I have a new hero!

Ninety-five year old David "Honeyboy" Edwards  was born June 28, 1915 in Shaw, Mississippi. Honeyboy is one of the last living links to Robert Johnson, and one of, if not THE last original acoustic Delta blues players. He is a living legend, and  his story is truly part of history. He is the real deal.

Grammy Award winner 2010 - Lifetime Achievement
Grammy Award winner 2008 - Best Traditional Blues Album
Blues Music Awards 2005 & 2007 - Acoustic Blues Artist
And that's just the recent ones!

He grew up listening and learning from Tommy Johnson and his life has been intertwined with almost every major blues legend, including Robert Johnson, Charlie Patton, Big Joe Williams, Rice "Sonny Boy Williamson" Miller, Howlin' Wolf, Peetie Wheatstraw, Sunnyland Slim, Lightnin' Hopkins, Big Walter, Little Walter,  Magic Sam, Muddy Waters, and the list goes on, even to this date.

Even at 95, his tour calendar is the envy any travelling blues man. A look at his schedule and you'll see Toronto, Los Angeles, Chicago, New Orleans and Boston and they spoke on the stage of a recent tour to Europe. What will YOU be doing when you are 95?

Toronto's Hugh's Room was comfortably full on the evening of August 9. The opening set was performed by Les Copeland, an acoustic blues player from our own British Columbia. A strong singer and guitar player the crowd was most appreciative of his playing and singing. He was backed by harmonica player Michael Frank who is not only a harp player but the main man at Earwig Music, the company that not only produces Les's music but Honeyboy's as well.

When Honeyboy slowly made the stage for his set, the crowd quieted more than I've ever heard before. You could hear a guitar pick drop. We were in the presence of greatness and everyone in the room could sense it. You could almost feel the electricity and the sense that if just seeing him was all we got, we would be happy. But when he strapped on his electric guitar and began picking away, the element of awe became even greater. Here was this man of 95 years, his peers either long gone or in a nursing home, playing away like he was in his prime (well almost). And when he began to wail and sing his heart out it was clear that we were in for one fabulous evening.

He was backed by Les on acoustic guitar and Michael on harmonica. And while it was clear that the two back-ups had trouble at times finding where Honeyboy was going, it was equally clear that, at times, they had trouble keeping up with him. The respect they had for their friend was palpable.

The set included about 15 or 16 songs and included many original tunes as well as some old blues standards. Songs like Sweet Home Chicago, Little Boy Blue, Goin' Down Slow, Who's Lovin' You Tonight and Shak 'Em On Down were genuinely enjoyed by the audience.

It was a night to remember. If Honey Boy ever comes anywhere close to your hometown see him. Time is certainly running out to see the last of the Delta Blues players.

Remember, it's a privilege to experience live music. Get out to a local club and support your local musicians and clubs. And be sure to buy your CDs directly from the artist. The blues is alive and well in Canada but it's up to us to keep it going.

For more blues photos, visit my web site at: www.dawk.ca

Larry "Dawk" McCarthy

© 2010 - All photos copyright Larry "Dawk" McCarthy.
Copying or use of the images is not permitted without written permission.