Telescription 1951

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jUrhgb13ft4

Bob Willis took the influence of Bessie Smith and Emmit Tiller and gave rise to the Country Swing that would mix with Texas/Chcago Blues and jump blues to become rock and roll.

We can hear this evolution in his rendition of Ida Red.

Ida Red was an American folk song with no known origin. Willis recorded it in 1938 using the 2/4 Dance beat common in jazz and blues.

The same beat that traces its roots in slave fields and back to West Africa.

Willis also performed in Blacface, but saw it , incorrectly, more as a sign of respect than lampooning. Willis grew up picking cotton on his farm and noted until 7 or 8 he didn't know any white kids. He would dance jigs and play fiddle with the black workers and children on his farm.

When asked if he learned his stagecraft, with a ton of swagger and call and response (that you see in Hip Hop and all forms of rock...well not emo so much) from vaudville Willis replied no. It was listening and hanging out with Black musicians. Willis said his goal was always to play as good as his Black friends.