Why You Should Listen to Son House | His Life and Music | Delta Blues

In this video, we look at the life and music of delta blues legend Son House and how he went from preachin' to preachen' the blues. His bottleneck slide guitar and powerful vocals put him at the forefront of the delta blues genre
If you enjoy content like this, hop over to patreon where you'll get exclusive content, ad free youtube videos and other perks. / edwardphillips
Get my album Edward Phillips Plays the Country Blues:
edwardphillipsroots.bandcamp.com
Throw a tip in the Paypal bucket:
paypal.me/edwardphillipsroots
Contact me at [e-mail]

[@LightsOnMultiMediaMindArts]

I saw Son House perform at Indiana University in about 1970 or 71. I had heard of him, but hadn't heard any of his recordings prior. Picture this: Son House slowly walks on stage to applause without his guitar. Dick Waterman (I think it was) said a few words about Son and handed him his guitar. Son got comfortable with the guitar for a moment. Then he rolled back his head and let loose a blues moan that made the hair stand up on the back of my head. He slapped his slide against the neck of the guitar in imitation. I can still feel the chill of that moan. I've never seen or heard anything like it before or since. I am glad I had the chance to attend.

[@themeadowlarkminutewithpau8184]

That’s awesome.

[@odie1123]

Wow! I swear ! Same thing exactly happened to me at Memorial Auditorium in Burlington, Vermont, same time era. When he hit that guitar the whole world changed. The only thing I can add is that I remember them sayin’ something like that he was rediscovered in Rochester NY ( I think ) working as a janitor. SOB , he was OLD and when he hit that guitar it was like you said.

[@TheGuitarMan71]

Son House, Lightning Hopkins, Robert Johnson, Albert King, BB King, Muddy Waters are just a few of the legends to come out of the South

[@altonpack9419]

You could list names till the machine says no more 😂 that's how good it is down here

[@chrisjackson1023]

Son House rattles me right to my core. This is the sound of a soul laid bare and begging for redemption.

[@AnthonyRecenello]

By the way Edward, this is the first video essay I've seen on your channel. Not sure if you've done this before but PLEASE do more! This is so excellent.

[@donsurlylyte]

very very excellent

[@dylanwilliams7868]

It's a shame that Americans know so little of their incredible music history. Jazz & blues are easily some of the finest genres of music ever created imho. Thanks Edward. Love your channel.

[@larrytron1992]

Son House was the ultimate master of delta blues. I really love his cover of Patton’s Pony Blues

[@michaeldonaghey]

Charlie Patton ,Willie Brown, Robert Johnson, Kid Bailey and Tommy Johnson would all be equally entitled to be called ^ultimate master of delta blues.^

[@rodjones117]

@@michaeldonaghey Not to mention Bukka White or Skip James...

[@AnthonyRecenello]

I was just listening to him this week. He’s a beast. To me he’s the reason why heavy rock music exists.

[@nellymoriarty_5783]

I wish I'd known his stuff What a special style

[@nellymoriarty_5783]

Cool

[@erinbarger3822]

My all time favorite. He has as much influence on the blues and in turn Rock n Roll as Robert Johnson but rarely gets the credit he deserves.

[@alabastardmasterson]

I'm totally confused how you would make the leap from House to metal? Especially, when there are documented routes

[@AnthonyRecenello]

@@alabastardmasterson blues doesn’t have a connection to rock and roll? Rock and roll to rock? Rock to metal? Metal to heavy metal? I’m think maybe I’m confused?

[@markforster2794]

If the blues was an ocean and it was reduced to a sea, then a lake, then a pond, then a puddle. Then a drop - that drop would be Son House.

[@freddysr3437]

My favorite bluesman

[@vladtheimpaler7878]

Son is one of the greatest bluesman, and my absolute favorite. Love deep delta blues.

[@pn2543]

@7:30 What a cool story - Canned Heat's Alan Wilson re-teaches Son House guitar he had forgotten! There's a movie in there. 'Fathers and Sons' indeed.

