Eddie James House, Jr. (March 21, 1902 – October 19, 1988), better known as… Read Full Bio ↴Eddie James House, Jr. (March 21, 1902 – October 19, 1988), better known as Son House, was an influential blues singer and guitarist. His date of birth is a matter of some debate. Son House himself alleged that he was middle aged during World War I, and, more specifically, that he was 79 in 1965, which would mean that he was born around 1886. However, all legal records place his birth on March 21, 1902.
House was born, the middle of three brothers, in Riverton, Mississippi, two miles from famed blues capital Clarksdale, Mississippi. Around age seven or eight, he was brought by his mother to Tallulah, Louisiana after his parents separated. The young Son House was determined to become a Baptist preacher, and at age fifteen began his preaching career. Despite the church's firm stand against blues music and the sinful world which revolved around it, House nevertheless became attracted to it and taught himself guitar in his midtwenties, inspired by the work of Willie Wilson. He began playing alongside Charley Patton, Willie Brown, Robert Johnson, Fiddlin' Joe Martin, Leroy Williams, and Howlin' Wolf, around Robinsonville, Mississippi and north to Memphis, Tennessee until 1942.
After killing a man, allegedly in self-defense, he spent time on Parchman Farm in 1928 and 1929.
Son House recorded for Paramount Records in 1930 and for Alan Lomax from the Library of Congress in 1941 and 1942. He then faded from public view until the country blues revival in the 1960s when, after a long search of the Mississippi Delta region by Nick Perls, Dick Waterman and Phil Spero, he was "re-discovered" in June, 1964 in Rochester, New York where he had lived since 1943; House had been retired from the music business for many years, working for the New York Central Railroad, and was completely unaware of the international revival of enthusiasm for his early recordings. He subsequently toured extensively in the US and Europe and recorded for CBS records. Like Mississippi John Hurt he was welcomed into the music scene of the 1960s and played at Newport Folk Festival in 1964, the New York Folk Festival in July, 1965, and the October, 1967 European tour of the American Folk Festival along with Skip James and Bukka White. In the summer of 1970, House toured Europe once again, including an appearance at the Montreux Festival; a recording of his London concerts was released by Liberty Records.
Ill health plagued his later years and in 1974 he retired once again, and later moved to Detroit, Michigan, where he remained until his death from cancer of the larynx. He was buried at Mt. Hazel Cemetery on Lahser south of Seven Mile. Members of the Detroit Blues Society raised money through benefit concerts to put a fitting monument on his grave. He had been married five times.
Unlike some blues guitarists of the 1920s and 30s, House was not a virtuoso although there is still much that is technically impressive about his playing. He more than made up for his lack of conventional technique with his powerful and innovative style featuring very strong, repetitive rhythms, often played with the aid of a bottleneck, coupled with singing that owed more than a nod to the hollers of the chain gangs. The music of Son House, in contrast to that of, say, Blind Lemon Jefferson, was emphatically a dance music, meant to be heard in the noisy atmosphere of a barrelhouse or other dance hall. House was an important influence on not only Muddy Waters but also Robert Johnson, who would later take his music to new levels. It was House who, speaking to awe-struck young blues fans in the 1960s, spread the legend that Johnson had sold his soul to the Devil in exchange for his musical powers. More recently, House's music has influenced rock groups such as the White Stripes, who covered his song Death Letter on their album De Stijl, and later performed it at the 2004 Grammy Awards.
Describing House's 1967 appearance at the De Montford Hall in Leicester, England, Bob Groom wrote in Blues World magazine,
It is difficult to describe the transformation that took place as this smiling, friendly man hunched over his guitar and launched himself, bodily it seemed, into his music. The blues possessed him like a 'lowdown shaking chill' and the spellbound audience saw the very incarnation of the blues as, head thrown back, he hollered and groaned the disturbing lyrics and flailed the guitar, snapping the strings back against the fingerboard to accentuate the agonized rhythm. Son's music is the centre of the blues experience and when he performs it is a corporate thing, audience and singer become as one.
