Roosevelt Holts

Roosevelt Holts
	Artist: Title: Label: Format: Price:	Roosevelt Holts Roosevelt Holts and His Friends Arhoolie LP $16
Roosevelt Holts was born in 1905 near Tylertown, Mississippi, and he took up the guitar when he was in his mid-twenties. He started to get serious about music in the late 1930s, when he and Tommy Johnson used to run together, playing in and around Jackson, MS. During this period he also played with Ishmon Bracey, Johnnie Temple, Bubba Brown, and One Legged Sam Norwood. Holts eventually settled in Bogalusa, Louisiana, and was first recorded in the mid-'60s by David Evans, who was conducting research on Tommy Johnson at the time. Holts was still artistically potent and cut a very scarce 45 as well an excellent solo acoustic LP for Blue Horizon. To my ears, this set of recordings from 1969-'70 (also made by Evans) is even better. By this time Holts had switched to an electric guitar and gave his music a bit more bite. His accompanists also livened up the proceedings, such as on "Leaving this Town, Won't be Back Till Fall," where Holts and mandolinist Herb Quinn give the traditional form a more modern treatment. Holts' "friends" also contribute some superb tracks, such as a fun, raggedy tale of "Drinking and Stinking" from Boogie Bill Webb and a beautiful, airy spiritual courtesy of the light touch of Blind Pete Burrell. This material hasn't made it to CD, so vinyl is the only way to get it. These are original, sealed copies. Track listing: Roosevelt Holts and Calvin Davis - Barrelhouse Blues Roosevelt Holts - Packing Up Her Trunk to Leave Esau Weary - Bogalusa Boogie Roosevelt Holts - I'll Catch the Train and Ride Esau Weary - Big Leg Woman Roosevelt Holts and Herb Quinn - Leaving this Town, Won't be Back Till Fall Boogie Bill Webb and Roosevelt Holts - Maggie Campbell Blues Boogie Bill Webb, Roosevelt Holts, and Robert Rucker - Drinking and Stinking Eli Owens - Railroad Blues Eli Owens - Memphis Mail Blind Pete Burrell - I'll Fly Away