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Country Blues => Weenie Campbell Main Forum => Topic started by: Peter McCracken on March 04, 2009, 09:44:41 AM
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Hello friends,
I'm sorry to report that John Cephas passed this morning. At this point, I'm just feeling blessed to have known him, worked with him, seen him every year. He has meant an lot to me, and his influence on The PT workshop would be hard to measure.
In the next little bit we'll celebrate his life and legacy, probbaly starting on the Centrum website.
More soon,
Peter
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Hearing him play Illinois Blues at the end of my very first class with him.
Hearing him for the 50th time saying there are only three things to remember about guitar playing, "Practice, practice, practice."
Hearing him at the Public House going to another level with Phil in live performance.
So many good memories I have of him, especially that little laugh of his that was always near the surface.
Thank you John, and thanks Peter for setting up the situation so that John could be such a big part of PT.
Just before I read Peter's message I was watching Lightnin' Wells' video of One Kind Favor, very fitting.
My best to John's family and to Phil.
Lindy
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That is a damn shame.
I remember him sitting in the livingroom of the Weeniehouse my first PT, playing with Warner Williams and Eddie Pennington. That was a magical moment. He was my must-take instructer my first year.
A genuine nice fellow. And a great blues singer.
Alex
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Seeing John and Phil play in Carlsbad last year was great. then taking daily skip James lessons with him at PT last summer..... a real highlight in my life.
Not just a great player but a very fine teacher and gentleman as well. I have him on tape telling us "...And singing falsetto like Skip is real easy...easier than you think... you just open up and do it." We'll see, feel like it's time to finally going to go to give it a try.
All my best to John's family and friends.
Gary
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From Alligator Records
PIEDMONT BLUES GUITARIST AND VOCALIST JOHN CEPHAS, 1930 - 2009
?Wonderfully rich vocals and jaunty acoustic guitar. Plenty of spirit and soul, humor and sorrow.? The Washington Post
"Blues music is truth.? John Cephas
Master blues guitarist and vocalist John Cephas died of natural causes on Wednesday, March 4, 2009. He was 78. Well known as one half of the award-winning Piedmont blues duo Cephas & Wiggins, John?s remarkable and delicate finger picking and rich, baritone vocals placed him firmly at the forefront of acoustic blues artists. John received a National Heritage Fellowship Award (often called the ?Living Treasure Award?) in 1989. This is the highest honor the U.S. Government offers a traditional artist. Two weeks ago, John was honored as one of eight black trailblazers as designated by the Library of Virginia's African American History Month.
John Cephas, along with his harmonica playing partner Phil Wiggins, performed thousands of concerts and festivals all over the world. Often under the auspices of the U.S. State Department, the two spent much of the 1980s abroad, playing Europe, Africa, Central and South America, China, Australia and New Zealand. In 1988, they were among the first Americans to perform at the Russian Folk Festival in Moscow. In 1997 Cephas & Wiggins performed for President Bill Clinton. In addition, John appeared on stage portraying a blind bluesman in the Kennedy Center production of Blind Man Blues. He also appeared in a production of Zora Neal Hurston?s play, Polk County, in Washington, D.C.
Among his many endeavors, John served on the Executive Committee of the National Council for the Traditional Arts, and has testified before Congressional committees. He is also a founder of the Washington, D.C. Blues Society. ?More than anything else,? said John, ?I would like to see a revival of country blues by more young people?more people going to concerts, learning to play the music. That?s why I stay in the field of traditional music. I don?t want it to die.?
John Cephas was born in Washington, D.C. in 1930 into a deeply religious family and raised in Bowling Green, Virginia. His first taste of music was gospel, but blues soon became his calling. After learning to play the alternating thumb and fingerpicking guitar style that defines Piedmont blues, John began emulating the records he heard by Blind Boy Fuller, Blind Blake, Rev. Gary Davis and other early blues artists. Aside from playing blues, John worked early on as a professional gospel singer, carpenter and Atlantic fisherman. By the 1960s, he was starting to make a living from his music.
