Blind Boy Fuller - Biography - The Washboard Resonators - Resonator Blues

[@TheWashboardResonators]

Help by clicking the description above; 🎯Put something in the tip jar. 🎯Subscribe to the mailing list. 🎯Find us on other social media. Thanks all! ❤️❤️❤️

[@brendacorey1520]

He's from my hometown and we have a 98-year-old lady who remembers him as "He was always hanging around the streets playing on that guitar. Little did she know.

[@TheWashboardResonators]

Wow! Would love to get her stories. Incredible!

[@kingfish1955]

Love Blind Boy Fuller.

[@TheWashboardResonators]

He’s the best! 🎯🎼🎼🎯

[@eddiedawkins19]

I live in Wadesboro N.C. where Blind Boy Fuller is from...The town recently had a huge mural painted of him on the side of a biulding on Main street

[@TheWashboardResonators]

You’re so lucky! Driven near but never stopped. Will make it one day!

[@fredbeck7447]

That is a fantastic video, and thanks for showing Blind Boy the love. I’m sure you’re also aware that Blind Boy and Sonny Terry first met each other on the streets of Wadesboro. I grew up there and go back periodically, so I’ll attest that the mural really is cool. There is also a magnificent one of John Coltrane 25 miles away in Hamlet NC. I see that you guys are from Leeds. I’ve got a daughter who’s been in York the last five years, so my wife and I are over your way a couple of times a year. You live in a wonderful area there.

[@TheWashboardResonators]

Was in York the other day. It is incredible around Yorkshire. Go to The Craven Arms in Appletreewick next time you’re over! Gas lit 16th century pub with great food in a National Park. BBF is such a king. One day I’ll do my BBF pilgrimage. I’ve skirted the Carolina’s but not really delved in!

[@thomasgary1219]

I really enjoyed watching this, its great to see others who appreciate Fuller's music. I have really enjoyed learning and playing his songs. Some of my favorites of his are untrue blues, piccolo rag, big house bound, lost love blues. When I listen to night rambling woman, which is supposed to be the last song he recorded before he passed away, you can tell he was quite I'll, still love the song though. Also I love his rendition of careless love. I really appreciate you doing this bio of him. It's sad he died so young and was so I'll the last year or so of his life.

[@TheWashboardResonators]

Hey! He’s a wonderful musician. The perfect mix of ability and feel. Brilliant at putting a ‘song across.’ In doing this I found his old house is still standing. Looking forward to visiting when we’re allowed to fly again.

[@thomasgary1219]

@@TheWashboardResonators Yeah, on Massey st, we went by there last year and it was still standing. Keep up the good work my friend

[@daveguitarnowski4402]

Thanks man, this was really cool. Rory Gallagher doing Pistol Slapper Blues was my gateway to Blind Boy Fuller. Step It Up And Go is my current project. Love your Triolian. Looks nearly identical to mine, which is a '31 (I know Rory played a '32, but I didn't want one of those newfangled ones, lol). I love his rock and roll attitude, which makes it (hopefully) accessible to the Kids Of Today....

[@TheWashboardResonators]

Rory is a gateway to many things. I believe Rory had a 31. No ribs on the cover plates.

[@daveguitarnowski4402]

@@TheWashboardResonators Ah! Well, I have been misled! lol

[@calvinhuber5779]

Thank you! thank you!! Thank you !!! I'm a new subscriber who (like all of us 😁) Really appreciates all the time effort and knowledge you put into your videos. I was leery on picking up guitar later in life but between Blind Boy Fuller ,Willie Mctell and Lightnin' Hopkins (sigh!) how could I NOT give it a go?? Your videos are just soooo inspiring too !! Well, THANKS SO MUCH!!! (once again😃)

[@TheWashboardResonators]

Glad to help spread all this great music and it’s history!

[@nationalduo4945]

Enjoyed all of the video…love the history…thanks !

[@TheWashboardResonators]

A pleasure!

[@nachomagallanico]

thanks man for the video, fuller is defiantly one of my favorite players and a lot of info I did not know. You should do one of Blind Blake also!!!! I would love it defenetly!!!!!

[@TheWashboardResonators]

Thanks!! Lots of players on the list for a bio. He’s on there. Difficult one to do as there’s not much info.

[@eddiedawkins19]

From Wadesboro N.C.

[@TheWashboardResonators]

Thanks!

[@eddiedawkins19]

@@TheWashboardResonators , Someone just painted a huge mural of Blind Boy Fuller on a biulding in downtown Wadesboro N.C....Its really nicely done0

[@PGrizzy91]

Big leg woman gets my pay is my favorite Fuller song. Very cheeky too 😂

[@TheWashboardResonators]

Killer tune!!

[@karenrichardson3814]

FYI: As someone who lives in the Piedmont of North Carolina, there is no mountain range here called the Piedmonts! North Carolina has three basic geographic areas: the Appalachian Mountain range (maybe those are the mountains you're thinking of?) in the west, the Coastal Plains in the east, and the Piedmont Plateau in the middle of the two. The Piedmont is characterized by both hilly and flat areas, but is definitely not mountainous.

