Nick Tosches’ “where dead voices gather” is a read that I found hard to digest. This book was written with a fanatical ideology of Emmett Miller a minstrel and folk singer with a very distinct voice. As I looked up more information of Emmett Miller I found that there are quite a few people when introduced to Emmett Miller they become attracted and obsessed with this singer.

I am confused as to why. That is because his reign in the music industry was not long but yet he would go on to influence singers to include Hank Williams who is of course the father of well known country singer Hank Williams Jr. (think monday night football!). Further, the man died an alcoholic and broke so there was not any real inspiration was there? Well his voice is different and unique but he also was a minstrel singer. Could that be where the fanaticism comes from?

As such, Tosches’ discussion of minstrel shows is uncomfortable but sometimes necessary to understand. My views of the book are of little impact because I generally find no interests for Miller’s voice (not my style of music) and especially his minstrel background. However, there is good information regarding Emmett Miller’s influence (in such a short time frame) and ultimately inspiration for future musicians and of course — TOSCHES! 😉

Good Old Howlin’ Wolf! A curious and interesting character I was introduced to initially from the Cadillac Records movie and again during our most recent lecture. Howlin’ Wolf like his name was unique – rather large man with a dark complexion and a rough yet smooth voice. The reason why Howlin’ Wolf is such a great man to talk about is because he is a genuine American dream story.

Howlin’ Wolf was born into poverty in the deep south – Mississippi to be exact. He would encounter a rough life with his mother throwing him out of the house and later living shortly will an uncle who treated him badly. Eventually, Howlin’ Wolf would run away to live with his father — another unique situation as not only was life stable but that is where Howlin’ Wolf got introduced and connected with the blues.

In the years to come Howlin’ Wolf would move to Chicago and start really pushing out music and going on tours. However, he was very smart with his money even though his education level would never surpass getting a GED. In a time when many African American acts would find much success in the music industry and yet die broke and in debt is a strange and commendable. The secret is that Howlin’ Wolf lived frugally — yet still offered health insurance and good pay to his workers and not to mention he married an educated women who assisted with his business planning.

As for his name Chester Arthur Bennett is said to have got his name from his grandfather who would say that the “howling wolves would get him” if he misbehaved. Either way — I think his voice more than made up for the name. I found it very interesting that Howlin’ Wolf received a good part of class time and was impressed!

Sources:

http://www.biography.com/people/howlin-wolf-9345565#revered-by-rock-acts

Last week’s class we discussed the epidemic of the Minstrel Shows in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s. The discussion and photos of the minstrel shows were uncomfortable to me — but they were absolutely necessary to teach this lesson. After class I had to really think about the reasons I came to college and one of those reasons was to be challenged to think and understand topics that may be uncomfortable to me. However, that is a part of the learning experience and even more it helps to be educated enough to not allow something so nefarious to happen again.

Minstrel Shows to me were bound in racism and prejudice (even black people acted in these minstrel shows) — yet there was much more going on. I truly believe that some of these people really believed that this was a form of comedy. Almost as if no one took the time to really think about what they were doing but then again times were different in those years. The African American people were not held with any sort of esteem or respect. Slavery was still fresh and the reconstruction era caused widespread hatred towards the African American community. The few minstrel shows that I have watched often show black characters with very bad english, outrageous facial expressions and dim-witted acts. As such, quite possibly with the language barrier and illiteracy that most slaves had I cannot find it hard for people to find comedy in their hardships in the english spoken word.

Is there more to the Minstrel Show? The short answers is yes. Obviously there is racism, some argue that it is white people experiencing “blackness” that they couldn’t do outside of these shows. What cannot be argued is that Minstrel Shows need to a part of curriculum so that there can be awareness of this form of entertainment and the secondary and tertiary order of effects it causes. As I have stated — even now I feel uncomfortable. As with anything nefarious in the world we have a duty to educate and to ensure we never forget.

How do you REALLY feel???