Re: [Norton AntiSpam][Harp-L] Paul Butterfield

["James D Hoskins" <jameshoskinz@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

 I met a guy named David through a close friend in 1969 that was at that time the best harmonica player I had met. I had been trying to play since 67 when I saw Butterfield the first time. I had stumbled on to rolling my tongue to get single notes because it seemed natural.

David told me he had managed to get a couple of "tips" from Butterfield, and one was that along with blocking holes and getting a single note at either side of your mouth, you should learn to "roll your tongue" to get single notes also. That was the first time.

In 74 or 75 I played guitar several times with a guy that was a real good Butterfield style player. He claimed to have spent some time with Butterfield and Rick Danko in California and confirmed what I had been told by David about "rolling your tongue".
I have never doubted either of these guys because the first guy (David) was just a real straight up person who had been around the blues circuit and the second guy did Butterfield better than anyone I've ever heard. 
U blocking is a term I first heard on the internet about 7 years ago, so I took it to mean what I've just described, if it's something different by all means correct me. If not, I will continue to believe what I have seen and heard with my own eyes and ears while everyone else is certainly free to do the same. 

I have always just figured most guys do it, never knew it was such a big deal, and I am in no way implying I think that anyone was exclusively a "U-Blocker" or that the majority of his playing was done that way.
As for Little Walter I don't recall where I heard that the first time, but I have been told that more than once.

My response was actually to question something like: "Did Norton Buffalo bend notes when he U blocked", I certainly didn't mean to open this can of worms. 

My response should have read:

"I don't know about anyone else, but I have been bending notes with a rolled tongue for 45 years"



From: Michael Rubin 
  To: James D Hoskins 
  Cc: Tony Stephens ; harp-l 
  Sent: Wednesday, December 12, 2012 8:51 AM
  Subject: Re: [Norton AntiSpam][Harp-L] Paul Butterfield


  I had heard Butter was a pucker player.  This video at least proves to me that Butter COULD Ublock, but doesn't prove to me that the majority of his playing was U blocking.  But it is pretty convincing.
  Michael Rubin
  Michaelrubinharmonica.com




  On Wed, Dec 12, 2012 at 10:23 AM, James D Hoskins <jameshoskinz@xxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

    yes

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-73mhQn4Pkc



      Was Butterfield a u blocker?