Cowboy Roy Brown - Street Singer

Our direct link to the Wild West

This documents a piece of real blues history. Recorded during the 50s, when Brown was in his 70s and 80s, this 23-track CD covers a fraction of the life experience of this long serving bluesman. Born in 1875 in Arkansas, Brown lived in the days of the cowboy, so sang songs of the cowboy, which is how he got his name.

Brown sang as part of a trio, which included himself; Baby, his old guitar (‘Over 100 years old,’ he maintained) and Leon, his kazoo. Nowadays we’d call this guy a ‘character’. With a varied repertoire, he took in solid blues numbers, pop tunes of the day, folk, gospel (his father was a fiddle-playing preacher) and, of course, the odd cowboy ditty. Tracks include Birmingham Jail, Brown’s favourite, which tells the tale of the American folk singer Jimmie Tarlton, who begged his loved one to send him a letter care of Birmingham Jail. There’s also a fascinating six-minute chat with Brown, who reminisces about the past. Because of his dialect, however, a written transcript would have helped to fully understand what he was saying.

Delmark | DE 790

Reviewed by Paul Rigby
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