Topic: Spanish Flu

[wreid75]

Any good books that talk about pre-war cats being affected/effected by spanish flu

[Stuart]

I don't know of any books or articles that specifically address the subject. You'll probably have to go through individual biographies for the info. For example, Lonnie Johnson lost almost all of his family in the 1918 pandemic. Obviously, you could really drill down and cast a wider net, but that would entail a lot of grunt work and basic research.

[Bill Roggensack]

You could start by reading "A Cruel Wind: Pandemic Flu in America 1918-1920" by Dorothy A. Pettit (2008) which is now in paperback. More than half a million deaths in less than two years with a population of just over one hundred million meant that the disease touched almost everyone in some way. However, I don't recall any mention of entertainers, let alone bluesmen.



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[Mr.OMuck]

I remember a Tampa Red Song with a lyric about the Spanish Flu, I think I remember others as well.
OK just found it it wasn't the Spanish Flu it was The German Flu:

[Stuart]

There's also Flu : The Story Of The Great Influenza Pandemic by Gina Kolata (2001), but no specific mention of blues musicians, IIRC.

[Marshcat]

And then there was "Norovirus Blues", a little known classic from 1929, which was cut short at 1:39 because of an irresistible call of nature... 

I can sympathise - I'm just recovering   

[wreid75]

Thanks!  You guys kick A$$