I started listening to music on the radio and TV, and bought soul and blues records, as a pre-teen in 1961. I wanted to be a musician, singer, and sax player but let my shyness stop me. I got very heavy into blues, jazz, and soul 45 and LP collecting in high school and college, and read many blues books and magazines. After driving to Chicago over Thanksgiving weekend 1970 in a blizzard, I went to the legendary Theresa’s Tavern at 4501 S. Indiana and heard Junior Wells, Buddy Guy, and many others the first night; then Wise Fools Pub at 2170 N. Lincoln Avenue for Mighty Joe Young; and Saturday at the Avenue Lounge at Madison and California there was Lonnie Brooks (called Guitar Junior at the time). I was hooked and knew that after college graduation two years later I would move to an urban area with a lot of musicians playing in the African-American community.
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I had no expectations for that album other than to make a great recording and leverage it to help the band. I hoped to at least break even. That Earwig album has become known as the definitive electric Mississippi juke joint band recording. It is still the recording that defines the Earwig label.