John first met his future partner Phil Wiggins in 1976 at the Smithsonian National Folklife Festival in Washington, D.C. and the two quickly formed a duo. By the early 1980s, the international blues community recognized this marvelous acoustic twosome as the leading exponents of traditional Tidewater blues. While overseas in 1981, they recorded two albums, Living Country Blues and Sweet Bitter Blues, for the German L&R label. Cephas & Wiggins recorded their first domestic album, Dog Days Of August (Flying Fish Records), in 1987 in John?s living room, and it quickly won a Blues Music Award for Best Traditional Blues Album of the Year.
In 1996, Cephas & Wiggins made their Alligator Records debut with Cool Down. They followed up with Homemade, Somebody Told The Truth and Shoulder To Shoulder. Their most recent CD, 2009?s Richmond Blues, was released on the Smithsonian Folkways label.
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One of the nicest human beings I have ever met.
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A truly kind and generous man. I have an indelible moment of John playing one of Ron Phillip's "trashcan" resonators... my first year at PT. It was late (I'm sure he'd had a few to drink), sitting right in front of him watching and listening to him play - he had an unbelievable groove going that sent chills down my spine.
Keep "mashing two strings with one finger" John, we're going to miss you.
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Wow, I'm shocked. John was slowing down a little, but he looked like he was in pretty good shape last summer. I suppose I knew he was 78 but he sure as hell didn't look it.
Since John Jackson's passing, I guess you could say John Cephas had been the elder statesman of the Port Townsend workshop. He's going to be sorely missed. I always liked hearing him play I Saw the Light - he'd get a full head of steam going and just churn through it, looking happy as all get out.
My condolences to his family and friends, Centrum buddies, and of course to Phil.
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I'm sorry to hear of John's passing. He was a flame-keeper for Piedmont blues, which he particularly loved. He had a distinctive lope to his playing and an especially beautiful singing voice. I remember hearing him sing the Louvin Brothers song, "When I Stop Dreaming", many years ago and feeling as though he would be a great candidate for recording a Country album like Ray Charles did in the late '50s. He is one of the very last of his generation who was still active musically so his death seems somewhat valedictory for a whole way of playing and being in the world. My thoughts and best wishes go out to Lynn and his children and Phil, and his many friends around the world. For those of you who may not have seen it, John and Phil put out a new CD on Smithsonian/Folkways last fall, "Richmond Blues", with many of the real standards on it: "Black Rat Swing", "Crow Jane", "Key to the Highway", "Going down the Road feeling Bad", "Careless Love", and others. It's a great way to remember John and the music he and Phil made together.
So long, John
Johnm
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I have just received word that the great John Cephas has died in Virginia. He was a true gentleman, a fine guitarist, and a gorgeous singer. Being the first person to record Cephas (at the behest of pianist Big Chief Ellis) was a treat - it's trite to say "the last of the...", but there is a modicum of truth in that. He will be missed by us all, more than we'll realize for some time to come. We never did get that album out, but others filled the need.
Peter B.
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This is sad and terrible news.
Rest In Peace Mr Cephas.
The weenies will never forget the happy times we were privileged to spend with you at Port Townsend.
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I'll never forget my first year at Port Townsend, 1997, where I first met many of you. That week blew my head off. I have indelible memories of Jerry Ricks and John Cephas playing music and generally partying after hours in Officers' Row. John was hilarious and deeply serious at the same time and I never could predict what he would say or do, Ricks likewise, and now they're both gone. Life is so bitter-sweet sometimes.
My deepest condolences to family and friends.
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What a terrible shock. He was such a gentle soul.
I remember one time backstage at the big auditorium during the Saturday night concert, Lousianna Red and John and few others were sitting around (I got to be there because I lent Red my National). Red had just gotten off stage and had come backstage. Of course Red had gone on about sending help and money to Iraq and Africa for the children. John kind of baited Red by asking him about that. Of course Red said how important it was. Then John said, Forget Iraq I got kids in my neighborhood that need the damn money!" Then he started off on a monologue with impecable comedic timing all about the kids in his neighborhood and around his town and in this country and "forget Irag, etc. I laughed so hard I almost peed my pants. The more flustered Red would get the more John would riff. I will always remember that scene.
