Word has reached us of the death of the last of the Mississippi Delta bluesmen, David "Honeyboy" Edwards. According to a front page post on his website, the beloved blues artist passed away quietly in his sleep in the early morning hours of Monday, August 29th, 2011.
It was just two weeks ago that we reported on Edwards' retirement due to health issues, and his manager, Michael Frank of Earwig Music, had canceled the bluesman's full slate of scheduled summer performances. Edwards' last gig was in April at the Juke Joint Festival in Clarksdale, Mississippi. At 96 years old, Edwards was the last of the original Mississippi Delta bluesmen, and a direct link to fellow Delta legend Robert Johnson. As a youth, Edwards also traveled with, learned from, and performed alongside such giants as Charley Patton, Big Joe Williams, and Tommy Johnson.
Edwards' career began in earnest in 1942 when he was recorded by musical historian Alan Lomax for the Library of Congress. In the almost 70 years since his first field recordings, Edwards has released music for a wide variety of labels, including Chess Records, Sun Records, Evidence, Folkways, and most notably, his lengthy tenure with Earwig Music, which resulted in a handful of acclaimed albums, including his Blues Music Award nominated 2008 album, Roamin' and Ramblin'. Through the years, Edwards has earned two Grammy™ Awards, a pair of Blues Music Awards, and was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame.
Visitation for Edwards will be held on Thursday, September 1st from 6:00pm until 9:00pm at the McCullough Funeral Home at 851 E. 75th Street in Chicago. The bluesman will be buried on Friday in a private service.
Photo by Vince Bucci, courtesy Getty Images
Comments
I had a bad feeling that this was going to happen after the last news about him. He did have one hell of a run, though. He did play a show where I live here a year or two ago, but unfortunately I missed it. R.I.P. Honeyboy.
I am saddened by the passing of Honeyboy, I was at his last public performance in Clarksdale,Miss I got to sit and talk to him have him sign stuff for me. He was a pleasure to talk to. He will be missed
my name is les copeland,,,from 1997 honeyboy and i were best friends and working partners in canada and abroad,,,he was godfather to 1 of my children,,,we all loved honeyboy dearly,,,he was family,,,,my heart goes out to shirlean,,,and tony,,,as they were the 2 people that lived with him and always looked after him,,,,and of course to michael frank,,,who was like a son to him,,,and the little boy charles,,,who honeyboy helped raise into a man,,,when we think of our friend honeyboy,,,we will all cry together thank you sunday september 4 2011
I was fortunate and got to hear him play at the Highway 61 Blues Festival in Leland in June 2009. After he performed I went over and introduced myself and got an autograph. A great person and a great bluesman. Read his book, if you have not.
I am glad I got to hear and meet this amazing person.