Overview

The Voice of the Blues brings together lengthy interviews with many pioneering blues performers including Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, Little Walter, Jimmy Reed, B.B. King, and many other key figures in the blues movement. These interviews cover not only their lives and times; they give in-depth discussions and analysis of their musical achievements as well. Each interview captures the 'voice' of the blues performer, reflecting life experiences, musical influences, and achievements. These unique, comprehensive interviews first appeared in the pages of Living Blues magazine, but have never been previously collected in book form. Illustrations include rare archival photographs and documents. A must for fans of the blues - both traditional and electric.

Full Product Details

9780415936538

Table of Contents

Reviews

Carefully edited and conscientiously presented...these interviews read like elegant memoirs. -- Peter Guralnick, author of Last Train to Memphis

'I sing blues for some money and I sing them because I love 'em. They tried to put me over in another bag but I just don't fit no other bag. Exactly I fits one shoe, and that is the blues.' - Muddy Waters 'I never did name one of my records 'the blues'... Everybody else called my sounds what I made 'the blues'. But I always just felt good behind 'em; I didn't feel like I was playin' no blues. I felt it sound just as good to the spiritual people as it would to somebody in a bar' - Jimmy Reed

"""Carefully edited and conscientiously presented...these interviews read like elegant memoirs."" -- Peter Guralnick, author of Last Train to Memphis"

Author Information

Jim O'Neal and Amy Van Singel were co-founders publishers, and editors of Living Blues magazine from 1970-87. In this capacity, they interviewed many of the most famous blues musicians on the Chicago and international scene. The magazine helped launch and sustain the blues revival, focusing on living bluesmen, as opposed to more scholarly journals that focused on blues history. O'Neill and Van Singel live in Kansas City, Missouri.

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