[@electricgypsyblues4761]

Aww Man, You have really done with this one. Its all here. I commend you for making such an informative video. Son House was it Brother

[@gregarnold1696]

I'm a blues fan. First time I heard death letter it shook me haven't got over it to this day the blues is a life long education program it will show you yourself

[@schizoidman5957]

Son is awfully underrated

[@PaisleyPatchouli]

Another beautifully and lovingly presented biography of one of the most influential bluesmen of them all, Son House. Thanks!

[@jdonland]

Something to note about House's birth year: Statements he made regarding his own age would seem to place it around 1886. It's not clear whether he was just exaggerating his age, was genuinely mistaken about it, or was really significantly older than his legal documents implied. If he really was born in 1886, he would have been 102 years old when he died, which seems somewhat unlikely given his lifelong alcoholism.

[@robydeibeatcircus7438]

the great Son House ... thanks Alan Blind Owl Wilson for bringing Him back to the 60s !!! (R.I.P.)

[@harigeorgeson5885]

This was really well done Edward. Son House was the real deal indeed.

[@davidbranin969]

Whoa. Howling Wolf let him have it.

[@donsurlylyte]

the wolf had it straight.

[@kurtrightmyer]

​@@donsurlylyteWolf was dead wrong. House wrote Preaching Blues, not Wolf. So Wolf had no business preaching to House about his drinking.

[@phillippettitt3071]

Edward please don't stop making these..... history channel series anyone????

[@bobbywright3479]

This was great Edward

[@PaulTheSkeptic]

Son House is great. I guess that's all I have to say about him. Great blues man.

[@laurietongish7941]

Watch him play Death Letter Blues. It's some of the most amazing guitar playing I've ever seen. Makes me tear up just thinking of it.

[@johngore7744]

I’ve been listening to him for 40 years. Death Letter is one of my favourite songs.

[@rossfairleigh754]

Death letter best song I've ever heard

[@frankmirra8243]

Yeah Son House was the deepest man who ever lived.

[@goodun2974]

John Mooney, another good modern slide player, hung out with Son in Rochester. On KZbin you can find Warren Haynes and Sonny Landreth covering "Death Letter Blues" , and Larkin Poe doing Preaching Blues ( which of course is very different from the Robert Johnson version).

[@genri.a9128]

Oh god, the Larkin Poe version is horrible..😅

[@highclass3041]

I love Son House....they were some real hard ass killers back then too....House had 2 killings under him and leadbelly had one too Little Walter was accused of it a time or 2 as well. They could make u dance or break ur legs just as easy...I love the blues!!

[@douglaspaterson5269]

R.L. Burnside shot a man in a dice game.

[@iicjguitar0416]

Tail-Dragger Jones shot and killed his guitarist in 1993.

[@Manandmachine772]

Thank you for the history really enjoyed it

[@jacqueskibu]

Awesome story! Son House is my favourite blues musician ever since I heard ‘Grinnin’ in your face’.

[@jasonkeith9317]

Jack White??

[@michaeltakesthegun9175]

My wife says your voice sounds familiar- she is from Franklin Tennessee... I really do learn a lot from you .. keep up the good work , them ghost 👻 of Mississippi are happy I’m sure

[@alabastardmasterson]

The history is just as entertaining as the picking. This video should have exponentially more views

[@tomsilberberg1978]

What a wonderful little documentary, great work Edward!

[@TheNerdyMusician]

Been listening to Sun house and other great Blues guitarists for the past 12 years I love him. Awesome little bio about him here

[@applejack9482]

Que vida dura tenían y en cambio que grandes eran Estos son los padres de U.S.A.

[@weika1000]

Yes man, thanx for the work you did...

[@woodrowmeeks5009]

My first blues album was by Son. I loved the song Baptist Preacher.

[@r.l.six-musicandrecords552]

If you haven't done one, please do one on Skip James.

[@johndufford5561]

First time I didn't hear you play on this channel. Have to say that I missed it, Sir, but your commentary on Son House is extraordinary! Learned a lot of important things & I thank you very, very much.

