I can't tell y'all exactly why I have for so many years been enamored by Bobby Rush. There are certainly better blues vocalists than Bobbyrush, as he calls himself in one full-throated gasp. And while not known as a great musician, they're not too many left who play the blues harmonica better than he does. His song writing is clever and true-blues country, but none of his tunes have been huge hits. And yet...
And yet...
There are no better showmen working in the blues arena today. Even though you might have to warn a female friend what to expect, his raunchy, off-color show--replete with sexy, gyrating, dancing girls--is always delivered with a distinct wink and a nod. Bobbyrush is just letting you in on one of his slightly dirty jokes. And if your female friend can't take a joke, even if it is a bit offensive, then maybe just a friend is what she should remain.
Most of all, gladly Bobbyrush harkens back to a bygone era of minstrel shows (in which he was once briefly a performer), vaudeville, Harlem night clubs, chitlin' circuit juke joints, and southern soul Saturday nights when rural Black folks gathered for a romping good time.
It's all recalled in his new book, I Ain't Studdin' Ya: My American Blues Story: the hard work, the persistence, and the everlasting desire to please an audience. It's like sitting around after a gig reminiscing with good ol' Bobbyrush about the good ol' days, as well as the bad.
Most of all it's fun! No matter what he had to go through to get where he is today, "the undisputed King of the Chitlin' Circuit," you can tell by this book and by every single performance that Bobbyrush is all about one very inspiring thing: unselfishly sharing his contagious happiness and joy with being alive, still kickin', and out there again on a sweltering, southern Saturday night having a rambunctious, rollicky good time until it's time to sober up and go to church on Sunday morning.
And yet...
There are no better showmen working in the blues arena today. Even though you might have to warn a female friend what to expect, his raunchy, off-color show--replete with sexy, gyrating, dancing girls--is always delivered with a distinct wink and a nod. Bobbyrush is just letting you in on one of his slightly dirty jokes. And if your female friend can't take a joke, even if it is a bit offensive, then maybe just a friend is what she should remain.
Most of all, gladly Bobbyrush harkens back to a bygone era of minstrel shows (in which he was once briefly a performer), vaudeville, Harlem night clubs, chitlin' circuit juke joints, and southern soul Saturday nights when rural Black folks gathered for a romping good time.
It's all recalled in his new book, I Ain't Studdin' Ya: My American Blues Story: the hard work, the persistence, and the everlasting desire to please an audience. It's like sitting around after a gig reminiscing with good ol' Bobbyrush about the good ol' days, as well as the bad.
Most of all it's fun! No matter what he had to go through to get where he is today, "the undisputed King of the Chitlin' Circuit," you can tell by this book and by every single performance that Bobbyrush is all about one very inspiring thing: unselfishly sharing his contagious happiness and joy with being alive, still kickin', and out there again on a sweltering, southern Saturday night having a rambunctious, rollicky good time until it's time to sober up and go to church on Sunday morning.
RSS Feed
