His family considered it normal to play music, with his father playing guitar and harmonica, his mother playing piano, and a relative who was a one-man band. At the age of three, Musselwhite moved to Memphis, Tennessee. When he was a teenager, Memphis experienced the period when rockabilly, western swing, electric blues, and some forms of African American music were combining to give birth to rock and roll. The period featured legendary figures such as Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Johnny Cash, as well as minor legends such as Gus Cannon, Furry Lewis, Will Shade, Royal Bell, Memphis Willie B., Johnny Burnette, Red Roby, Abe McNeal, and Slim Rhodes. Musselwhite supported himself by digging ditches, laying concrete and running moonshine in a 1950 Lincoln. This environment was Musselwhite's school for music as well as life, and he acquired the nickname "Memphis Charlie."[citation needed]
In true bluesman fashion, Musselwhite then took off in search of the rumored "big-paying factory jobs" up the "Hillbilly Highway", legendary Highway 61 to Chicago, where he continued his education on the South Side, making the acquaintance of even more legends including Muddy Waters, Junior Wells, Sonny Boy Williamson, Buddy Guy, Howlin' Wolf, Little Walter, and Big Walter Horton. Musselwhite immersed himself completely in the musical life, living in the basement of, and occasionally working at Jazz Record Mart (the record store operated by Delmark Records founder Bob Koester) with Big Joe Williams and working as a driver for an exterminator, which allowed him to observe what was happening around the city's clubs and bars. He spent his time hanging out at the Jazz Record Mart at the corner of State and Grand and the nearby bar, Mr. Joe's, with the city's blues musicians, and sitting in with Big Joe Williams and others in the clubs, playing for tips. There he forged a lifelong friendship with John Lee Hooker; though Hooker lived in Detroit, Michigan, the two often visiting each other, and Hooker serving as best man at Musselwhite's wedding. Gradually Musselwhite became well known around town.
In time, Musselwhite led his own blues band, and, after Elektra Records' success with Paul Butterfield, he released the classic[citation needed] Stand Back! album in 1966 on Vanguard Records (as "Charley Musselwhite"), to immediate and great success. He took advantage of the clout this album gave him to move to San Francisco, where, instead of being one of many competing blues acts, he held court as the king of the blues in the exploding countercultural music scene, an exotic and gritty figure to the flower children. Musselwhite even convinced Hooker to move out to California.
Since then, Musselwhite has released over 20 albums, as well as guesting on albums by many other musicians, such as Bonnie Raitt's Longing in Their Hearts and The Blind Boys of Alabama's Spirit of the Century, both winners of Grammy awards. He also appeared on Tom Waits' Mule Variations and INXS' Suicide Blonde. He himself has won 14 W. C. Handy awards and six Grammy nominations, as well as Lifetime Achievement Awards from the Monterey Blues Festival and the San Javier Jazz Festival in San Javier, Spain, and the Mississippi Governor's Award for Excellence in the Arts.
In 1979, Musselwhite recorded The Harmonica According to Charlie Musselwhite in London for Kicking Mule Records, intended to go with an instructional book; the album itself became so popular that it has been released on CD.
Unfortunately, Musselwhite, as with many of his peers, fell victim to alcoholism; by his own admission[citation needed], he had never been on stage sober until after he stopped drinking entirely in 1987.
In 1990 Musselwhite signed with Alligator Records, a step led to a resurgence of his career.
Over the years, Musselwhite has branched out in style. His 1999 recording, Continental Drifter, is accompanied by Quarteto Patria, from Cuba's Santiago region, the Cuban music analog of the Mississippi Delta. Because of the political differences between Cuba and the United States, the album was recorded in Bergen, Norway, with Musselwhite's wife ironing out all the details.
Musselwhite believes the key to his musical success was finding a style where he could express himself. He has said, "I only know one tune, and I play it faster or slower, or I change the key, but it’s just the one tune I’ve ever played in my life. It’s all I know."[1]
His past two albums, Sanctuary and Delta Hardware have both been released on Real World Records.
