Search - Deford Bailey :: The Legendary De Ford Bailey: Country Music's First Black Star

Deford Bailey
The Legendary De Ford Bailey: Country Music's First Black Star
Genres: Country, Blues, Pop

Track Listings (26) - Disc #1
1. Pan American
2. Ain't Gonna Rain No More
3. Lost John
4. Alcoholic Blues
5. Cow Cow Blues
6. John Henry
7. Speech About Harps
8. Old Hen Cackle (Take 1)
9. Sweet Marie
10. Black Man Blues
11. Red River Valley
12. Gotta See Mama Every Night
13. Welcome Table
14. Kansas City Blues
15. Stove Pipe Blues
16. Speech About Water And Harps
17. Shoe Shine Boy
18. Swing Low, Sweet Chariot
19. Talk About Grandfather
20. Hesitation Blues
21. Old Hen Cackle (Take 2)
22. Saints
23. Don't Get Weary Children
24. Sook Cow
25. Down The Road A Piece
26. Evening Prayer

CD Details

All Artists: Deford Bailey
Title: The Legendary De Ford Bailey: Country Music's First Black Star
Members Wishing: 0
Total Copies: 0
Label: Revenant Records
Original Release Date: 5/19/1998
Release Date: 5/19/1998
Genres: Country, Blues, Pop
Style: Traditional Blues
Number of Discs: 1
SwapaCD Credits: 1
UPC: 630814020828

Synopsis

Product Description

At the heart of this collection are modern, high fidelity recordings of DeFord Bailey doing what he was most famous for, playing the harmonica. But other selections reveal sides of DeFord's music not widely recognized: his abilities as a guitar player, singer and banjo player. He often performed his Kansas City Blues on the Opry, singing it enough that veteran opry members from the 1930s still talked about DeFord and his bulldog. His son recalled that his father becam serious about playing the guitar when he was on tour with the Opry group: he was often assigned to guard the pile of instruments that accompanied them, and while he did that began to try his hand at some of the guitars.

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CD Reviews

A Long-Lost Gem Rediscovered

peter krampert | eharmonica.net | 01/20/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Deford Bailey was the first star of Nashville'd Grand Old Opry, staying with the popular program from it's first broadcast in 1926 until he was booted from the show in 1941. Deford was given a regular spot on each week's broadcast to showcase his amazing talent on the harmonica. Deford's only failing was his having been born black in America and for that his career was curtailed.Deford refused to play for anyone except for the Opry. Maybe it was pride, nobody is really sure. Bailey spent his remaining years working at a shoeshine stand in Nashville, occasionally returning to perform at the Opry for old-timers nights. Folk Historian David Morton had the insight to leave a tape recorder with Deford Bailey before he passed away, to make recordings at his leisure. The results that are found on this CD are nothing short of amazing. You might assume that not having performed in public for decades, that Bailey's talent would have diminished. These recordings show that Bailey was first and foremost the master of Country harmonica playing, the spring from which all Country harmonica players get their roots. Young harmonica players should wish to perform half as well.You get to hear the early standards that harmonica players used to showcase their talents. You'll hear fox chases, train imitations and songs that would eventually become the foundation of Country music. You'll also get to hear the playing of a master who's career is sadly overlooked by mainstream America due to stupidity and bigotry.If you're a fan of great harmonica players, if you're a Country music buff, if you are Black and you want to hear the work of a true freedom fighter and pioneer, this CD is a definite must-have for your collection."

DeFord Bailey--The BEST Harmonica Player!

R. Thompson | San Antonio, Texas | 03/09/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"DeFord is the BEST. This is a great quality CD and well worth the money if you love harmonica music. I would have loved to met DeFord in person and heard him blow! Great CD! Rick"