House was born, the middle of three brothers, in Riverton, Mississippi, two miles from famed blues capital Clarksdale, Mississippi. Around age seven or eight, he was brought by his mother to Tallulah, Louisiana after his parents separated. The young Son House was determined to become a Baptist preacher, and at age fifteen began his preaching career. Despite the church's firm stand against blues music and the sinful world which revolved around it, House nevertheless became attracted to it and taught himself guitar in his midtwenties, inspired by the work of Willie Wilson. He began playing alongside Charley Patton, Willie Brown, Robert Johnson, Fiddlin' Joe Martin, Leroy Williams, and Howlin' Wolf, around Robinsonville, Mississippi and north to Memphis, Tennessee until 1942.
After killing a man, allegedly in self-defense, he spent time on Parchman Farm in 1928 and 1929.
Son House recorded for Paramount Records in 1930 and for Alan Lomax from the Library of Congress in 1941 and 1942. He then faded from public view until the country blues revival in the 1960s when, after a long search of the Mississippi Delta region by Nick Perls, Dick Waterman and Phil Spero, he was "re-discovered" in June, 1964 in Rochester, New York where he had lived since 1943; House had been retired from the music business for many years, working for the New York Central Railroad, and was completely unaware of the international revival of enthusiasm for his early recordings. He subsequently toured extensively in the US and Europe and recorded for CBS records. Like Mississippi John Hurt he was welcomed into the music scene of the 1960s and played at Newport Folk Festival in 1964, the New York Folk Festival in July, 1965, and the October, 1967 European tour of the American Folk Festival along with Skip James and Bukka White. In the summer of 1970, House toured Europe once again, including an appearance at the Montreux Festival; a recording of his London concerts was released by Liberty Records.
Ill health plagued his later years and in 1974 he retired once again, and later moved to Detroit, Michigan, where he remained until his death from cancer of the larynx. He was buried at Mt. Hazel Cemetery on Lahser south of Seven Mile. Members of the Detroit Blues Society raised money through benefit concerts to put a fitting monument on his grave. He had been married five times.
Unlike some blues guitarists of the 1920s and 30s, House was not a virtuoso although there is still much that is technically impressive about his playing. He more than made up for his lack of conventional technique with his powerful and innovative style featuring very strong, repetitive rhythms, often played with the aid of a bottleneck, coupled with singing that owed more than a nod to the hollers of the chain gangs. The music of Son House, in contrast to that of, say, Blind Lemon Jefferson, was emphatically a dance music, meant to be heard in the noisy atmosphere of a barrelhouse or other dance hall. House was an important influence on not only Muddy Waters but also Robert Johnson, who would later take his music to new levels. It was House who, speaking to awe-struck young blues fans in the 1960s, spread the legend that Johnson had sold his soul to the Devil in exchange for his musical powers. More recently, House's music has influenced rock groups such as the White Stripes, who covered his song Death Letter on their album De Stijl, and later performed it at the 2004 Grammy Awards.
Describing House's 1967 appearance at the De Montford Hall in Leicester, England, Bob Groom wrote in Blues World magazine,
It is difficult to describe the transformation that took place as this smiling, friendly man hunched over his guitar and launched himself, bodily it seemed, into his music. The blues possessed him like a 'lowdown shaking chill' and the spellbound audience saw the very incarnation of the blues as, head thrown back, he hollered and groaned the disturbing lyrics and flailed the guitar, snapping the strings back against the fingerboard to accentuate the agonized rhythm. Son's music is the centre of the blues experience and when he performs it is a corporate thing, audience and singer become as one.