[@TheNavalAviator]

Dude, this reminded me of so much I knew about the blues.

[@74dartman13]

I wonder if you've ever listened to Rory Block? She was heavily influenced by Son House. I saw her once, and sat in the front row of a small church, on a college campus. It was one of the best shows I ever saw. She was incredible! It was almost like listening to Son, himself!👍😎🎸🎶

[@el_chief_dannyboy]

One of the greatest bluesman ever, along with Sonny. Boy Williamson ll.

[@fnurbz]

Beautiful story

[@ralph_s]

Great video, would love to see more about other influential blues artists.

[@adequatebus8280]

thank you, Edward. i’ve been listening to every Son House recording i can find since the early 80’s. thank you for assembling this excellent piece. -C

[@user-kz3uj6gi2y]

HAPPY HEAVENLY BIRTHDAY LATE GRATE ONE BLUES MAN LIVING LEGEND SON HOUSE 🎂🎂🎂🎂🎊🎊🎊🎊

[@jeffruebens8355]

The Stones, Sabbath and Led Zep got vinyl blues albums and spread this music worldwide, as a harder and faster genre, especially by adding electric guitars for harder songs and acoustics for softer more folk songs.

[@Beachbumartist]

Great video man. Son House has a great song called Levee Camp Blues you would be great at playing. Thank you.

[@sapelesteve]

Thanks Edward for that amazing Blues history lesson about Son House! Obviously he was the real deal when it comes to the Delta Blues. Just imagine the life that he lived. 👍😉🎸🎤😉👍

[@jamesbrown55]

Thank you so much for this history lesson

[@lowellcalavera6045]

Why NOT listen to Son House?!! He influenced an in incredible number of musicians.

[@mattkane5329]

He's got that one song where the train is chugging by on the background to almost the foreground. Love it. Maybe somebody will develop the technology to bring the 30s & 40s recordings up to the fidelity of the 60s

[@Brother_Dre1900]

"Pearline" was my mother's favorite Son House song.

[@Art-What..]

Sad life..like any man says to himself I could have did more, been more, should have,could have,would have.. what a great blues player..

[@TOMPDUDE]

What a stellar video and excellent commentary. Can we tip this guy already!?

[@one-handstrumman4616]

Love Son House

[@Funz2022]

Great job using the latest discovered photos (of Son and RJ) and using the available audio and video. It's all out there on the internet to use but it's still rare to see an independent content-maker do as good a job as you've done here. As someone who's been a House fan for 25+ yrs seeing the knowledge and expertise behind this video has been a pleasure, thank you.

[@Caramou]

Thanks, some of the pictures are fantastic, Son House, Skip James and Mississippi John Hurt together, what a trio !

[@KBRblues]

Your channel is fantastic!

[@jimjim506]

I really liked this video, a new style of content from you Edward but really good and in your own style which compliments and fits in nicely with other videos on your channel, great stuff.

[@josephloehr9617]

Recently got some Son House CDs. He SENDS me, and damn but makes me wanna get a Resonator.

[@harrypeachey6659]

I was at the Son House concert at IU as well. I believe that was in 1972. As I recall, after Son played his first tune, those in attendance erupted in applause, and Son was moved to tears. It took him a bit to regain control and move on to his second number.

[@Happygilmore83]

What a blues legend. Had the opportunity to play his guitar. Was an amazing experience

[@charlesrich4749]

I truly believe his story and Honey Boy Edwards story about Robert Johnson more than any other. When Son House says Johnson was gone six or eight months, then I believe that's how long he was gone, not a year, or a year and a half, or two years because he was there. In other words, we hear it from the horses mouth. There's another account somewhere online where Son House tells this same story but that version also says that Johnson walked in the joint where they were playing in Banks, Mississippi with his guitar slung over his shoulder and Son leaned over and asked Willie Brown if that's who he thought it was. He also said that Johnson had added a 7th string to his guitar and that their mouths fell open when Johnson started playing. Son House's musical style, to me, is the most haunting of all. The way he plays that resonator is unmatched. Thanks Ed for posting this. Keeping the blues alive!

