Remembering Blind Willie McTell

Remembering Blind Willie McTell
August 19, 2009
by Stacey Eidsen
Metro Spirit

“And I know one thing, nobody can sing the blues like Blind Willie McTell.”
— Bob Dylan, from his 1983 song “Blind Willie McTell”

AUGUSTA, GA - In the 50 years since his death, Thomson native Blind Willie McTell has become known as one of the country’s most influential bluesmen, inspiring famous musicians across the globe including Bob Dylan and the Allman Brothers.

Don Powers, an organizer of the Blind Willie McTell Blues Festival, held in Thomson each year, said this country lost a great blues legend on Aug. 19, 1959.

“From my point of view, Blind Willie is one of about five country blues guitarists, or early blues and ragtime guitarists, whose influence is still felt through music today,” Powers said, comparing McTell’s influence to other great blues musicians such as Robert Johnson, John Hurt, Arthur Blind Blake, Leadbelly and Blind Lemon Jefferson.

“Those people, in my opinion, are the best in the acoustic country blues.”

But what makes McTell stand out from those other blues artists is the fact that he played a 12-string guitar and was known for writing well-crafted songs with a touch of humor, Powers said.

“His style is called Piedmont Blues and that is a description used for guitarists in the South Carolina and Georgia region of the country,” Powers said. “He didn’t write songs just like, ‘My baby done left me and I’m broken-hearted.’ His songs had verses and bridges and, typically, had a little humor in them.”

While living in Milledgeville, Ga., in 1959, McTell is believed to have died from a cerebral hemorrhage at 58.

Jackson Cheatham, Augusta State University’s New Space Gallery director and another organizer of the blues festival in Thomson, said the festival was created to celebrate McTell’s life, his music and his impact on the blues.

“Blind Willie was definitely a mover and a shaker in the blues,” Cheatham said. “Any blues artist can tell you that he was probably one of a handful of artists that really shaped the blues. We love having the celebration of Blind Willie McTell’s music through our festival and we look forward to many more years of it.”

Powers vividly remembers the first time he heard a recording by McTell.

“It was back when I was in college,” Powers said. “I met a guitar player back in the early 1970s. And when I introduced myself, I said, ‘Hello. I’m Don Powers from Thomson, Ga.’”

The young guitarist laughed and told Powers that he had been trying to learn a tune by a bluesman from Thomson.

“That’s when he told me about Willie McTell,” Powers said. “I had already heard ‘Statesboro Blues’ by the Allman Brothers, so I knew who he was. But I went over to his house and he played me the Library of Congress’ recording of Willie McTell.”

The recording was done by historian Alan Lomax, who spent much of his life collecting traditional music from around the country, he said.

“Alan Lomax met Willie in Atlanta and took him to a hotel room and turned on the recorder,” Powers said. “And about an hour later, they had 15 to 20 songs recorded.”

During the recording, McTell mentions he grew up in the Happy Valley region of Thomson, Powers said.

McTell, who was born in May 1901, did not let the fact that he could not see prevent him from both reading and writing music, according to the Activities Council of Thomson. Through the support of his family, he eventually learned to read and write music in Braille.

“Even though he was born and raised in Thomson, he didn’t stay here long,” Powers said. “He lived his teenage years in Statesboro, but he didn’t stay there long either. I guess if you had to pick his music home, his musical home would be Atlanta.”

Nevertheless, Thomson embraces McTell’s connection to the area and is acutely aware of the impact his music has had on the blues.

“What we do in Thomson is we try to use his name to bring recognition to him and to give us a general genre of music that we can frame our festival around,” Powers said.
“At the festival, we don’t necessarily do all straight blues, but Willie McTell didn’t necessarily do all straight blues either. We showcase a variety of music to honor Willie McTell.”

For more information about Blind Willie McTell and the annual blues festival, which is held in May of each year, visit blindwillie.com.

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