I will sorely miss John. Great musician, great teacher, wonderful human being. My heart goes out to his family and Phil and his family as well.
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Technical question. Is there a reason why this thread isn't in the main forum? I'd think John was so deserving.
Peter B.
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Peter, I hear what you say. I think it's because John meant a lot to those of us who would see him over the years at the Centrum workshop. I guess we're pretty Centrum-centric in that respect, try as hard as we might to be independent. For many of us the Port Townsend board represents where it all kind of started, or at least got serious, so it's not discounting John to have his topic reside here, on the contrary.
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Picture of John I took at the Doheny Blues Festival. He will be missed.
Gary
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That is a beautiful photo.
Temple
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Farewell John.
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I suppose I'll never stop kicking myself for not studying with John when I had the chance last year (my first PT...).
R.I.P.
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I understand that it was congestive heart failure brought on by his long term adult-onset diabetes. Another man done gone.
Peter B.
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Very sad news to hear.I enjoyed his singing and picking very much.rest in peace John.
take care Lyndvs
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Thanks for those photos, Gary. Great shots of John.
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I just got the news late last night. He will be missed.
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John Cephas' passing made the top of the hour NPR news this morning, complete with audio clip.
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Just saw the news and am very sad to hear this news. I will miss him dearly, such a gentleman in the truest sense. Every year at P.T. I made a point to go to at least one of his classes, just to see his smiling face and listen to his stories... I am glad to have known him.
Brian
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Terribly sad! I just cried out loud in the little public library in my old home town when I read Peter's first post.
Playin' with all the greats now, John!
Wax
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I STILL think that this should be in the main forum... I only found this thread when my first posting went missing and, after much digging, FINALLY found it here! Let's not be selfish!!
Peter B.
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Well, um, I agree actually. Apart from the slight motion sickness I experience as posts are moved around while I'm posting... :P Cephas is laughing at us, somewhere.
Gary, those are truly great photos, especially the hat salute.
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Thank you - all is forgiven! Vale Cephas.
Peter B.
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Nice article and video clip from The Richmond Times Dispatch:
http://www.timesdispatch.com/rtd/lifestyles/announcements/obituaries/article/JCOB05_20090304-222011/222068/
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must have been the first year he started playing taylors, i was at a namm show in the taylor booth and he was sitting in a chair playing. dont think many folks knew who he was. i sat down and we talked and picked for a long while. he was a good guy and fun to pick with.
roscoe
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Washington Post obituary for John:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/03/05/AR2009030503418.html
And some additional archival material, including an article from when he received the National Heritage Fellowship.
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/postrock/2009/03/rip_piedmont_bluesman_john_cep.html
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Now that's more like it... thanks.
Peter B.
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Sorry that I never got to meet him. Really good player & singer. A real loss.
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The quote generator does it again. When I was getting ready to write this message it was showing the quote, "I ain't killed nobody, my picture ain't in the post office - John Jackson, in a workshop with Orville and John Cephas, 1998." I submitted that quote a few years back, and I regularly visit that memory of the three of them up in The Juke, introducing themselves and talking about their music, playing a few tunes to give examples of what they were talking about. After John Jackson made that comment, I remember looking at John Cephas, who was just chuckling away with that little "heh-heh-heh-heh" laugh of his.
I think it says something when I equate those two Johns as far as their demeanor and way of living are concerned, two black men growing up and surviving in the Jim Crow south and coming out of that experience with enormous grace and dignity. Both patient teachers, willing to answer the same questions again and again to help newcomers who were just feeling their way around the music. There was one year when I spent most of my workshop time with John Cephas, after that I made it a point to take one class from him every summer, didn't matter if it was a Skip James song that I had heard him teach three times before, I just wanted to be in the room when he talked about mashing two strings with one finger or told stories about the environment where Skip got his lyrics. There's going to be a big empty space at the workshop this summer. As old and tired as it might sound, it's true that I got as much out of just being around John Cephas (and John Jackson) as I did learning songs from them. I'm really grateful.
