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Turpentine is all right, providing that wages are good, but I can make more money now, out somewhere choppin' cordwood - Tampa Red, Turpentine Blues

Author Topic: Slim Jim (Debs Mays)  (Read 2484 times)

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Offline Lastfirstface

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Slim Jim (Debs Mays)
« on: February 20, 2016, 08:22:03 AM »
Stumbled on these recordings and I was wondering if anybody had more info about Debs Mays. He recorded these solo sides during a 1936 session in NY with Jack Pierce and His Cowboys.




Offline Johnm

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Re: Slim Jim (Debs Mays)
« Reply #1 on: February 20, 2016, 08:40:44 AM »
Wow, what great finds, Lastfirstface, thanks so much for posting these!  I'm sorry I don't have any information on Debs Mays, but he was certainly an ace guitar player.  He reminds me a little bit of Johnny St. Cyr or Snoozer Quinn, although he has more obvious Country Blues influence via Lemon Jefferson.  He's really a nice singer, too.  What a treat to hear someone this good whom you've never heard before.  Thanks!
All best,
Johnm

Offline Lastfirstface

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Re: Slim Jim (Debs Mays)
« Reply #2 on: February 20, 2016, 08:50:12 AM »
I was surprised to see that nobody had found these and put them on one of those white country blues compilations alongside people like Clarence Green and Dick Justice, but I guess his sound is a bit more urban and refined than those guys. There really doesn't seem to be much interest in Jack Pierce or his groups either, and I don't think I've heard any of his recordings outside his work with the Tenneva Ramblers.

Offline Prof Scratchy

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Re: Slim Jim (Debs Mays)
« Reply #3 on: February 20, 2016, 09:06:22 AM »
Great find!

Offline Mike Billo

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Re: Slim Jim (Debs Mays)
« Reply #4 on: February 20, 2016, 03:40:14 PM »

 Holy Mackerel! How did we miss this guy?

Offline Pan

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Re: Slim Jim (Debs Mays)
« Reply #5 on: February 20, 2016, 06:01:16 PM »
Indeed!

Cheers

Pan

Offline Stuart

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Re: Slim Jim (Debs Mays)
« Reply #6 on: February 20, 2016, 10:17:50 PM »
I agree, great find. JT has a copy--Maybe it will show up on a future compilation--Or perhaps on a County release:

http://bluesimages.com/museum-78s/HTML-Individual-78s/Bluebird-6603-a-Slim-Jim-Soap-Box-Blues.html

Found these (He's on p. 14):

http://www.hillbilly-music.com/artists/story/index.php?id=14158

http://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-Station-Albums/WMMN-Family-Album.pdf

Did a search for "Eugene Debs Mays"  and an entry for a copyright for "Plains Are Calling Me" in Catalog of Copyright Entries: Musical compositions was found. (Attached) Probably the same person.

http://tinyurl.com/jzcqrxf

Tags: Debs Mays 
 


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