Page 48 - Blues Festival Guide Magazine 2025 Digital Edition

godfather of pro wrestling. The way he won his matches was he died, I got him a blues record or CD
with a carefully orchestrated, unforgettable move rendering as part of his Christmas gift. I’m 64, and
the opponent helpless, much like the stunning finish of ‘Long both my father and partner have passed,
Distance Call.’ Great analogy!). but the blues live on.”
Marvin Boone (music historian, programmer): “Otis Spann But, first prize goes to this classic
(Muddy Waters’ piano player) and his album Otis Spann is the from Florida musician Lauris Vidal: “I
Blues.” Johnny G Lyon (Tampa music legend) responds: “OTIS was around 13 in 1991, on a trip to
SPANN was the greatest piano player ever.” Myrtle Beach. I bought The Best of Muddy Waters. I still have
a progressive, visceral response remembering the track order.
And of course, of all the artists, We were staying with a super conservative family. The wife/
B.B. King appeared the most mom was one of those Southern types that dressed up to go
times: to the grocery store. She said she was a ‘fan’ and insisted we
Sam Ezell (musician): “It was a B.B. put it on immediately in the family minivan with us and her
King CD – my dad bought it for me in kids in there. The first song was ‘I Just Want to Make Love to
middle school about 20 years ago. We You.’ I was terrified. Yet there she was, singing loudly in the
were on the road, stopped to take a leak, front seat. As a preacher’s son, I had never heard such a raw,
and I bugged him until he bought it.” upfront, proudly sexual song, or even knew one existed! I was
Cameron Skillman (musician): “B.B. King Live at Cook sure the album was going to be torn out and trashed, and I
County Jail. I was 16 (61 now) and it was an epiphany. I would be seriously admonished. There was no way she was
took it to school for show and tell. Stole it from my parents going to let that album exist. Nope, we listened to the whole
and still have it!” thing! To this day, the raw energy, the buzzing on ‘Honeybee,’
Roger Wilson, Sr. (musician, writer): “I was 16 when I heard the raw swing of the rhythm, the abrupt, brash, unapologetic
B.B.’s intro lick on ‘The Thrill is Gone’ on FM radio. Having crassness, the distorted harmonica – all of it was the best
played guitar since I was nine, that changed everything.” cultural rebellion I had ever heard. It was more punk than
Rich Hornbuckle (person of interest): “Indianola Mississippi anything I’d heard. There was more heart, and a different
Seeds by B.B. King. Dad had it and took me to see him in kind of soul than I thought could exist.”
about ’73. I was mesmerized. When Dad played the album “True story follow-up – That wife had an affair with her
at home, I re-lived that cool moment and was a fan for life. I pastor not long after our trip. Left her family and moved on, also
saw him again in ’84 and ’07. I’m 62 now.” eventually leaving the pastor’s family. Just a wake of destruction
in her path. The album ends with ‘I Can’t Be Satisfied.’”
Some answers brought back Life imitating art.
powerful memories:
Randy Pitts (music archivist): “The These were only a few of the great posts, and there were
Real Folk Blues by Sonny Boy Williamson numerous connections across the comments. I love the way
was a pivotal album for me; I was 20 or that folks like Johnny G Lyon took the time to compliment
21 in 1967-68. Found the album in the others on their selections and point out great moments like:
PX at 9 Division Base Camp in Vietnam. “On ‘Sweet Little Angel’ there is a scream from an audience
th
I had a battery-operated record player member just before the third verse. As much as I love B.B., I
sent to me by my sister, and I was always on the lookout sometimes find myself listening for that scream. It’s awesome!”
for interesting albums. I already knew about Chess Records While drafting this article, something else happened that
and all their stars before I went to the Army, but that was the I was unprepared for. I got over 275 comments on Facebook
first album I ever listened to, oh say, a thousand times and I and not one negative post. Chew on that for a minute. On
still remember it fondly. We (9 Medical Battalion Co.) were Facebook, over 200 positive shares that stand as a testament
th
housed in 10-12-man all-purpose tents over a screened-in to the power of and positive energy of
wooden framework, and my record player was quite popular. the blues. Wow.…
I remember Sonny Boy vying for turntable use with a copy of And finally, I wonder whatever
Sgt. Pepper’s. Lots more, but I’ve gone on too long already.” happened to the gal who ran off with the
Heidi Diekelman: “My father fell in love with the blues preacher. She’s probably riding around
before he fell in love with my mother. He used to hang out in The Villages in her golf cart, flirtin’ with
juke joints and at the Checkerboard Lounge. I met my partner a new fellow and listening to Muddy
of 32 years in a blues club. The blues have been around me Waters.
my entire life, and it can’t be distilled into one album. One of
the first ones I bought myself was The Super Super Blues Band Rev. Billy C. Wirtz lives in Ocala, FL, with his wife Linda, 12 cats
[Howlin’ Wolf, Muddy Waters and Bo Diddley]. Even before and a horse. Get in touch at revbilly88@aol.com or facebook.
that, I bought bootleg tapes on Maxwell St. Any influence com/revbilly88. Check him out on Patreon at patreon.com/
I had earlier was in my father’s collection. Up ‘til the day revbillycwirtz

46 Blues Festival Guide 2025