Biography
During a March 1924 visit to Atlanta, OKeh made the historic first-ever field recording of a male blues singer/guitarist, Ed Andrews, who was seen busking on the street. A rough-hewn vocalist with a wide-shaking vibrato, Andrews accompanied himself with utilitarian pick-and-strum guitar. His first song, “Barrel House Blues,” strung together back-country verses, such as:
“My mama told me when I was a chile,
My mama told me when I was a chile,
Running around and women gets you after while”
The 78’s flip side, “Time Ain’t Gonna Make Me Stay,” was very similar. When the record came out that June, OKeh ran a newspaper ad stating, “Right where blues songs were born is where Ed. Andrews was singing ’em and playing ’em when the special OKeh Recording Expedition discovered him.” The advertisement also referred to him as “boy.” Andrews never recorded again. Technique-wise, it was an inauspicious start to what rapidly blossom into a lively guitar scene.
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