Re: [Harp-L] harmonica in bluegrass

[Cara Cooke <cyberharp@xxxxxxxxx>]

Ok, that makes two of us who were told that Deford Bailey occasionally sat
in with the band.  I wasn't sure because the information I got included the
words "I think", so I didn't want to be flamed on bgrass-l for someone
else's faulty memory.  (I am a veteran of the flames on bgrass-l as I try
to help the string players learn to be as good to harmonica players as they
are to each other.)  I know that Deford Bailey was a favorite of both Bill
Monroe and Roy Acuff and they tried vary hard to make sure he was treated
well on their tours, even though they were touring in the Jim Crow areas.
However, officially, he was there to do his own show, so sitting in with
the band would be something someone would have to remember.  It would not
make the "record" because of the situation.

Thanks.

Cara Cooke

On Fri, Dec 14, 2012 at 3:06 PM, Trip Henderson <trip.tunes@xxxxxxxxx>wrote:

> Hey Glenn!
>
> John Herald from the Greenbriar Boys who was a longtime friend of Bill
> Monroe's and my boss for over 10 years shared many an anecdote from
> Bill's story telling while out on tour. Bill told him of the times when the
> Grand Ole Opry toured its legendary roadshows that he'd have DeFord Bailey
> up to play with the band on occasion. Of course that being the Jim Crow
> south those moments were never captured on acetate but there's plenty of
> evidence that they toured and played together. Bill even covered
> DeFord's *Evening
> Prayer Blues*, in my opinion one of the most haunting harmonica pieces ever
> recorded, its more a meditation in 1st position than a blues.
>
> Then there's George Pegram & Walter Parham who worked as a duet in the 50's
> and 60's, though not strictly bluegrass, the banjo employed rolls
> as developed and refined by Earl Scruggs, an original Bluegrass Boy.
>
> Trip Henderson
> https://soundcloud.com/trip-henderson/sets/the-chittlin-cookers
> https://soundcloud.com/trip-henderson/sets/whistling-wolves-peaches-in
>
>
>