john fahey week 2021 - day 7 - final day - robbie basho day

today is the anniversary of the birth of john fahey and the death of robbie basho. fahey week 2021 comes to an end. 

while fahey repudiated cosmic sentimentalism basho did not. his work represents a sustained attempt to reach spiritual take-off from the homeland of california. 

'another guy called reuben lacey... he played with a medicine bottle'

so says son house at a gig in oberlin college April 15, 1965 (at about 4.00 minutes in). son house began as a preacher and become a blues singer, reuben lacey went at it the other way. in the 30ies he recorded sides for paramount in the 60ies he was conducting a church in ridgecrest california. 

 

 

here a blues fan the fake luthier goes in search of him. 

like son house reuben was rediscovered in the  60ies by fahey, david evans and al 'blind owl' wilson. there was an album of his church music (sounding like blind willie johnson) put out on takoma. 

today fahey week 2021 ends. soon jackson c. frank is born (and dies the very next day). then it is bandcamp friday and then (soon enough) the equinox. 

reuben may have sung this hymn (by brother claude ely).

'there ain't no grave can hold my body down

there ain't no grave can hold my body down

when I hear that trumpet sound

I'm gonna rise right out of the ground

ain't no grave can hold my body down...'