Louisiana Red Guitar Lesson: Lowdown Blues in A

Louisiana Red (1932-1912) was an archetypal bluesman who played in the vein of Muddy Waters, Jimmy Reed, Robert Nighthawk, Lightnin' Hopkins and John Lee Hooker. He brought a lot of pain and sincerity to his music; his father was lynched by the KKK, his mother died shortly after his birth, and he was raised in an Alabama orphanage. He's a little less known in the States than many of his peers because he lived the last twenty-odd years of his life in Hannover, Germany. Like Memphis Slim, Eddie Boyd and many others, in Europe he found a refuge from racism as well as a more receptive audience. This lesson looks at his song "I'm a Roaming Stranger" off his classic on the Roulette label, "The Lowdown Back Porch Blues". I wasn't aware of this great LP until blues producer and long-time collaborator with Red, Little Victor, talked about how inspiring that LP was to him during his interview on my No Border Blues podcast. When I heard it, I was knocked out. I really like the evocative use of space in this song and the mournful blues mood. I also like the fact that it's not really very complicated-- the sparse trio setting makes it an accessible song for a mid-level guitarist who's learning about the blues in the A position. For more Louisiana Red, check out his Chess 45s under the name "Rocky Fuller", his classic "Too Poor to Die", his SMOKIN' 45 on the Laurie label "Who Dat", and of course the Ruf records Memphis Mojo and Back to the Black Bayou with Little Victor's Juke Joint. Driftin' on the Earwig label is great too-- he left behind a lot of great records.

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Thanks so much to all of you.
#slowbluesmusic #slowblues #louisianared

[adylp]

Many thanks for the lesson and intro to Louisiana Red!

[juanrajara]

Great lesson. A couple lines sticking with me afterwards; he encourages himself and you don't have to play it, you just have to think it.

[robertellison]

Great video. Red's Sitting Here Wonderin album is one of my favorites. I saw him once at the Somewhere Else Tavern in Greensboro, NC.

[Luke]

You do really good stuff Johnny, thanks. Louisiana Red used to play out here in Rome, Italy in a club on New Year's eve every year all night. Although I did appreciate being able to see that back then, I wish I'd appreciated it even more. Keep up the good work Johnny.

[BobIrving]

Thanks for another fabulous tutorial. What I love about your approach is you really appreciate the simplicity and idiosyncrasy of these players. It ain't complicated and flashy! But it's real and gut-level honest, and that's what really counts. Oh, and thanks for featuring Little Victor in your podcast!

[elducko]

Great video!
You might want to invest in a Ring Light.
This lesson looks more like "Film Noir."
Keep up the great work!
I hope we can play music sometime soon.

[brottiermarie-aimee]

I just discovered your channel: I love the blues and especially Louisisana Red; but what equipment do you use to have such a rootsy sound? Thank you from Paris.🗼🎸

[erolgermannemmanuel]

🎼Johnny; thanks for getting me out of my usual A box & explore the Fretboard some more, hey just subscribed, stay safe !!
🇧🇷

[braddvaughn]

Sounds like something skip james would play or muddy waters played on two trains running ! Than lightning hopkins .