Frank Edwards

Biography

Like a number of nation blues performers, Frank Edwards cannot be thought to possess consistent gigging and saving possibilities during his nearly 80 years within the music business. His documenting career started in the first ’40s around the Okeh label, producing a few sides that non-etheless appear to have had some type of effect, even catching the eye of a big NEW YORK booking company that normally advertised more “uptown” forms of entertainment, such as for example dance orchestras or radio performers. Within the middle-’40s, the Taps Company was wanting to create plenty of desire for Edwards to lure him back again to the big town from Atlanta, a meeting that unfortunately under no circumstances took place. Because it proved, Edwards wouldn’t normally release recordings once again for many years. In the past due ’40s, manufacturer Fred Mendelsohn from the Regal label lower several paths with Edwards in Atlanta, but this materials had not been released commercially before ’60s. The Trix label finally released a full record of Edwards in 1972 entitled Done Some Travelin’, which is regarded a masterpiece. Edwards’ professional lifestyle also comes after the design of nation blues performers who going north from Mississippi circa the next World Battle. His journeying partner at that time was fellow bluesman Tommy McClennan. Edwards documented for Okeh manufacturer Frank Melrose in 1941, eight edges where the back-up was supplied by Robert Dark brown, also called Washboard Sam. The discharge of these edges was unfortunately influenced by the outbreak from the war as well as the ensuing documenting ban, although many of the tracks did turn out. Following this enterprise, Edwards headed back again south, selecting Atlanta and evidently staying place there. Edwards protected electric guitar, harmonica, and vocals, and actually did not want any other support. His repertoire included quite initial interpretations of blues and jazz requirements such as for example “HELLO Little School Lady” and “Once the Saints Proceed Marching In,” in addition to original tunes on a number of topics: jail (“Alcatraz Blues”), clothes styles (“Mini Gown Individual”), and, well, poultry raids (“Poultry Raid”). Regardless of the selling point of such materials, he had not been able to regularly support himself like a musician, obtaining are a carpenter, painter, and plumber. But aside from two years carrying out a home fire that burned off his electric guitar, he always performed the blues. A scant two hours ahead of his loss of life, Edwards finished a documenting session in NEW YORK. He experienced a coronary attack on the trip home and passed away within an ambulance on the path to the hospital.

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