I saw him at the Newport Folk Festival about 60 years ago and had his first two LPs. Not just great music but a gentle and engaging personality. Thanks for the reminder.
Edited by - DougD on 09/20/2024 13:22:21
learned alternating bass finger picking from a book about him. He was one of my earliest guitar influences.
Never seen him or been anywhere near him but, i think his gentle relaxed attitude shines through in his music.
Another Mississippi hero! yes...
Trivia... He was known to have accompanied Willie Naramore (of Carroll County, Mississippi) on stage at several events through the 1920's playing old time fiddle tunes - when Shelly Smith couldn't make it to the performance. John was a close neighbor of Naramore. When Naramore won an old time fiddle contest - the prize include recording sessions with OKeh Records in Memphis and Atlanta. While he was there - he mentioned that John Hurt was someone they needed to record. So he was pretty much responsible for MS John Hurt being discovered and recorded. Thank you sir!
And it is said that they collaborated on writing the well know tune "Carroll County Blues".
...and all that happened just down the road a piece. 
Edited by - tonyelder on 09/21/2024 09:18:45
Thanks for that Tony
Would this be an accepted version?.. i like it
Yeap a good version for sure.
the Narmour and White recording
...talk about a jam buster! 
...my banjo playing buddy knows it well - on fiddle and guitar. I get turned around and loose count too easy. He's kind to me. 
And we also play Avalon Quick Step - fun tune too.
...but this is about MS John Hurt - sorry for the side trip. I just thought folks might be interested to know this part of his life too. It pleases me to know...
Edited by - tonyelder on 09/21/2024 12:55:53
Yep, sounds like you have to know it well before you can play it . But that's what i like about it...Edit: (I'm going to give it my "Farewell Trion" treatment)
Avalon Quick Step, sounds like a version of Soldiers Joy to me? 
Edited by - pete_fiddle on 09/21/2024 14:00:41
I think you mean "Narmour and Smith recording," not "White." And that's apparently how he spelled his name, not "Naramore." Just a little nit picking for historical accuracy.
It's not clear if Narmour composed this tune or if he heard it whistled or hummed by a black neighbor. In any case, I think all other versions are derived from their 1929 recording, as people struggled to figure it out. Its "crooked" to begin with, and then he doesn't always play it the same way every time. Sounds like they might have been "working it up" during the recording. Also, people don't always hear where "one" is - he plays a longish note at the beginning, but that's a preamble, not "one," at least to my ears.
Actually the Highwoods version seems pretty close, except we played it in A for some reason.
Some of those old guitar pickers...like...well I don't even try...lol...too good to mess it all up with my playin'. Ain't none others like Mississippi John Hurt. Kinda like Libba Cotton...I play her songs she wrote for guitar, but I don't even try to come close to what kinda pickin' she was doing.
Peggy your pickin, Edit:(and singing) is great, from what iv'e heard.
Edited by - pete_fiddle on 09/22/2024 12:09:49
Fortunately not everyone has resisted "messing up" songs from John Hurt to suit their style. Here's one from a show I recorded almost 40 years ago for a series that was distributed on National Public Radio.
Edited by - DougD on 10/12/2024 02:31:31
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