Topic: Is Bud Spires still alive?

[JohnLeePimp]

The harmonica player who accompanied Jack Owens

[Bunker Hill]

He was still performing in 1999 two years after Jack Owens's death. So that'll narrow down the search for a death notice/obit. He'd be 80, or thereabouts.

[uncle bud]

He was still around, though apparently not in good health, when this article was published in 2003:

http://www.bluefrontbluesroom.org/Bentonia.htm

[JohnLeePimp]

He was still performing in 1999 two years after Jack Owens's death. So that'll narrow down the search for a death notice/obit. He'd be 80, or thereabouts.

...yeah, well his name's Benjamin "Blind Bud" Spires, and there's no mention of his death online (My only source of "research")

But I did find out Arthur Big Boy Spires was recently grouped with McClennan and Petway in this blues trail marker ceremony thing

http://www.visitmississippi.org/uploads/docs/cities/Abbeville/Tommy%20McClennan%20Blues%20Trail%20Release%202-13-12.pdf

..I sent an email to Jim O'Neal asking about it - though it's likely that if he were alive he would've been invited to the event

also I believe that the magnificent Jimmy Holmes might have an idea about him - but I can't find his email 

[Blues Vintage]

I think he is otherwise I would've read about it in Block magazine. They always report all the deaths in the blues community.

Anyone aware of Otis Rush's condition? Bunker?

[Bill Roggensack]

He recorded a few tracks in Nov 2005 for Broke & Hungry on a release titled Back to Bentonia.

[Jonna]

Bud Spires is still alive, he is cousin to a good friend of mine here in California.

[crawlinkingsnake]

Saw Bud Spires summer of 2011 in Indianola. Didn't talk with him but did chat with Jimmy "Duck" Holmes.

Far as I know Otis Rush is still alive but not at all well.

[killerblues]

Yes Bud spires is still alive. Ivisited him this spring at his home in Bentonia, MS

[westside ryan]

Otis Rush is still alive.  He suffered a stroke and basically stopped performing.  I know 'cuz my friend Marty was his keyboard player.

[crawlinkingsnake]

Been wanting to do an article about Bud Spires. And glad to hear he's still living. But oes anyone know his birth date? I can't find it anywhere.....

[Bunker Hill]

Been wanting to do an article about Bud Spires. And glad to hear he's still living. But oes anyone know his birth date? I can't find it anywhere.....

The information can be found in David Evan's notes to the LP It Must Have Been The Devil:Mississippi Country Blues by Jack Owens & Bud Sipres (Testament T-2222, May 1971) - Benjamin "Bud" Spires, 20 May 1931, Yazoo County, MS son of Arthur "Big Boy" Spires. A lengthy feature by Evans on the pair can also be found in his Ramblin' column in Blues Revue 12, Spring 1994, pps 15-17 where there's a photo of Owen's and Spires taken in 1969.

I wouldn't mind betting that Evans probably has unpublished Spires info/photos.

[crawlinkingsnake]

Been wanting to do an article about Bud Spires. And glad to hear he's still living. But oes anyone know his birth date? I can't find it anywhere.....

The information can be found in David Evan's notes to the LP It Must Have Been The Devil:Mississippi Country Blues by Jack Owens & Bud Sipres (Testament T-2222, May 1971) - Benjamin "Bud" Spires, 20 May 1931, Yazoo County, MS son of Arthur "Big Boy" Spires. A lengthy feature by Evans on the pair can also be found in his Ramblin' column in Blues Revue 12, Spring 1994, pps 15-17 where there's a photo of Owen's and Spires taken in 1969.

I wouldn't mind betting that Evans probably has unpublished Spires info/photos.

thanks Bunker Hill! This is a good start

[crawlinkingsnake]

Second hand information, but coming from a very reliable source, on Saturday Dec 5.  He is in pretty poor health and has been in the hospital for a couple of weeks with infection.

Will try to find out more soon..........

[crawlinkingsnake]

Finally completed article on Bud Spires. Not an easy task and a little lengthy.

check pomeroyblues.org

and big thanks to all who helped with input!