Robert Petway
Robert Petway | |
|---|---|
 The only known photograph of Robert Petway (c. 1941) | |
| Background information | |
| Born | ? October 18, 1907[1] ? Gee's Bend, Alabama, USA |
| Died | ? May 30, 1978[1] ? Chicago, Illinois, USA |
| Genres | Blues Delta Blues |
| Instrument(s) | Vocals Guitarist Songwriter |
| Labels | Bluebird Records |
Robert Petway was an African-American blues singer and guitarist.
Very little is known about Robert Petway. His birthplace is usually speculated to have been at or near J.F. Sligh Farm near Yazoo City, Mississippi, birthplace of his close friend and fellow bluesman Tommy McClennan, although some recent research suggests that Petway may have been born at Gee's Bend, Alabama.[1] His birth date is guessed at 1908, and the date and even the occurrence of his death is unknown. There is only one known picture of Petway, a publicity photo from 1941. He only recorded 16 songs, but he is said to have been an influence on many notable blues and rock musicians, including John Lee Hooker, Muddy Waters, and Jimi Hendrix.
Career
Like many bluesmen from the Mississippi Delta, Petway traveled around as a musician, playing at parties, roadhouses, and other venues available. Petway and McClennan often travelled and performed together. After McClennan had been in Chicago for a few years, Petway travelled north to join him and cut records, as did Georgia's Frank Edwards who met them in Mississippi.
"Catfish Blues"
One of Petway's most influential songs is "Catfish Blues", which he recorded in 1941. Amongst many other reworked versions, Muddy Waters used the arrangement and lyrics of "Catfish Blues" for his single "Rollin' Stone", the song from which the rock group The Rolling Stones chose their band name. The composition credit given to Petway is based entirely on the recording date of his version of the song; however it would be impossible to evidence that song as the conclusive and original source. There is speculation that Tommy McClennan had actually written the song, as he himself recorded it as "Deep Blues Sea". When David "Honeyboy" Edwards, a follower of Petway, was asked if Petway wrote the song, he replied, "He just made that song up and used to play it at them old country dances. He just made it up and kept it in his head."[2] In his autobiography David Honeyboy Edwards also remembers a delta blues guitarist he met called Tom Toy, who came from Leland, Mississippi. Apparantly Toy was well-known locally for his version of Catfish Blues. Sadly, though, Toy was never recorded and he is forgotten today. Nothing is known about him and it is also uncertain when excactly Tom Toy was active.
Second verse of "Catfish Blues"
What if I were a catfish, mama
I said swimmin’ deep down in, deep blue sea
Have these gals now, sweet mama, settin’ out,
Settin’ out hooks for me, settin’ out hook for me
Settin’ out hook for me, settin’ out hook for me
Settin’ out hook for me, settin’ out hook for me[3]
First verse of "Rollin' Stone"
Well, I wish I was a catfish,
swimmin in a oh, deep, blue sea
I would have all you good lookin women,
fishin, fishin after me
Sure 'nough, a-after me
Sure 'nough, a-after me
Oh 'nough, oh 'nough, sure 'nough [4]
Death/disappearance
There is no record, official or unofficial, of Petway's death. The last record of his public life is a quote from Honeyboy Edwards: "nobody I know heard what become of him."[5] Blues researcher Jason Rewald has suggested, on the basis of social security records, that Petway may in fact have been born in Gee's Bend, Alabama on October 18, 1907, and died in Chicago on May 30, 1978.[1] In his autobiography David Honeyboy Edwards actually tells that he heard that Petway might have moved to Chicago, but living there himself Honeyboy never actually met him in Chicago.
Discography
Petway only recorded two sessions,[5][6] both for Bluebird Records in Chicago.
Original 78's (in chronological order)
| First Session, Recorded on March 28, 1941 | |
| Catalogue # | Title |
|---|---|
| Bluebird B8726 | "Rockin' Chair Blues" / "Let Me Be Your Boss" |
| Bluebird B8756 | "Sleepy Woman Blues" / "Don't Go Down Baby" |
| Bluebird B8786 | "My Little Girl" / "Left My Baby Crying" |
| Bluebird B8838 | "Catfish Blues" / "Ride 'Em On Down" |
| Second Session, Recorded on February 20, 1942 | |
| Catalogue # | Title |
| Bluebird B8987 | "Boogie Woogie Woman" / "Hollow Log Blues" |
| Bluebird B9008 | "Bertha Lee Blues" / "In The Evening" |
| Bluebird B9036 | "My Baby Left Me" / "Cotton Pickin' Blues" |
| Bluebird unissued | "Hard Working Woman" / "Ar'nt Nobody's Fool" |
References
- ^ a b c d Jason Rewald, The Disappearance of Robert Petway: A New Theory, American Blues Scene, April 4, 2011
- ^ Document Records Catalogue
- ^ Lyrics to "Catfish Blues" from thedevilmusic.net
- ^ Lyrics to "Rollin' Stone" from thedevilmusic.net
- ^ a b Liner notes for Catfish Blues: Mississippi Blues, Vol. 3 (1936-1942) Cite error: The named reference "liner" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
- ^ Illustrated Robert Petway discography
External links
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