REMEMBERING YANK RACHELL

The first time I met Yank Rachell was June, 1975 at his home in Indianapolis. I was on my second trip through the south, hunting for blues 78's and looking up older players that were still around. Headed for Chicago, I wanted to stop in Indianapolis to visit Yank and veteran jug band researcher Fred Cox. When I got to town I gave Mr. Rachell a call and was invited over to his house. I had just seen his old partner John Estes in Brownsville, TN so we had a lot to talk about. Yank was still in good shape and we got to do a bit of playing. He is usually mentioned for his mandolin accompaniment with Estes & Sonny Boy Williamson but I've always admired his guitar work as well. Performances of Rollin' & Tumblin' rank with the best efforts of Muddy Waters and Hambone Willie Newbern. I spent two nights at his home and felt I should be the one giving not receiving such hospitality. On another southern tour in 1978, this time with Jeff Poskin, the Indianapolis stop was repeated. Once again we did some playing and were treated like long lost relatives.

JAMES 'YANK' RACHELL was born in Brownsville, TN on March 16, 1910 and died in Indianapolis, IN on April 9, 1997. Recordings with Sleepy John Estes for Victor ('29/'30) are among the greatest blues ever and his own Bluebird 78's ('38-'41) are of equal importance. He made LPs for Blue Goose ('73), Delmark ('64/'87), an appearance in the film 'Louie Bluie’ and is featured on John Sebastian's J-Band CD.

[Photo: Yank Rachell at at his home in Indianapolis, 1978. photo by Jeff Poskin. ]

REMEMBERING STACKHOUSE, JOE WILLIE & MAGER

The first time I met Houston Stackhouse came as much of a surprise as the last. In 1974 I took a trip to Texas with Dave Voorhees. I drove to Memphis by myself to visit Bukka White & other blues legends still living in the area. Among names on my list was Joe Willie Wilkins, guitarist on Sonny Boy Williamson's Trumpet recordings and one of my early influences on electric guitar. I made arrangements to meet Joe at his home on Easter Sunday. What was going to be an inspiring event anyway turned out to be a great double bill. I was greeted by Joe Willie, his wife and their house guest Houston Stackhouse, one of the underdogs of country blues. Joe Willie was still playing his Gibson arch top that he had posed with in the old King Biscuit photos with Sonny Boy. The three of us played music all afternoon and it was the most memorable Easter I can remember. The following year, 1975, I was on a trip to New Orleans with Diane Voorhees where we met up with Keith Keller. Our plans were to drive to Memphis together making a few stops in Mississippi along the way. On the agenda was Crystal Springs; home of Mager Johnson, brother of delta blues legend Tommy Johnson. Mager sang & played in the same style as Tommy and had been recorded by Dave Evans in the 60's. Once again I was pleasantly surprised to be greeted by not only Mager & his family but a familiar smiling face, Houston Stackhouse. Mager & Stack took turns playing Keith's national guitar and between the two of them we heard most of Tommy's recorded classics & some lesser known Crystal Springs standards. I never saw Stackhouse again but managed to visit Mager in 1978 and hear him sing “Bye & Bye Blues” one more time. It was the song that, according to his wife, won her hand.

HOUSTON STACKHOUSE was born on Sept. 28, 1910 in Wesson, MS and died in 1981. He can be heard on Testament & Arhoolie LPs from 1966. He was also recorded by Dave Evans in 1967, released on a P-Vine CD.

JOE WILLIE WILKINS was born on Jan. 7, 1923 in Davenport, MS and died on March 28, 1979 in Memphis, TN. His guitar work can be heard on Trumpet recordings from the early 50's by Sonny Boy Williamson & Willie Love. He had one single released under his own name from the early 70's on the Mimosa label.

MAGER JOHNSON was born Dec. 7, 1905 in Crystal Springs, MS. He was recorded by Dave Evans in 1966 & some of these sides can be found on Decca, Matchbox & Rounder LPs.

[Photo: Houston Stackhouse, Crystal Springs, MS, 1975. Photo by Diane Voorhees.]

REMEMBERING SLEEPY JOHN

Brownsville, Tennessee is located about 60 miles northeast of Memphis. It was the birthplace of Tina Turner and homebase for a style of Blues that developed in the 20's & 30's; centered around the volunteer state's most influential blues singer, John Estes. In 1974 I went to visit a handful of blues legends in Memphis. After seeing Bukka White, Gus Cannon & Reverend Robert Wilkins; Steve LaVere gave me directions on how to find Sleepy John in Brownsville. On arriving at his home I was shocked to find him living with his family in the same run down shack Sam Charters had filmed in 1959. I was welcomed by John who immediately sent one of his relatives off to get Hammie Nixon, his longtime musical associate. After finding John's guitar under a pile of clothes; a bucket of chicken & the arrival of Hammie with a sack of harmonicas led to some of the deepest blues I've ever heard; in the most lowdown setting. I visited John & Hammie again in 1975. Estes had relocated into a housing project that made him seem as out of place as I must have appeared at the shack.

JOHN ADAMS ESTES was born Jan. 25, 1899 in Ripley, TN & died June 5, 1977 in Brownsville, TN.

HAMMIE NIXON was born Jan. 22, 1908 in Brownsville, TN & died Aug. 17, 1984. Sleepy John's Victor recordings ('29/'30) with Yank Rachell & Jab Jones are in a class of their own. His 30's recordings for Decca with Hammie Nixon are mostly autobiographical & examples of some of the most original blues to date. Estes recorded LPs for Delmark in the 60's & was part of the American Folk Blues Festival that toured Europe.

[Photo: Sleepy John Estes playing at his home in Brownsville, TN, 1974.]