Low Down Dirty Dog Blues
Son House Lyrics
We have lyrics for these tracks by Son House:
Am I Right or Wrong Am i right or wrong You need not think because I'm…
American Defense No use in sittin' in no tent No use in having…
Clarksdale Moan Clarksdale's in the South, and lays heavy on my mind Clarksd…
Country Farm Blues Down South, when you do anything, that's wrong Down South, w…
Death Letter I got a letter this mornin', how do you reckon…
Death Letter Blues I got a letter this mornin, how do you reckon…
Delta Blues Mm, I'm going to be bad no more I said…
Depot Blues Mmmm, I'm going to be bad no more I said I…
Downhearted Blues Mmmm, mmmmm. Got up this mornin, feelin sick and bad, I's th…
Dry Spell Blues Part 2 Recorded in Grafton, Wisconsin, 28 May 1930 Paramount Recor…
Dry Spell Blues, Pt. 1 The dry spell blues have fallen, drive me from door…
Empire State Blues I went down to the station I leaned against the door I…
Empire State Expres I went down to the station I leaned against the door I…
Empire State Express I went down to the station I leaned against the door I…
Grinnin Don't you mind people grinnin' in your face Don't mind peop…
Grinnin In Your Face Don't you mind people grinnin' in your face Don't mind peopl…
Jinx Blues Well, I got up this mornin′, Jinx all 'round jinx all…
Jinx Blues Part 1 Well, I got up this mornin', Jinx all 'round jinx all…
John the Revelator Tell me who's that writin', John the Revelator Tell me who's…
Levee Camp Blues You know I had a job on the levee I had…
Louise McGhee You see a little girl they call Louise McGhee Please do me…
Mississippi County Farm Blues Wish I was a babe in my mama's arms Wish I…
My Black Mama Oh, black mama, what's the matter with you? Said, if it…
My Black Mama (Part 1) Hey, black mama, what's the matter with you? Said it ain't…
My Black Mama Part 2 Aos braços do passado dedico as minhas vitórias Fiz o melhor…
My Black Mama Pt. 1 Hey, black mama, what′s the matter with you? Said it aint…
My Black Mama Pt. 2 I solemnly swear, Lord I raise my right hand That I′m…
My Black Mama Pt.1 Hey, black mama, what's the matter with you? Said it aint…
My Black Mama, Pt. 2 I solemnly swear, Lord I raise my right hand That I'm…
Pearline Mmmm, Pearline, Pearline Yeah oh Pearline Matter with you? D…
Pony Blues Why don't you catch my pony, now saddle up my…
Preachin Yes, I'm gonna get me religion I'm gonna join the Baptist…
Preachin' The Blues Part 1 Oh, I′m gon' get me religion I′m gon' join the…
Shetland Pony Blues Why don't you catch my pony, now saddle up my…
Special Rider Blues Well, I'm goin' away, honey, I won't be back no…
The Delta Blues Mm, I'm going to be bad no more I said…
The Pony Blues Why don't you catch my pony, now saddle up my…
Walkin' blues Well got up this morning, feeling 'round for my shoes Know…
Walking Blues Well got up this morning, feeling 'round for my shoes Know…
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Stephanie Sandlin
This is what got me hooked on pre-war blues. When I heard Son House and Charlie Patton, I was hooked.
dave pinchard
This is what introduced me to the blues. I' never got over it!!!
Ken Mcmillan
I grew up in the deep south. If there is a gospel, this is it.
Charlie SideShow
So strong! Amazing!
MyMoppet52
Charlie SideShow yes, he was so strong. His skills are amazing. Thank you for taking the time to comment on Son House. My best to you, Moppet
DENNIS DUNLAP Dunlap
One of my go to tunes
MyMoppet52
This is a very strong Son House (1902 - 1988). The album, "Library of Congress 1941-1942 Sessions" was released in 2011. "Low Down Dirty Dog Blues" was also on the compilation album, "Son House: The Complete Library of Congress Sessions, 1941-1942 ". Both albums are a treasure trove for old blues fans. Enjoy. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Son_House
michael shoen
The one and only Son House -- behind that old western hill. Visited the site of Clack's Store where House, Fiddling Joe Martin, Willie Brown and Leroy Williams recorded Walking Blues in 1941. Just an open field now, but it was a big deal for me. Visited the storefront in Friars Point where Muddy Waters first saw Robert Johnson play. That stuff will never come again.
fetermcblues
Blues can it gets
Cottonwood Slim
What is the song about? I've been trying to figure it out. I'm beginning to suspect it's about a train. I can't find an explanation of its meaning.