You can view the page at http://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/co...g-Prayer-Blues
You can view the page at http://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/co...g-Prayer-Blues
Mandolin Cafe - Since 1995
Facebook - Instagram - Threads
Mandolin Cafe Case Stickers
Mandolin Cafe Store
...for those of you who haven't heard the original...
Last edited by Scott Tichenor; Mar-28-2017 at 3:56pm. Reason: checking link
Orcas Island Tonewoods
Free downloads of my mandolin CDs:
"Mandolin Graffiti"
"Mangler Of Bluegrass"
"Overhead At Darrington"
"Electric Mandolin Graffiti"
Wonderful article & videos! Listen to Mr. Bill speaking about Deford Bailey: https://youtu.be/6uzwL1XXSQM
was so fortunate to have made it to this show. truly inspiring!
Thanks Bradley..
for those interested...a great biography on DeFord.
https://www.amazon.com/DeFord-Bailey...=deford+bailey
some rare live performance video..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z20d-eHcjhk
Catch a bit of Evening Prayer Blues at the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2016...
- - - Updated - - -
Here's another version...
https://youtu.be/7G4dmPTsiSw
Last edited by BradKlein; Mar-14-2017 at 9:31pm.
Speaking of biographies, I'd like to share a bit of personal correspondence with Monroe's biographer, Richard D. Smith.
Also significant -- and truly unprecedented -- is that when Monroe recorded "Evening Prayer Blues" on Feb. 19, 1981, for what became his Master of Bluegrass album, he performed it not as a solo but as a mandolin trio, in company with Larry Sledge and Jesse McReynolds.
Bill Monroe occasionally played as part of impromptu mandolin harmony groupings on stage... but Monroe -- the supremely competitive musician -- never, to the best of my knowledge, recorded with other mandolin players in a studio. (If I've forgotten any other examples beside "Evening Prayer Blues, they were still extraordinarily rare.) So for Monroe to opt to record "Evening Prayer Blues" as a mandolin trio ... well, think about what a special act of musical communion this tune represented for him.
Orcas Island Tonewoods
Free downloads of my mandolin CDs:
"Mandolin Graffiti"
"Mangler Of Bluegrass"
"Overhead At Darrington"
"Electric Mandolin Graffiti"
Love hearing it on the oval hole....
https://youtu.be/x99v7DfS3dg
Bruce's link to DeFord Bailey's solo harmonica recording seems to have vanished from the first comment, so I am linking to a youtube version, HERE. Enjoy. And thanks for the many kind comments and to folks who have shared this fascinating story.
Thanks Brad for putting up (replacing) that video. The original posted by Spruce disappeared for me too but I figured it was an issue with my computer.
On the subject of the original DeFord Bailey's harmonica version I'm somewhat confused. I'll admit that the only version of Evening Prayer Blues I've been familiar with up until now is the Compton version. I understand (now, after reading the article) that Mike is paying tribute to Mr. Bailey's recording by doing the first part in 'A' and replicating the blues notes of the harmonica etc. When it moves into the key of 'G' it is more or less the Bill Monroe version.
What I don't quite understand is how or why Bill Monroe's version in 'G' is even considered the same tune. I hear the basic roots of the Bailey tune in Bill's version, but to me, it sounds like Bill took a very simple and repetitive blues-run and fleshed it out into a structured 'fiddle-tune' with well defined A and B parts.
I wonder if Bill Monroe took credit for writing his own version of this tune, or did bill allow his updated version to remain the property of DeFord Bailey?
Hmm, looked at the code he put in. Shouldn't have worked but did for awhile. Not sure what went on there. Sometimes it's better to move on and not spend a lot of time trying to figure it out. Either way, I put the video back in there.
Mandolin Cafe - Since 1995
Facebook - Instagram - Threads
Mandolin Cafe Case Stickers
Mandolin Cafe Store
A couple of thoughts come to mind. One is that Monroe travelled with Bailey, and heard him play this tune live numerous times. And he probably based his adaptation on what he'd heard and his very considerable musical memory rather than the recording which he may or may not have owned. There is a second non-commercial recording of Bailey playing the tune in G and it seems that Bailey did perform it in that key at times.
As for royalties, I presume they went to Bailey since Monroe seemed pretty clear that he considered it his tune rather than an original composition.
Came across an interview with DeFord's grandson ..Carlos DeFord Bailey..
He tells a story of DeFord out on the road on a Grand o'l Opry tour in the "Jim Crow South" days...
He says Monroe went out and bought a large suitcase that DeFord who (at 4'9"tall) could fit into and how Monroe and Acuff would sneak him into hotels and carry him up the stairs in the suitcase..
Nothing says you care like carrying somebody up the stairs in a suitcase..
Wow! What a story. If you have a link to the interview, I'd like to read it.
That video was unvailable to me, but I found others. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z20d...Xdi3jGHHlWibxA
Noting that today is the birthday of DeFord Bailey, born this date 1899.
Bit of historical information for those wishing to dive deeper into the history of DeFord Bailey. On this date 2005 PBS ran a feature on DeFord that culminated in a lot of information still housed on their web site. The Timeline in particular is quite interesting.
Mandolin Cafe - Since 1995
Facebook - Instagram - Threads
Mandolin Cafe Case Stickers
Mandolin Cafe Store
Noting the anniversary of this fine bit of writing put together for us by Bradley Klein.
Thanks for reposting. Don't know how I missed this. I must have been in Scotland. Oh, wait! I was.
Today is the anniversary of DeFord's passing in 1982. Can never get enough of this feature article. One of our favorites.
Happy birthday, DeFord Bailey
Another anniversary for this fine feature article produced for us by Bradley Klein!
Today is the anniversary of DeFord Bailey's passing. Always enjoy seeing this article come up on occasion.
Bookmarks