Blues Society of Western PA - Newsletter

Studebaker John sat down in the back room of Moondog’s for a talk with Jeff Kearns.
It was the second night of a two-night foray to record John’s latest live-recorded CD. The following is what transpired:

Jeff: You are from Chicago. Were you born there? I have my cheat sheet because you are one of my favorites. I just love you man.

John: Yes, I was born in Chicago.

Jeff: It had to be exciting to be in that era, the 70’s Chicago scene, with Hound Dog Taylor and many others. What did that mean to you? Could you tell me a little about what was happening then?

John: It meant a lot to me. I would not be playing today if I had not experienced that. I was a drummer in grade school. Mainly, I played the drums. I was just playing “stuff.” I was born in 1952 and was messing around with the guitar. I was playing Ventures stuff, mainly. I did not really care much about the guitar.

Jeff: What got you into the Blues playing?

John: I was down on Maxwell Street and saw Big “One-armed” John Wrencher. He was a one-armed harp player. It was a three-man group set up at the beginning of the alley. There was a guitar, drums and harp. All three were plugged into the same amp. Big John was playing harp and singing on the same amp. Big John got me interested in that type of music. Later, I heard the Rolling Stones playing. They reminded me of what I had heard on Maxwell Street.

Jeff: You heard these guys and you wanted to play the music?

John: I heard J.B. Hutto play. He had a great voice and had a “smoking” slide guitar. I took a friend and my older sister down to an underage club to hear Hound Dog Taylor jam with J.B. It was my first time in a place like that. Brad Phillips and Ted Harvey called J. B. up to play. What a show!!! It was unbelievable!!! That is why I started playing the guitar.

Jeff: You were seven when you started playing the harp? How did that come about?

John: I just picked up the harp and made noise. I just messed around with it. I was just like a kid who picked up their Dad’s instruments. I just liked the sound. After hearing Big John Ratcher play, I thought that I could try to do that to. I took up the harp and still played drums.

Jeff: You said that Freddie King and Albert Collins influenced you in a big way.

John: Albert Collins played a weird tuning. He still could play the lead, chords, and all. He had a different sound but could still do it all. I still do not know what it was. Yes, he influenced me. He inspired me to do more with the slide and finger picking.

Jeff: The only other guy that I know who played with currency was Roy Buchanan. Buchanan used a dime and you use a quarter. I still have the quarter that you gave me a while ago and still cherish it.

John: I use a quarter. Nickels are too thick. The quarter is still thin enough to use. You can get comfortable with any coin. You just have to wear it down with your playing. Old guitar players used to use some type of metal to do finger picking. I do a little finger picking with just my fingers.

Jeff: When the Yardbirds came to Chicago to play the blues, you had to be honored when you were asked to play with the group that they had put together.

John: George Pollis, a producer from Chicago put together an All Stars or Super Group from England, the Yardbirds and the Pretty Things. The producer had heard me on the radio and asked me to join them. I was not sure if the guys wanted me to be there, but I said sure. Richard Wright, of the Pretty Things, already was the lead singer and harp player.

Jeff: What did you think of this “British Invasion”? How did it work for you and the guys? Was it a big thrill?

John: They were not Blues fanatics. They did not understand why we were trying to do what we do. They would copy the music from the musicians and include the mistakes. The Chicago producer and I had many “knock-down” arguments with them over that. It was a mistake for them to play the mistakes. They felt that the mistakes are what made those musicians that they were copying great. That is not what made them great! If it was a twelve bar, they would play thirteen. They did textbook playing.

Jeff: They came to Chicago for the Chicago influence in the Blues?

John: They had to learn from the playing. Interestingly enough, I sometimes listen to those recordings now and realize that they were better than I thought. Another thing, we had three records that came out. The first two were through St. George’s Records and Demon Records. The third was the best, I think. It had many original songs. It also had good versions of Chuck Berry. There also was a nice version of my harp to one of the Yardbirds own song.

Jeff: Where do we get those records?

John: You can go online and order through Demon. The third was never released. I still do not know why!

Jeff: You have traveled overseas to play the Blues. How do those fans differ from the ones here?

John: We, (the U.S.), have “pockets of fans.” The fan base in Europe is on a bigger scale. The population that likes the blues has expanded in Central Europe to Russia, Lithuania, Latvia, Poland, etc. The Europeans have not embraced the Country and Western music like the Americans.

Jeff: Do you spend a lot of time overseas?

John: We are well received over in Europe. We did a long tour there last year and two short tours there this year.

Jeff: Today, you are promoting your CD, Self Made Man. You are self-taught? I am a self-made jeweler, myself, and I know that I have learned mainly from looking over people’s shoulders and asking a lot of questions. Is that pretty much how you have done it? (John was a plumber by trade at one time.)

John: I learned by watching Hound Dog Taylor. I would watch and try to expand. I do different things and different tuning. That is what I do different. I learned to get around on the guitar: chords, fingering, and voice. I try to make my music progress. I used to be a Purist. As I get older, I want to “stretch” out. I will always play blues…that is what I do. I play Albert Collins. My voicing gives me a unique sound. I used to be a purist and played nothing but pure blues. It is not that it is not “hot” blues. It is where I grew up and will remain.

John: I watch and keep trying. I had the advantage of having actually met those guys, Hambone, Hound Dog, J.B., and many others. We were not good friends but I could show up in the clubs and ask them questions and talk with them about the music. J.B. Hutto was one of the nicest guys that I have ever met and gotten to know. I would sit and watch his shows and yell out all of the tunes that I wanted to hear. He would always play my favorite, “Hip Shake.” We would sit between sets and talk. We would then talk for hours after the show.

Jeff: The local Blues Society has been challenged to keep the music alive. Do you have any suggestions on how to rev up the local scene?

John: My advice is to be more open-minded. The Blues has to progress like any other music. If the Societies are “bent” on preserving the music, then let it grow. For example, I put all of my stuff on a record and included all of my influences. It still satisfies the purists but it also has rock and roll. My music has and will go forward.

Jeff: As a musician and blues person, what do you think of Moondog’s as a Blues bar?

John: It is a real Blues Club. A lot now are tourist trap-type clubs with restaurants. I am not putting anyone down; I am just trying to be honest. Moondog’s is a real music club and a real blues club in essence. If Moondog’s was in Chicago, it would fit right in.

Jeff: Your show last night was great! Your shuffles and boogie were awesome. It was like watching a gearshift. They reminded me of old girlfriends. It was truly beautiful! Are you enthusiastic about tonight?

John: Thanks. We had some technical difficulties last night that hampered the recording. I think we got some of the first set but lost the entire second set. I hope that tonight “gets it.” We are not sure what is going to happen. We will try to make it work. If it doesn’t, we will do it again. Music is just like anything else. It is not easy at first. If you love it, you will keep at it.

Jeff: Thanks for being here today and thanks for talking with us and doing a filmed interview. I love you, man. We have to wrap this up and get the show started.