POST NO. 19: WHEN THE LORD GET READY...

...ya gotta move.

Sad news today, as if we needed any more. Modern Delta blues legend R.L. Burnside passed away in a Memphis hospital this morning at the age of 78. If not for the work of dedicated folklorist George Mitchell in the late-'60s, and the Fat Possum record label in the '90s, R.L. Burnside's music might have been forever lost. As the following song will attest, he was truly a unique, gifted vocalist and guitarist. (Yes, this is the song that was written by Mississippi Fred McDowell and covered by The Rolling Stones on Sticky Fingers. But R.L. possesses the song in a way that Mick Jagger could only dream of, probably in no small part because it was McDowell himself who taught Burnside the blues.)

R.L. Burnside - "You Gotta Move"

R.L. is often seen as a curiosity even to dedicated blues fans because of his connection with indie rock and specifically the Jon Spencer Blues Explosion. I remember scratching my head as I attempted to assign his 2000 album, Wish I was in Heaven Sitting Down, to the resident blues reviewer at the weekly paper. I was told that he just "didn't get Burnside and wasn't that interested in southern blues." I still can't comprehend that statement.

I was lucky to see R.L. on tour in 1999 with his nephew (I believe) Cedric Burnside on drums. The old man sat down on a chair, sipped his drink, and delivered a long set with the power and certainty of a sack of bricks to the face. Witnessing him live at 70+ years was truly like having a window open to a world of long ago. I wonder if folks get the same impression when they see B.B. King nowadays?

R.L. is survived by his wife Alice Mae, 12 children, and numerous grandchildren. If you're interested in making a donation to his family, see the Fat Possum web site.

On a somewhat related note, thank goodness that it was just announced that Fats Domino, who lived in the flooded 9th District of New Orleans, is now safe and sound. His manager had feared the worst after Fats decided to ride the storm out.