He is dutifully listed in scholarship on the blues as a matter of course now. But he never considered himself a "blues" singer: his recorded catalogue is all of a religious nature, so it might be more fair to classify him and other "blues" musicians who did primarily religious material (such as Reverend Gary Davis) as "gospel" singers.
The divisions between blues and gospel are shallower than people think: Thomas Dorsey, the founder of the modern "gospel" music tradition, had been a blues musician before he converted.
It's true! Thanks for making this distinction - it's important. Some interesting thoughts on this from Cornel West, on blues as music of the cross and gospel as music of the resurrection, with an aside on Blind Willie Johnson: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6uVK4EQK7L4
Is that YOU talkin’, Hangnail?
Great voice! 😎
Thanks!
He is dutifully listed in scholarship on the blues as a matter of course now. But he never considered himself a "blues" singer: his recorded catalogue is all of a religious nature, so it might be more fair to classify him and other "blues" musicians who did primarily religious material (such as Reverend Gary Davis) as "gospel" singers.
The divisions between blues and gospel are shallower than people think: Thomas Dorsey, the founder of the modern "gospel" music tradition, had been a blues musician before he converted.
It's true! Thanks for making this distinction - it's important. Some interesting thoughts on this from Cornel West, on blues as music of the cross and gospel as music of the resurrection, with an aside on Blind Willie Johnson: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6uVK4EQK7L4