Lindy
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If You look up the word "gentleman" in my personal dictionary, you'll find pictures of John Cephas, Tarheel Slim, and John Jackson. As lindy says, amazing how one can be that under such circumstances. But they did. I miss them all... friends are hard to come by. I have asked Jeff Harris to put up a couple of Cephas' pieces from his first ever (and solo) session done for me at Big Chief Ellis' apartment in DC back in the day. He's better at this than I!
Peter B.
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As requested by Peter here are the unreleased John Cephas numbers:
When I Grow Too Old To Dream (http://www.baddogblues.org/clips/Cephas-Dream.mp3)
Naylor Rag (http://www.baddogblues.org/clips/Cephas-Naylor.mp3)
-Jeff H.
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Copied over from Facebook:
Today at 11:13am
Hi, it's Judy here
I'm writing on Phil's behalf to help him stay in touch with folks during this difficult time.
Phil is doing ok and deeply appreciates the outpouring of love and kindness coming his way. Thanks so much. The loss is hard for so many of us - but the music will live on and bring the healing we need.
There will be a memorial service/life celebration for John later this month in the DC area; now waiting to hear about venues available to set a date. Phil willl get the word out very soon. Take care till then.
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As requested by Peter here are the unreleased John Cephas numbers:
When I Grow Too Old To Dream (http://www.baddogblues.org/clips/Cephas-Dream.mp3)
Naylor Rag (http://www.baddogblues.org/clips/Cephas-Naylor.mp3)
-Jeff H.
Thanks for posting those Jeff and Peter. That first one'll choke you up, won't it.
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NY Times obituary for John:
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/08/arts/music/08cephas.html?_r=2&ref=obituaries
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With tears in my eyes I realize what a loss of my friend this is. There is no replacment. There will only be one John Cephas..............
lwood
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http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/08/arts/music/08cephas.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=cephas&st=cse (http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/08/arts/music/08cephas.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=cephas&st=cse)
Obit in today's NY Times. Pretty much the same one it seems to me but now its in "The Paper of Record".
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This is a terrible loss. I am sorry i'd never been to PT and met him and learned from him. Great music for sure, RIP!
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A great loss of a really fine person and good friend I'm proud to say. I saw John last at NAMM '08 and he was holding court, as you would expect. He drew an enormous crowd that hung on his every note. What a contrast his playing was to the drone of electrified NAMM.
There is a video on YouTube that's well worth checking out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q4Hm12YtH3Y This is posted by the Library of Virginia and I presume it's his last interview, fifty minutes of John at his most eloquent. The man was a class act in every respect ....
-R
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My first contact with John was a non-musical moment. We played ping pong before lunch one day at the Puget Sound Guitar Workshop. His game was like his guitar playing and the way he carried himself...smooth and stylish. He will be missed.
Ted Howard
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http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/12/opinion/12thu4.html?_r=2&emc=eta1
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http://americanroutes.publicradio.org/archives/show/336/duos-with-cephas-wiggins-he
Interview with Cephas and Wiggins, followed by an interview with Corey Harris and
Henry Butler.
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http://americanroutes.publicradio.org/archives/show/336/duos-with-cephas-wiggins-he
Interview with Cephas and Wiggins, followed by an interview with Corey Harris and
Henry Butler.
Anyone else having trouble getting this to play? Looks like some great stuff, but I cain't get nuttin' goin'...
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I had the same experience when clicking the red Listen To Hour 1 next to the photos but scrolling down to the left hand Hour One column and clicking the orange Listen button it played fine.
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thanks BH!
that did the trick.
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Feb. 9 2008 i saw Cephas and Wiggins.
Amazing gig to say the least.
It was right down the street from my house at the museum of making music in carlsbad, ca.
I arrived there early so i could hopefully chat with them before the show, when i arrived the show was about to start, it was in a tiny room almost like a buisness meeting office.
no more than 50 people there, the sound was great, good volume and super up close personnel show.
played my favorite skip james tune hard time killin floor blues.
i met both of them after the show and cephas was so kind, he asked if played guitar i said yes and that i collect old 78 records
I think he was proud to see a young man like myself carrying on the tradition
he will be remembered and may his soul rest in peace.
~D