Lately, it's been Charlie Poole. Last spring, Lynn and I added his version of Milwaukee Blues to our set list, and I'm currently working on If I Lose, Let me Lose and Baltimore Fire. I noticed a Charlie Poole myspace site a week ago and a documentary movie is in the works (the myspace site is sponsored by the movie).
In addition, I just ordered the following from Elderly Music (here's the picture & description):
- RAMBLING BLUES: THE LIFE & SONGS OF CHARLIE POOLE
by Kinney Rorrer - Ultimate biography of one of old-time country music's most influential songsters. Includes many photos, interviews with folks who knew him and complete words and sources for the songs he recorded, plus an extensive discography
My first exposure to a Charlie Poole song was through Doc Watson. I learned Doc's version of Don't Let Your Deal Go Down in college and from the album notes, I knew it was a Charlie Poole Song. However, I don't think I heard Charlie himself sing much until I got some LPs from Ebay: Vols 1-4 of Charlie Poole and the North Carolina Ramblers. There is a CD boxed set out, but since I have converted the LPs to MP3's I'll probably pass. Hopefully the 'extensive discography' included with the book will alert me to any other songs I am missing.
Of course, in the same Elderly order, I bought a book about the Carter Family:
- WILL YOU MISS ME WHEN I'M GONE: THE CARTER FAMILY AND THEIR LEGACY IN AMERICAN MUSIC
by Mark Zwonitzer with Charles Hirshberg - We were glued to this book! This story is a saga of "...love and fulfillment, sadness and loss." It reads like a well-written novel of another time and place. The first major biography of the Carter Family, the musical pioneers who almost single-handedly established the sounds and traditions that grew into modern folk, country, and bluegrass music. Recommended! Softcover. 417 pp.
Lynn and I already do a number of Carter Family songs, so this will probably just inspire me to learn more...
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