What Is the Blues?

It was very alluring: There was so much to learn. There was literature, jazz, the unaccompanied folk singer singing "Heave and weigh Santiana", and some off duty policeman from Ireland who would give you a refrain. I remember when Lippmann and Rau, the two German promoters, bought over Sonny Boy Williamson, Howlin' Wolf, Skip James and Son House, Bukka White and Ransom Knowling, all those people, a young Muddy Waters, a young Hound Dog Taylor, Otis Spann and Sister Rosetta Tharp, they all came through. Meanwhile, in bohemia, we were in the midst of the post-bebop revolution. Bearded beatniks were wondering around reading Sartre and Camus and listening to Roland Kirk, Cannonball Adderly and A Love Supreme. But it was also very selective and had it's own attitude and atmosphere.

What else did you see?

I remember being in a toilet in Birmingham Town Hall and Sonny Boy Williamson came in to take a leak. He had his grey and purple harlequin suit on, his bowler hat and his umbrella and his briefcase. He was a very tall guy, much taller than me. I said: "Mr. Williamson, all my life, ever since I heard you play, I've been practising my harmonica playing. Can I get your autograph?" He looked at me, shook his manhood and said, "F*#k off, son.". I said, "Thank you." I knew exactly where I stood in the great hall of musical legends, because he was absolutely right, "F*#k off, Planty." Who the f*#k are you? I saw these amazing characters come through who were dazzled by the attention that they got.