Memphis Minnie: Queen Of The Delta Blues

Minnie, Memphis

By 1937 Memphis Minnie was established in Chicago. She frequently took part in 'Battles of the Blues' with stars like Big Bill Broonzy. She also travelled with pianist Black Bob, who had probably played on a number of her 1935 sessions. She'd split with Kansas Joe McCoy and had nowhere to live in Chicago. She'd stay with Tampa Red, Sunnyland Slim or bassist Milton Rector. As we saw in JSP7716, Minnie was a prolific songwriter who included autobiography in her songs, so it's fair to assume Kansas Joe was in her mind when she sang My Baby Don't Want Me No More. Blues Everywhere took a serious tone as Minnie listed where the blues resided, ending with 'there's blues in my bed, 'cos I'm sleeping by myself'. Her other pianist was probably Blind John Davis, who recalled, Now, she was a difficult kid! But she made some nice numbers. She wanted to have her way. She'd play a number this way for a few minutes. Then she'd lay her guitar down, come back and pick it up, and she'd put another chord where she had the other chord. She returned to Chicago with new husband Son Joe. They went into the studios at the beginning of February 1939. Joe recorded first, laying down Diggin' My Potatoes some months before Washboard Sam's version. He also recorded a tribute to his new partner in Key To The World, he sang 'the woman I am now lovin', she is the key to the world'. This and the other four songs from his session are notable for the smooth interplay between their guitars. In later years, whether by his own decision or Minnie's, Joe simply played chorded rhythm behind Minnie's lead. Their life together was mutually pleasing, it seems. Minnie's experienced the ups and downs that were the lot of most blues artists, but not until 1958 did she make her final - unissued - recording. She and Joe did the odd gig and radio date but even so, Minnie often had to pawn her guitar. She had a stroke which confined her to a wheelchair. She died in a nursing home on August 6, 1973.

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