Blues Gave Me A Ride
Charlie Musselwhite Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When blues gave me a ride
You know blues tells the truth in a
World that's full of lies
I was raised up in Memphis
Left down on 61
But you'll find me in Clarksdale
Now if blues stops for you
Won't you jump on board?
You can forget all your troubles and
Roll on down the road
Well now, baby
Hear that sound
Hear that howlin' wind
You know it blows just like
This ol' world is 'bout to end
In Charlie Musselwhite's song "Blues Gave Me A Ride," the lyrics describe the transformative power of the blues genre and its ability to provide a sense of truth in a world filled with deception. The singer is walking down the road when they metaphorically hitch a ride with the blues, indicating their immersion in the music and its emotional depth.
The lyrics also reference the singer's roots and connection to the blues. Being raised in Memphis, a city known for its deep blues heritage, suggests a familiarity and understanding of the genre. The mention of Highway 61, a renowned route associated with the blues, further reinforces the singer's affiliation with this musical style. However, they express that despite their origins, they now find enjoyment and solace in Clarksdale, another significant blues destination.
Furthermore, the lyrics invite the listener to embrace the blues when it comes their way. By encouraging people to jump on board when the blues "stops" for them, the song suggests that the blues can serve as a means of escape from life's troubles. It symbolizes a journey away from hardship and towards a more carefree existence.
In the closing lines, the lyrics evoke a sense of impending doom, comparing the howling wind to the end of the world. This metaphorical imagery intensifies the emotional intensity associated with the blues. It suggests that the raw power and mournful sound of the blues reflect the struggles and hardships of the world at large, providing listeners with an outlet for their own emotions and a sense of shared experience.
Overall, "Blues Gave Me A Ride" explores the personal and universal connection to the blues, highlighting its capacity to offer truth, escapism, and an emotional release. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of a journey through the blues-infused landscapes while emphasizing the transformative power of the music.
Line by Line Meaning
I was walkin' down the road
I was casually strolling along the path
When blues gave me a ride
When the blues embraced me and took me along
You know blues tells the truth in a
It is widely known that the blues reveals honesty in a
World that's full of lies
In a world filled with falsehoods
I was raised up in Memphis
I was brought up in Memphis
Left down on 61
Departed on Highway 61
But you'll find me in Clarksdale
Though, you can locate me in Clarksdale
Where I have my fun
Where I find joy and amusement
Now if blues stops for you
If the blues happens to halt for you
Won't you jump on board?
Wouldn't you seize the opportunity?
You can forget all your troubles and
You can let go of all your worries and
Roll on down the road
Continue moving forward along the journey
Well now, baby
Well now, my dear
Hear that sound
Listen to that noise
Hear that howlin' wind
Hear the fierce howling wind
You know it blows just like
Indeed, it blows in a similar manner as
This ol' world is 'bout to end
This old world seems to be on the brink of its demise
Lyrics © Spirit Music Group
Written by: Charlie Musselwhite
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Steve Skolnick
Way to go Charlie, Still pumping out great blues!
Carlos Nells
Good to see Charlie still kickin' it real good...and to see him with a slide on his finger? that's precious to us sliders.
Dan Sharkey
Gotta Love It; great sound from a Living Legend.
Paul Peters
A great one by Charlie. Looking forward to the release.
CJ
Absolute gold from Charlie M so looking forward to the new album
Mitch Gawlik
Seeing these photos just plain makes me feel good, and I can't help tapping my foot to this tune.
Bill Bowker
Talkin' and walkin', singin' and playin' some outstanding Blues!!
Dwayne Wladyka
This is so good! I saw Charlie Musselwhite 4 times live and met him. Cheers! ✌️
Stu Whyte
You are so lucky. I love Charlie iv heaps of his records. Alot of his early stuff and 4or5 of his alligator recordings. Long live the King. Cheers 🍺 🍺 🍺 🍺 🍺 🍺 🇳🇿🏴
George Cordeiro / FAI JANG Band
Been waitin’ for a taste, Charlie! Sweet! Now, let’s get the whole entrée folks❤️😎🎸