Furry Lewis – Blues Magician – How Furry’s Doin’
LUCKY SEVEN proudly announces the release of two “new” albums by one of blues music’s all time greats, FURRY LEWIS. Recorded in 1969 in Furry’s home at Fourth and Beale Streets, the albums (appropriately entitled FOURTH & BEALE, and BLUES MAGICIAN, capture the essence of this famous blues musician and singer as never before. Born in Greenwood, Mississippi in 1893, Furry Lewis first moved to Memphis in 1899. By the time he was nine years old, he had already made music his life’s work, and had headed to Beale Street, where he came under the tutelage of Mr. WC Handy, the legendary blues composer. Handy gave Furry his first real guitar, and Furry began to entertain the folks in Beale Street’s saloons, and on riverboats from New Orleans to Memphis to St. Louis. In short order, Furry became one of the most popular entertainers on Beale Street during its heydey of the 20’s, also playing with such greats as Gus Cannon and Will Shade, The Memphis Jug Band. Soon, he came to the attention of the early music producers, and made successful recordings for both Vocalion, and RCA Victor’s Bluebird label. With only a fifth-grade education from Memphis’ segregated school system, Furry Lewis nevertheless developed a reputation as a sage philosopher in the writing of his songs, and never let life’s hardships (such as the loss of a leg in an accident while riding the rails in Illinois, resulting in a wooden leg) keep him from pursuing and performing the music he loved. To supplement his …
