I noted the interest in Bud Spires in another post. At Port Townsend in 1996 (the only time I was able to attend) Peter asked me if I would stay with Bud and Jack in their cabin while Patty was away. Which I was pleased to do, and got on well with Bud and Jack for the next four days.
We have an amazing amount of music. But how much do we know of the history, the culture and the personalities that created the music? Something, but not nearly enough. I have met and spoken with some of the legends, but these were brief encounters. So, after breaking the ice, I did everything I could to get Bud and Jack to talk. Which, really, wasn't all that difficult. I was raised in Georgia, and there was a lot of congruence between them and me, with regard to the folklore, legends
and the language I grew up with. Joint snakes? Coach whip snakes? Indian tobacco, ghosts and legends? Rusty pistols? I grew up with that stuff. Once, as a child, a Yankee asked me to translate what a black man was telling him. Talk about dumb! To me, the man was speaking plain English, with just a slightly different accent.
So we quickly fell into relaxed communication, and it wasn't long before I got the bright idea of recording them (with permission). Stories, jokes, shootings, music, moon shining, parties, feuds and ruffians. Magnificent tales and history, told from a Delta perspective. These men could talk, and they were eloquent. I have about 6 hours on tape. Bud was a very funny man, and Jack was thoughtful and full of insights about the time in which he lived. Jack had memories of times extending back into the early 20's, and the history of the early Mississippi Delta came vividly alive.
What am I to do with these tapes? Well, I want to share them. When I have them dubbed to a CD format, I will send them to Port Townsend for the archives. But I would also like to "market" them. If people will buy them I would like for any profits to go toward the relief of retired musicians like Bud. I have talked of them and played the tapes for several people in "the business", but failed to excite much interest. But I think there are people on this forum who understand the value of these recordings, (they are also vastly entertaining) and I think there would be a limited market for them. Especially (sad to say) in Europe. I invite suggestions.
I most likely won't respond if there are individuals who want copies of this material. My efforts will be focused on making it widely available.