[@duaneholcomb8408]

History is interesting. Thanks. For this. I enjoyed it,,,

[@hardthunder9913]

I met a man one time, back in the 1980's. In Texas. His name was Little Joe Nolan. He played a Bass Piano. Big, up right, wooden, piano. Said popular back when nickelodeons were out-lawed. Your video brought that memory back.

[@stevefearon9337]

Loved this👍👍

[@velvetbees]

All these musicians were so important. Rock and roll came from their genius.

[@j1w2t3]

excellence video

[@nellymoriarty_5783]

Great stuff Thank you so mucj

[@jameshogan1871]

Thanks Edward :^)

[@HarryRemer]

Thank you for the education!

[@lesshrubb203]

A brilliant video, Edward. Thank you for bringing the story of Son House to us.

[@Hoganoutdoors]

Fantastic! Thanks for introducing me to this man's music.

[@myfootinurass]

Great job on this one sir

[@musicislife6250]

Amazing! Son House is amazing, this Channel is amazing! Please, do more videos like this.

[@9blucats]

Hey thanks for this.

[@bigbeefscorcho]

Excellent video my friend. thank you

[@garygaither4382]

Love this man.........It's the real stuff!

[@cobraferrariwars]

Thanks for putting this together. Great man. Been to Friars Point, Robinsonville, Tunica, Lake Cormorant, the ground of Clack's store, Clarksdale, Stovall's, Parchman, Helena, etc. A time like that is singular. Not going to come again. Fortunate to have some connection.

[@TheEasyeman]

Great video. So glad we have recordings like Son’s songs to learn from

[@Helo_rides_for_commies]

Wonderful short documentary.

[@njcranes]

I went to college just down the road from Clarksdale. Fell in love with that music!

[@J-Loe]

Committed Son House fan. Thanks for a great tribute!

[@alertofdanger]

We need more of this content the history is really amazing and shows the greatness of American music. Also I want to see some electric blues that stuff get me feeling bluesy

[@clintondagenais4545]

Awesome, thanks for sharing this. Son House personified essential blues, his voice was so powerful and moving and didnt need an instrument to back him up (ie. Grinnin in your face). He is part of my favorite 3 including Robert and Charlie.

[@pedromusic4209]

Thanks enjoyed that 👏🙏

[@KevinBrownmusic]

Superb docu...well researched and presented..historically correct. Son was my mentor and inspiration...met him in 69/70 via Dick Waterman his teaching influenced everything I do today xx

[@jasonjodice8635]

love the joint of howlin wolf cuts on son. ...."thats plum out of it'....wise man said. respect.\ bro

[@briantownsend989]

Tanks

[@markuk9138]

Really enjoyed this, would love a similar video on Mance Lipscombe 😎

[@sonnyblack71]

This is the man that Muddy Waters called king!!!!

[@SteveSmith-qy4ty]

Lucky to own a copy of Patton's Down the Dirt Road Blues and Johnson's Dust my Broom. Don't think I will ever own a Son House paramount but can dream. This video is great and I love your performance of Death Letter Blues Ed.

[@toniekarta6686]

This channel is wowww.. I enjoy it

[@GymRat1217]

more of these historical videos!! i’d love to see history on blind joe reynolds or kokomo arnold

[@kevindean1327]

I think Charlie Patton is the guy before R. Johnson that needs to be listened to. Charlie Patton and Blind Willie Johnson.

[@i2su405]

Son house once said -“ hello “

[@AndyDugganYT]

Love your videos dude. Was wondering if you'd consider doing a video on Bukka White and Parchmann Farm/ Mississippi State Penitentiary. Place of great suffering but recognised as a heritage location in the story of blues

[@FuzzyDancingBear]

Hell yeah

[@TheNerdyMusician]

Can you do a video like this about Furry Lewis or Rev Gary Davis or Mississippi John Hurt?

[@alessandrodimarzo9118]

❤️