In this column, Whole Lotta Blues, my goal is to focus on different artists and individual songs that have helped shape and develop the musical genre I so adore- the blues.

There are many reasons why the blues are still relevant, crucial even, not only to fans of rock and roll, but to Americans. Through the blues, several decades were chronicled – the days of prohibition, The Great Depression, and beyond. This being the first installment of Whole Lotta Blues, I figured I’d start from what is more or less the beginning of this great musical period: country blues, specifically the artist Son House, who epitomized the era.

Some of you may already be familiar with the music of Son House, as the White Stripes covered his song “Death Letter Blues,” not only on their 2002 album De Stijl, but also in a performance of the piece live at the Grammy’s a few years back.

Son House, born Edward James House Jr., hailed from the heart of the Mississippi Delta and was one of country blues’ greatest musicians. He exemplified this era, because, like many bluesmen of the time, he waffled between life as a preacher, and life as an itinerant, booze-swilling, guitarist and blues performer. Eventually, his soul was conquered by the blues, and a manifestation of this battle can be heard in the lyrics of his song Preachin’ the Blues, “I said, ‘Farewell church, may the good Lord bless your soul.’”

Perhaps my favorite aspect of House’s music is the sheer amount of emotion and intensity he brings to his songs. In his recording of Death Letter Blues, the listener can hear with ease, despite the constant scratches of the shellac, the thunderous stomping of his feet, and the ferocious manner in which his hands slap the strings of his National Steel guitar, as though he has a bone to pick with it. Even more powerful still is his voice, which roars and growls about unrequited love, death, and loneliness.

“Looked like there was 10,000 people standin’ round the buryin’ ground

I didn’t know I loved her ’til they laid her down” –Death Letter Blues

After country blues faded away and the Great Depression hit, Son House dropped music altogether, moving from place to place until he eventually settled down in upstate New York, where he got a job working on the railroad. It was there he was found in 1964, not having played a single note since the early 1930’s. Luckily for blues fans, House dusted off his guitar and came out of retirement. He performed a few times, including the Montreaux Jazz Festival and the Gaslight Café in NYC. It is from this time period that we are left with videos of Mr. House. You can not only hear the desperation in his voice, but also see it on his face- it appears as though he is on the verge of tears, making the performance all the more legitimate. With that in mind, I’ll conclude this column with my favorite video of Son, performing Forever on My Mind.

By: Molly Morgan

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