Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Adam Sheets on November 10, 2010 at 8:02am

Definitely. I consider him a close third after Son House and Blind Lemon Jefferson of all of the blues singers of that era. "Some These Days I'll Be Gone" and "Oh Death" in particular are great ones.

Permalink Reply by Joe Rollin Porter on November 10, 2010 at 8:25am

"Some These Days" is one of my favorites too. Also "Down the Dirt Road", "Spoonful" & "Mississippi Boll Weavil". I think his voice would have to rank up there as one of the most distinctive, as well as one of the most unintelligible.

Permalink Reply by Joe Gorfinkle on November 10, 2010 at 10:20am

yes. One of the best. Without him, Booker White and Howling Wolf (among others) would sound really different...

Permalink Reply by Joe Rollin Porter on November 10, 2010 at 10:38am

Quite true. Do you (or anyone else out there) know of anyone out there that plays his songs more or less the way he did? I've got a few in my repetoire, but in the spirit of the folk process, I don't really play them anything like Charlie. I don't like trying to mimic other players, in part because I'm really not very good at it, but I'd be interested in seeing and hearing how others recreate his style.

Permalink Reply by Adam Sheets on November 10, 2010 at 10:44am

I found this tribute collection on Amazon and, judging by my knowledge of the artists included, I don't think any of them will sound much like the originals. The reviews for it seem to be mixed, as well, but it could be an interesting collection.

Permalink Reply by michael allen on November 12, 2010 at 11:25am

I have a pic. of charlie in a frame w/ either his wife or mother holding it. Anyone know about this?

Permalink Reply by Michael Rose on November 30, 2010 at 12:32pm

I thought I read somewhere that there was only one photo of him. I might be confused with Blind Lemon Jefferson.

Permalink Reply by Michael Rose on November 30, 2010 at 12:36pm

Charlie Patton has one of the best guttural growl singing styles I've heard. Very cool stuff. Though my favorite singers have to be Son House, Reverend Gary Davis, Skip James- haunting falsetto, and Big Bill Broonzy.