 AM
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Joe L is modest but he takes some fine photos...maybe he will link us to the rest?
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The7thDave
160 posts
Sep 17, 2010
8:57 AM
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The first sound I heard when I arrived in Clarksdale on the day before HCH was Mr. Tater's guitar. I spent most of that day in Clarksdale, and he was there the whole time--sitting in front of Cat Head, playing the same riff.
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--Dave
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* BTMFH *
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snakes
568 posts
Sep 17, 2010
9:33 AM
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I got to see him the Monday before HCH in front of Cathead. He had this sweet soprano voice going on in the couple of songs I heard. It was my second day in Clarkesdale and I was smitten with the quietness and lack of activity in the town. I am just not used to Sunday being a day where businesses are closed or having certain businesses open only portions of the day during the week (such as 11 am to 2 pm) and then closing until evening. After watching him play and then going into Cathead and being the only customer it really gave me a flavor of one of the differences of the south. Here was Sean Apple and Lala in Cathead playing music due to no customers with Mr. Tater out front playing to no one after I left him there. Here in the Seattle area all we have is long lines and traffic it seems. It almost seemed placid with this gentle unkempt man singing his songs in front of a business. Where I live he would have at least have had to buy a permit... He must of played most of the time to himself. Something to be said for that.
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Joe_L
638 posts
Sep 17, 2010
8:16 PM
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Helix - since, you asked. Here you go. This is a project that I've been working on for the past ten years. There are a bunch of Blues harp players there. It isn't limited to Blues harp players, but it's all Blues.
The Blues Gallery
Last Edited by on Sep 17, 2010 8:26 PM
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