Topic: Heard but Not Seen

[SpikeDriver]

It may be hard for some newer/younger fans to believe, but at one point in the not so distant past, blues listeners had no idea what Robert Johnson looked like. The two now famous photos were first published in the 1980s. If you're a country/pre-war blues fan you've seen many familiar photos (Blake, Lemon, etc.) over and over again. Over the years, new discoveries have shown up (the Luke Jordan photo in 78 Quarterly, the pre-war photo of Skip James with the 20's auto, the 1950 shot of Washington Phillips on his farm, and of course Tefteller's find of the full Patton photo with guitar).

My question is, who would make up a top list of blues artists who we've heard...but have never seen?

[Rivers]

Weenie Campbell of course. He was scheduled for several shoots over the years but never turned up.

[Mike Brosnan]

anyone ever seen rabbit brown or julius daniels?

[dj]

Willie Brown, and a young Son House.  And I'd like to see good pictures of Texas Alexander, Ed Bell, and Sam Collins.

[Johnm]

Hi all,
I'd like very much to see photos of Joe Holmes (King Solomon Hill), Smith Casey, Marshall Owens, Edward Thompson, Geeshie Wiley, Elvie Thomas, Poochie Chatmon (youngest brother of Sam and Bo) and a many more.  Great topic idea, Spike Driver.
All best,
Johnm

[dj]

A few minor figures I'd like to see pictures of:  Lane Hardin and Henry Spaulding from the St. Louis scene, and Eddie Mapp, the Atlanta harmonica player who was murdered after making only a few recordings.

[Bricktown Bob]

Willie Brown, and a young Son House.

Both Willie Browns. Or is it all three Willie Browns?

[GhostRider]

Spike:

That's an interesting topic, made me think. Here's my top 5 (in order):

1. Funny Papa Smith (album photo isn't him)
2. Willie Brown (any of them ) (to help resolve ID problems)
3. A young ('20's-'30's) Little Hat Jones
4. Marshall Owens (Such a voice)
5. Gene Campbell (most prolific Texas pre-war Bluesman outside BLJ)

I feel a "list" comin' on.

Alex

[banjochris]

There is a splendid recently discovered photo of Buddy Boy Hawkins in the liner notes to one of the Yazoo Times Ain't Like They Used to Be CD's -- I'm pretty sure volumes 5 and 6, which I'll double check when I get home.

Amusingly (at least amusingly for a former copy editor), the notes say "how pleasant it is to finally see his continence." Glad to know he had no problems in that area.
Chris

[dj]

Kid Prince Moore and Willie Walker.  And a personal favorite of mine, the Cincinnati pianist Jesse James. 

Actually, there are dozens of fairly minor figures that intrigue me partly because they came and went so quickly:  One song wonders like Freezone and Kid Brown, people who recorded a bit more, like "Blue Coat" Tom Nelson and Tommy Settlers (with his kazoo, please!).  I'd love to know what these people looked like.

And if it's not asking too much, every string band that ever recorded.

[LoneWolf]

Garfield Akers, Henry Thomas, Kid Prince Moore, Geeshie Wiley... I'd love to know what they looked like.


Had anybody seen the photo of Tommie Bradley and James Cole? I've seen it somewhere on the internet and LOST IT. Can't find it anymore.

[MTJ3]

Had anybody seen the photo of Tommie Bradley and James Cole? I've seen it somewhere on the internet and LOST IT. Can't find it anymore.

1.  If you find a picture of Bradley or Cole, I'll buy you a fish sandwich and a beer. 
2.  Forget the picture.  I would just like to know something about Gene Campbell, about whom "enigmatic" is not sufficiently descriptive.
3.  Just to further my flip-flopping between the analytic and the not:
From a historical/academic standpoint, would a picture make any difference in terms of our enjoyment?  I think not.  But I still want them too.

[downthedirtroad]

Buddy Boy Hawkins in a  high defenition photo?  Does anyone have this?  I am willing to contribute scans of the photos of jaybird coleman and bo weavil jackson that are in the "times aint like..." vol. 7 liner notes to this tread.

Any takers?  I'd really like to see a scan of that one, as all the previous examples of buddy boy that i've seen are pretty lo-fi.

[dj]

Pine Top Smith

Beans Hambone with his cigar box guitar

A young Pink Anderson with Simmie Dooley

[mississippijohnhurt1928]

Spike:
1. Funny Papa Smith (album photo isn't him)

  Really?? When was that discovered?

Here's My List
1. Hambone Willie Newbern
2. A Young Robert Lockwood (Anywhere from 1930s-1940s)
3. Papa Harvey Hull
4. Cryin' Sam Collins
5. Willie Walker