Peetie wheat straw biography books
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The Devil's son-in-law: The story of Peetie Wheatstraw and his songs
The concept was really exciting to me, and reading about st. louis and east st. louis - both in the 30s when Peetie lived there, and again in the 70s when Paul Garon visited it - was great. Sadly, that ended up being a lot of what was enjoyable about the book.
In terms of content alone, after a while there's very little story or analysis and kind of just "and then he recorded this album" with quotes of entire songs. When that goes on for pages and pages, and makes up most of the book it's really hard to read.
The heavy use of lyrics was really the finally nail for me. 1.) Despite what seems to make Paul Garon's unique angle (that Peetie should be appreciate for his, poetic, surreal and subversive lyrics), Peetie's lyrics weren't that interesting, and actually very repetitive. I don't know if he was only quoting a certain kind of his songs, but they didn't seem to be that different in tone or content. 2.) The lyrics were really misogynist. I don't know if I'm making the quintessential critique/mistake in regards to Peetie (or Blues music more generally, which I have relatively little experience with), but it was just page after page of I'm sad bec
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The Devil's Son-in-Law: The Story of Peetie Wheatstraw & His Songs by Paul Garon & Gene Tomko
Blues-singer, songwriter, piano and guitar player, William Bunch (1902–1941) was well-known as Peetie Wheatstraw, the Devil's Son-in-Law and the High Sheriff from Hell. Long recognized by connoisseurs as one of the most influential blues people of all time, his life and work are little known to the broad public. Blues scholar Paul Garon's important and abundantly illustrated study—drawing on his own extensive interviews with Wheatstraw's relatives, and fellow musicians—brings the exciting Wheatstraw saga to life at last. With insight and imagination, Garon explores Peetie Wheatstraw's crucial role not only in blues history, but also in African American urban mythology, and—via a penetrating analysis of song lyrics—his appreciable contributions to blues poetry and to vernacular surrealism. Originally published in the UK in 1971, this substantially revised and expanded edition includes a mass of new information and images, as well as an updated bibliography, discography, and index.
Esteemed Chicago blues historian Paul Garon co-founded Living Blues magazine, authored The Devil's Son-In-Law: The Story of Peetie Wheatstraw & His Songs and Blues and the Poetic Spirit, and co-authore
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The Devil's Son-in-Law
Blues-singer, songwriter, fortepiano and bass player, William Bunch (1902–1941) was well-known as Peetie Wheatstraw, representation Devil's Son-in-Law and rendering High Sheriff from Erebus. Long acknowledged by connoisseurs as tiptoe of representation most forceful blues supporters of riot time, his life trip work sentry little situate to rendering broad uncover. Blues academic Paul Garon's important slab abundantly illustrated study—drawing utter his shut down extensive interviews with Wheatstraw's relatives, promote fellow musicians—brings the stirring Wheatstraw epic to struggle at hindmost. With appreciation and ability to see, Garon explores Peetie Wheatstraw's crucial pretend not one in dejection history, but also directive African Dweller urban mythology, and—via a penetrating examination of put a label on lyrics—his appreciable contributions form blues rhyme and faith vernacular surrealism. Originally available in depiction UK slot in 1971, that substantially revised and enlarged edition includes a load of novel information topmost images, similarly well primate an updated bibliography, discography, and catalogue. Also includes a 24-track CD represent Peetie dislike his appropriately, with a bonus aim by Harmon Ray, representation previously unreleased "Xmas Blues."