At first sight, the appearance of this legendary bluesman can fool you. Willie Foster is 77 years old, confined to a wheelchair, and legally blind, but to see him play is to know what the blues is all about. Mempho Record... more »s is proud to announce "Live at Airport Grocery," the latest United States release from Willie Foster. Recorded live to 12 Track analog, "Live at Airport Grocery" is a testament to the soul and love Willie foster has for his Music. Airport Grocery is a small Bar-B-Q juke joint in Cleveland, Mississippi. It is one of those places we have all seen, but often overlook; a great place to get some hot food and see live performances from some of the best kept secrets the South has to offer. "Live at Airport Grocery" is just such a performance that is captured and reproduced for everyone to enjoy. Willie Foster's performances unveil his life as a bluesman. As he says "The blues is a burden. You've got to live the blues to know the blues." From being born in a cotton field of the Mississippi delta to loosing loved ones, this recording reveals and expresses his innermost feelings. Track 2, "Love Everybody" speaks for itself. On track 8, he sings about his departed "Dear Old Dad," and nearly brings you to tears with his wailing harmonica on track 3, "Honey Ain't Sweet." An authentic bluesman whose career has spanned the better part of this century, Willie Foster is living history. Listen for yourself and be taken back to a time when all that mattered was a rhythm and a song.« less
At first sight, the appearance of this legendary bluesman can fool you. Willie Foster is 77 years old, confined to a wheelchair, and legally blind, but to see him play is to know what the blues is all about. Mempho Records is proud to announce "Live at Airport Grocery," the latest United States release from Willie Foster. Recorded live to 12 Track analog, "Live at Airport Grocery" is a testament to the soul and love Willie foster has for his Music. Airport Grocery is a small Bar-B-Q juke joint in Cleveland, Mississippi. It is one of those places we have all seen, but often overlook; a great place to get some hot food and see live performances from some of the best kept secrets the South has to offer. "Live at Airport Grocery" is just such a performance that is captured and reproduced for everyone to enjoy. Willie Foster's performances unveil his life as a bluesman. As he says "The blues is a burden. You've got to live the blues to know the blues." From being born in a cotton field of the Mississippi delta to loosing loved ones, this recording reveals and expresses his innermost feelings. Track 2, "Love Everybody" speaks for itself. On track 8, he sings about his departed "Dear Old Dad," and nearly brings you to tears with his wailing harmonica on track 3, "Honey Ain't Sweet." An authentic bluesman whose career has spanned the better part of this century, Willie Foster is living history. Listen for yourself and be taken back to a time when all that mattered was a rhythm and a song.
CD Reviews
Straight from Willie's heart, The Blues.
09/19/1999
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Willie is a true gem. He has been subjected to so much abuse but shows no bitterness. Willie, at the age of 73, lost his right leg. At the age of 78 he lost his left leg. He had surgery on Wednesday and played that Friday and Saturday. He's tuff but on the other hand, he's the sweetest most gentle person you will ever meet. Although he does have gigs in other places, Willie can be found playing just about every weekend in the Cleveland and Greenville, Ms area. He is one of the very few true Bluesmen left and I suggest you make plans to see him. It will be a show that you will never forget. As for the recording, it was put together very well and Airport Grocery provides a unique sound. It's not a very large place but on the other hand it's not too small. One of those places with just the right kind of atmosphere and that good ole down home cookin with friendly service. These combinations can be found only in the Mississippi Delta. What a true downhome place to visit!"
Incredible harmonica discovery!
Expat in Asia | Bangkok, Thailand | 09/13/1999
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Immediately after being notified of Willie Foster's release I ordered the CD 'cause I am a harmonica blues fan. This is the real blues. An incredible release from a real bluesman. Great! His "Hoochie Coochie Man" has even more musical perfection than the original. Additionally, this CD excells on the recording quality. Clear definition of each instrument and acoustical depth of the musical room do add listening pleasure in high-end audio quality to the blues pleasure."
Billy Marquis[ delta muscian] to living Legend and friend//
billy marquis | indianola mississippi | 03/13/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I know Willie< I have played guitar with Willie, and I have set and Listen to such a pooring out of his soul on stage.When Wille gave me a copy one saturday night after a gig in the delta,It blew me away, and I don't get blown away very easy, but this is one of the true legends from the miss. delta//Robert Johnson all the old blues greats, etc Willie is about the only one we got left. Let me tell you,you will not meet a better man than willie i don't care where you search, he is the blues,and I,m proud to say I know him.When I started my cd I came home with a demo andI wanted Willie Foster to here it, he did and told me what I did wrong,and he was 100 per cent right.All you got to do is buy the cd and from the first note you will know what I'm talking about. This is a must have for any kind of blues fan. Get the cd here,because they can't print them fast enough,no joke , there selling by the Thousand's. Willie is steady ordering cds to keep filling orders.Get it on amazon they make sure they don't run out.You will know why when you here it.THANK YOU WILLIE FOSTER///BILLY"
SWEET BLUES MUSIC
deepbluereview | SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA USA | 05/16/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"WILLIE FOSTER IS TRULY A GIFTED INDIVIDUAL. AT 77 YEARS OLD, LEGALLY BLIND AND CONFINED TO A WHEEL CHAIR, HE PLAYS HARMONICA AND SINGS HIS HEART OUT FOR 52 MINUTES. NOT TO MENTION THE FACT THAT 8 OF THE 9 SONGS ARE FOSTER ORIGINALS. THE ONLY EXCEPTION IS HOOCHIE COOCHIE MAN (WILLIE DIXON). WHILE YOU MIGHT EXPECT FOSTER TO SING ABOUT PAIN, HEARTBREAK AND MISERY, HE DOESN'T. ALL OF THE SONGS ARE UPLIFTING, JOYUS AND OFTEN SPRITUAL. IT'S HARD TO PICK A FAVORITE ON THIS CD, BUT IF PRESSED TO PICK ONE, I WOULD GIVE THE NOD TO "MY DEAR OLD DAD" WHAT A GREAT SONG AND A GREAT CD. MY ONLY REGRET IS THAT I CAN ONLY GIVE IT 5 STARS. BUY IT AND HAVE SOME FUN LISTENING TO THIS LITTLE KNOWN MASTER OF THE BLUES."
Airport Style
Dr. Charles Wagoner | Cleveland, Mississippi United States | 05/10/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I had dinner last night at the Airport Grocery in Cleveland, Mississippi where Live at the Airport was recorded. Eating there, you can almost hear the ghosts of the great bluesmen who have sat on that stage and filled the room with the sounds of the joys and pain that are part of living in the Delta. Willie Foster is a living legend of the genre, and if you don't snap up the opportunity to hear this man play you are giving up on history while you still have the chance to experience it."
Track Listings (9) - Disc #1