A blind street singer, he learned his stuff from Greenville, South Carolina, bluesmen Uncle Chump and Pink Anderson in the 1930′s. At 70, he rediscovered his unplugged genius and headlined at festivals throughout the U.S. and Europe. His card catalog repertoire runs from soul classics to Piedmont blues songs like “Sandyland” and “Metal Bottoms”. Cootie Stark was one of the last authentic Piedmont blues guitarists/singers and provided a direct link to a South long gone.
Sugar Man gives the listener the blues in its true, oral tradition. In a time where so many people are stuck in the same hill country and Delta blues rut, hearing Cootie’s Piedmont shuffle and groovy rhythms, coupled with his unmistakable delivery, you just can’t help but smile while listening to the songs. I betchya ol’ Cootie was smiling when he sang ‘em. For me, Sugar Man has been my essential Saturday morning cd for months now. See, the wife works on Saturdays and I don’t have anything to do on Saturday mornings, ‘cept relax, drink coffee, read the paper and pet the dog. Cootie’s been providing me the perfect soundtrack for that as of late, and I have a hard time seeing how someone is gonna replace him.
For those that listen to these samples and get what I’m saying, I do not need to type anymore. For those that ain’t feelin’ it, come back on Monday…
Cootie Stark – Someday Baby
Cootie Stark – Metal Bottoms
Cootie Stark – Jigroo
Buy Cootie Stark’s music and support the Music Maker Relief foundation
1Music Maker Relief Foundation, Inc. helps the true pioneers and forgotten heroes of Southern music gain recognition and meet their day to day needs. We present these musical traditions to the world so American culture will flourish and be preserved for future generations.
Our criterion for recipients is they be rooted in a Southern musical tradition, be 55 years or older and have an annual income less than $18,000.
Music Maker Relief Foundation, Inc. is a tax exempt, public charity under IRS code 501(c)3.
Autopsy IV
Part time blogger. Full time hater.
[...] Check it out! While looking through the blogosphere we stumbled on an interesting post today.Here’s a quick excerptA few months ago, continuing my efforts at collecting material from my favorite artists appearing on the Kenny Wayne Shepherd 10 Days Out disc, I bought Cootie Stark s Sugar Man from Music Makers 1… anymore. For those that ain t feelin it, come back on Monday 1 Music Maker Relief Foundation, Inc. helps the true pioneers and forgotten heroes of Southern music gain recognition and meet…. Music Maker Relief Foundation, Inc. is a tax exempt, public charity under IRS code 501(c)3. [...]