[@TheWashboardResonators]

Then it’s the plateau I was thinking of. I think something read years ago in a blues book has got ‘transmuted’ down the line. Many thanks for taking the time to correct this. It’s really appreciated. I’ve only ever skirted NC on a road trip so didn’t spend enough time to truly get a grip of the geography. Thanks again. 🎯

[@karenrichardson3814]

@@TheWashboardResonators Thanks for your video! I was looking for information about Blind Boy Fuller to share with my music students since we are learning about early rock n' roll and I think you can hear a through line from his "Step Up and Go" to early rock n' roll. Plus, he's from NC and ended up in Durham, where I live and where my school is!

[@TheWashboardResonators]

@@karenrichardson3814 I think Step It Up and Go is one of the best examples of early R & B or boogie music and how that was picked up and turned into R & R down the line. He’s an incredible artist and TBH this video doesn’t do him justice. The book Crying For The Carolines by Bruce Bastin is 50% BBF’s life and 50% a history of music in that area. A great read. You’re so lucky to live in such a beautiful part of the world. Especially now in the autumn. It blew be away driving through years back. 🎵🎯🎵

[@karenrichardson3814]

@@TheWashboardResonators Thank you for the recommendation! I have ordered the book!

[@TheWashboardResonators]

@@karenrichardson3814 Excellent!! Let us know how you find it!

[@TobylikesFenders]

Hi Martyn. Love this bio of Blind Boy Fuller. 2 questions for you. Were all his recordings made with a resonator and what Is the guitar he's playing in the picture of him sitting on what looks like a coffee table - looks like a National from the headstock logo?

[@TheWashboardResonators]

All Nationals. He played two. We know exactly what they are from both pics surviving. Pic 1/ Circa early 1933 to early 1934 National Duolian. Has the smaller ‘rounded’ F holes but 12 fret body. Pic 2/ The one you’re referencing. This is a circa 1936/7/8 ‘Piano Grain’ Duolian. Has a 14 fret body and no fingerboard binding. There is a pic of Brownie McGee from just after Fuller died holding the same model guitar. It’s said when Fuller died that guitar went to him until he pawned it. So, likely the actual Fuller guitar in question. Not sure of the veracity of this but it’s a pic where you see the guitar in more detail. In the pic he’s holding it upside down. Both very nice steel body instruments. Both very distinctive sounding in his recordings. Both available to buy if you hunt around and can stump up the $2.5-4K these normally sell for.

[@TobylikesFenders]

@@TheWashboardResonators Thanks Martyn. I knew you would be able to quote chapter and verse! Love the guy's music, especially the modern remastered versions with the crackles filtered out. Unlike my old LPs of his purchased in the 80s in Dobells, London. Sounded like someone was frying fish in the background.

[@nudge2626]

Great video. Do you have a link to view his welfare records?

[@TheWashboardResonators]

They were taken down. I’d love to see them again!!

[@trydodgingthis]

Really enjoyed this video! I would ask if you could boost the volume up a bit as I really struggled to hear what you were saying, even on maximum volume. But would love to see more of these :)

[@TheWashboardResonators]

You’re the second to say that. Time to look into some changes.

[@trydodgingthis]

@@TheWashboardResonators You can download Blender for free, that's what I use for my videos and you can play around with the sound files, changing volumes and so on :D

[@TheWashboardResonators]

How To Art Lovely! Cheers!

[@derekjohnston1183]

When the volume is low on some of these, use earphones and an adjustment to your settings on your device will boost the volume.Good luck.

[@KBRblues]

Who will be next !

[@TheWashboardResonators]

Kaspar 'Berry' Rapkin Any suggestions? Loads of obvious ones but some interesting people might be well, interesting. 👌🏻

[@KBRblues]

The Washboard Resonators Bukka white, washboard resonators, Rev Gary

[@TheWashboardResonators]

Kaspar 'Berry' Rapkin bang on. Great selection. Right. They’re on the list!

[@mwhite76]

Blind Blake!

[@TheWashboardResonators]

Matthew White Yep! He’s on the list now!! Thanks!!!

[@DolbroDan]

Liking these Bios a lot - obviously the guitar is cutting through nicely when you use it to demonstrate the different styles... but any chance you could boost the vocal audio (and some Comp in post?) to balance the two out a bit, going forward? Good work though!

[@TheWashboardResonators]

Dolbro Dan Glad you like them! The videos are simply made using our phones and loaded directly to YT. There are external mics at home etc so could look at using these on the future. Sure there are ways of improving sound quality. TBH we’re doing these to pass lockdown so never wanted to get into too much production! Thanks though, all feedback is good feedback!

[@DolbroDan]

@@TheWashboardResonators no I totally understand, it's a great idea branching out in new directions. Not only does it keep you busy over lockdown, but it's informative and gives us context about your music and your approach to performance. Some of those top 5 books sound really interesting. Some may be hard to find! I got an old Little Richard biography on ebay from the mid 80s. But we might see a reissue or resurge of interest since his recent passing. I'm gonna do some DIY now with your channel playing in the background. Good luck guys!

[@TheWashboardResonators]

Dolbro Dan true. We’re not too bothered about polishing it too much but it’s great to get feedback like this. There will be new microphones for future use.

[@tommytramp]

GREAT LESSO thanx for the Bio WOW did not know Fuller Missed the Big Hall gig for shooting his wife in the leg A blind man should Avoid guns Hell Everyone should TAKE CARE KEEP PLaying Those Rags You Kick ass !!!

[@TheWashboardResonators]

Thanks. What a life!!

[@JuggWalker]

I’mma rattlesnakin daddy !

[@TheWashboardResonators]

🫣