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April 18, 2008 - Supper Time
Alrighty then...after Jessie Mae and Honeyboy I check in to the Riverside Hotel in downtown Clarksdale. Frank 'Rat' , Joyce and their daughter, ZL, are keepin' history alive as this is truly a blues drenched atmosphere. There is mojo and then there is MOJO...musicians that have stayed &/or lived here through history...John Lee Hooker, Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, Ike & Tina Turner, Sonny Boy Williamson, Levon Helm, Jessie Mae Hemphill and on on it goes.
In 1944 Rat's mother Zee Ratliff converted the Afro American Hospital into this hotel. As many of you know it was hearing Bessie Smith's - T'Ain't Nobody's Biziness - that woke me up from a deep sleep. Once bitten I have been infected with the blues ever since! Bessie, in 1937, was in a major car accident and she died later that day in this building in room #2. As this room is not rented out (not that I wanted to stay in the room anyhow...spirits and such) Rat placed me in room 2A across the hall in the "JFK" room.
There is a fine line between 'tourist' and blues history. It wasn't until I played the blues for Joyce and Rat, smoked a cigar, drank beers, went to Red's Juke and hung out on the stoop that I really felt like I was living my blues history. It wasn't about the reading any longer...this has become an integral part of my own story!
So many stories from Rat and Joyce and the other fine guests...so little time!
Bessie Smith...you were one amazing, complicated and tricky woman...
Kat
1 comment:
Hey Kat,
Checking in to say I wish we'd had more time to chat while at the Riverside Hotel. Mick and I both loved hearing you sing on the porch at Rats. And, as I'm becoming more acquainted with you, your music and your journey as I read your blog, I'm blown away! You are such a gifted songwriter. And, as promised, we are sharing your music with other blues lovers here in Tampa, Florida. Keep the blues alive and be well. XXOO, Cindy Davis
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