Learning from Eugene Powell - Greenville, MS
This is a picture I took during one of my visits.
Here's a shot of a younger Eugene performing with Sam Chatmon.
I first heard of Eugene Powell through a recording that he made as 'Sonny Boy Nelson' for the Bluebird label in 1936. At that time Eugene was 28 years old and caught up in the blues recording craze of the '30s.
"I was very sick that day and my friend kept giving me these lemons to suck on so's I could sing my songs." In that session he recorded several songs with his wife, blues singer Mississippi Mathilda and harmonica player Robert Hill.
Although I didn't have Eugene's exact address I knew that he lived somewhere around 7th street in Greenville, MS. After driving around the neighborhood for a while I came across the local mailman who pointed me in the right direction.
I spent the entire afternoon with Eugene listening to his stories and
trying to learn as much as I could about his music. The temperature that
day had to be in the upper 90's. Just outside Eugene's window were some
children playing, causing quite a racket. In order to hear him, I had
to close the window which made the temperature inside his home rise
dramatically. If you look closely at the photo, you'll see me sweating
bullets while Eugene was as cool as could be.
After this session Eugene was kind enough to compliment me on my playing, and how I was 'learning them blues real good' as he put it. Then he asked me a favor. He asked me if I would carry on the blues for him when he left this world. I was honored.
I've since visited with him a number of times and have taken away more than I could have ever given back to that man.
After this session Eugene was kind enough to compliment me on my playing, and how I was 'learning them blues real good' as he put it. Then he asked me a favor. He asked me if I would carry on the blues for him when he left this world. I was honored.
I've since visited with him a number of times and have taken away more than I could have ever given back to that man.
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Click HERE to hear some of the recordings I made of him and myself during one of my visits.
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__Did you ever look down the barrel of a pistol before? I hope you never have to. I did and believe me it wasn't fun.
After another visit to Eugene's home I realized that I had left my glasses in his living room. I turned the car around and headed back. This was what happened when I knocked on Eugene's front door, not 10 minutes after I left his home:
Eugene: Who is it?
Toby: It's me Eugene, I left my glasses in your living room.
Eugene: Me who?
Toby: Toby
Eugene: Who?
Toby: Toby Walker. I was just here.
At that point I heard the sound of numerous locks being opened from the inside of the door. When the last lock was undone the door opened a crack and out popped the nose of Eugene Powell's pistol, staring me right in the face.
Eugene: Let me get a good look at you.
Toby: Whoa, Eugene, it's me Toby, ( I said ducking out of harms way ).
Eugene: Oh, hi Toby. What you want?
Toby: For starters how 'bout putting that pistol away.
After another visit to Eugene's home I realized that I had left my glasses in his living room. I turned the car around and headed back. This was what happened when I knocked on Eugene's front door, not 10 minutes after I left his home:
Eugene: Who is it?
Toby: It's me Eugene, I left my glasses in your living room.
Eugene: Me who?
Toby: Toby
Eugene: Who?
Toby: Toby Walker. I was just here.
At that point I heard the sound of numerous locks being opened from the inside of the door. When the last lock was undone the door opened a crack and out popped the nose of Eugene Powell's pistol, staring me right in the face.
Eugene: Let me get a good look at you.
Toby: Whoa, Eugene, it's me Toby, ( I said ducking out of harms way ).
Eugene: Oh, hi Toby. What you want?
Toby: For starters how 'bout putting that pistol away.