Ragtime Blues Masters - Blind Blake
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Written by: karlvcohen
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Date: Fri, 11 Mar 2011 |
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Blind Arthur Blake, born eighteen ninety three in the town of Jacksonville, Florida and passed away in nineteen thirty three, was a successful blues singer and guitarist. He's known as "The King of Ragtime Guitar". He recorded around eighty tunes for Paramount Records between nineteen twenty six to nineteen thirty two. He was a very accomplished musician of ragtime blues with a surprisingly diverse repertoire. He is well known for his syncopated guitar sound that sounded like ragtime piano. We don't know a lot about Blake. His place of birth is written as Jacksonville, Florida by Paramount but that's not definite. For one recording he lapses into a Geechee dialect, which might indicate that he originated from the coastal region of Georgia. Nothing at all is recorded of the events concerning his death and no one is certain of his real name. According to some, his correct name might have been Arthur Phelps, however there is no corroborated evidence of this.
The "Phelps" name probably was born after he replied to Blind Willie McTell in a discourse in 1925 in Atlanta, where Blind Blake was never said to have visited; nor did Blind Wille ever live in or near Chicago. It's a matter of record that several Blake's recordings were copyrighted by the name 'Arthur Blake', and during his recording with Papa Charlie Jackson, "Papa Charlie and Blind Blake Talk About It", these are clearly understood:
Jackson: What is your right name?
Blake: My right name is Arthur Blake!
It's a great shame that there is only one photograph of him existing.
He first recorded in 1926 and his songs sold really well. His first recorded song was "Early Morning Blues" and "West Coast Blues" was on the other side. These two songs are marvellous examples of his talent and became the corner stones of the developing Piedmont blues playing style.
Blind Blake's Guitar Technique
It's not sure if Blake had an instructor, or how he created this amazing style. Although many artists had a syncopated approach, almost none were as accurate and as quick as Blind Blake.
Throughout his work, never mind of the key used, the chord shapes used were really quite normal. His left hand was very efficient at damping the strings which is an essential technique for fast finger picking. It appears to that the right hand was the magical one, although of course both combine to create the music.
Blake's picking style can be split up into these elements - thumb technique, fast finger triplets and runs on a single string. It's true that other guitarists used these techniques, but Blake combined them in a continuous stream, making very intricate and syncopated music.
His thumb in particular needs special study. All guitarists are familiar with the alternating bass picking pattern. However, Blake might brush his thumb from one string to another, making a double beat instead of a single beat! He may in addition reverse the picking pattern in mid flow, which shows amazing control.
Blake went into the studio for the last time in 1932, Paramount's bankruptcy speeding up his career end. Fans sometimes consider that Blake's later recordings don't have the same 'panache'.
From many accounts, he drank a lot through his last years. Perhaps this was the cause of a too early death when he was 40 years of age. No one is sure how he came to his end - Gary Davis heard that he was hit and killed by a tram in Chicago.
Author is an expert writer on learn how to play bluesguitar and learn how to play bluesguitar.
Source: Ragtime Blues Masters - Blind Blake
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