Grave of Son House - Detroit, MI
Posted by: Rattrak
N 42° 25.509 W 083° 15.460
17T E 314270 N 4699451
Here lies the father of the Blues, Son House.
Waymark Code: WM85CQ
Location: Michigan, United States
Date Posted: 01/31/2010
Views: 15
What a life and story that of Eddie James House Jr. aka Son
House. He is considered to be the “father of the blues”. One thing
for sure is the Son House was there in the beginning of the blues,
specifically Mississippi Delta Blues.
Here are some little know facts about blues music. Blues are the
only pure American born type of music. The blues were born in the
Mississippi Delta, developed all along the Mississippi River all
the way north, also in Chicago and here in Detroit. Many think that
the blues started with the famous Robert Johnson. Not true and in
fact Son House was a mentor and an influence to Robert Johnson.
Son House had lived quite a life starting as a youth picking
cotton. He was a Baptist Minister, killed a man, bluesman, boxcar
assembly worker, back to a musician. All of which leads to quite a
life story.
It starts with the question of his real birth date. It is
officially listed as March 21, 1902 but the reality is more then
likely March 21, 1886 in Riverton, Mississippi. The confusion came
about when Son House applied for a job in 1943 with the New York
Central Railroad. As told by Son House he had to lie about his age
to get the job. Being they wanted younger workers he did this to
get the job. Since that time it was recorded with the government
and 1902 became his date of birth. To this date no one knows for
sure but we do know he lived until at least 86 years old and maybe
even 102 years old.
Son House started preaching during his teens and became a minister
by the time he was 20 years old. This only lasted until the draw of
women and his blues music move him away from ministry. He was
married 5 times through out the years.
After shooting and killing a man in 1928 he did a year and a half
on a camp farm. The claim of self defence was backed by a judge and
he was released. In 1929 he went back to his music and in 1930 he recorded 10 cuts for Paramount. Then in 1941-42 Son House records his music for the Library of Congress. In 1943 he moves to Rochester New York and begins working for the railroad. He worked for the railroad up to 1964 when America had seen a blues revival. Back in the music industry once again and even recorded a short film call “Son House” in 1969. He played until 1971 when he quit due to health problems.
Son House moved to Detroit in 1976 and lived here until he died
from larynx cancer in 1988.
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