SON HOUSE

Short Biography

Son House was born 1902 in Riverton, Mississippi and died died 1988 Detroit, Michigan. His real name was Eddie James House, Jr. He was a preacher and you can hear a lot of inspiuration by gospel in his songs.

Here is a fictive Autobiography a former student wrote, it is really great and gives you a good impression on Soun Hous's life.

Musical Style

Son House uses very simple methods in his songs, the only instrument is the slide guitar he plays, but he makes it with this combination to make such an incredible convincing performance, just by a great combination of very good vocals and good guitar skills. It is surbrising how similar his guitar riffs are partly to the early rock songs and i think  he inspired a lot of musicians after him.

Song Examples:

Shetland Pony Blues

This song has a lot of great guitar riffs and good vocals.

(while he recorded a train passed by, you can hear it on the record)

Preachin' Blues

I listened to this song, because I reead it was one his best songs. And then I listened again. And again. This song is a great mixture of great guitar plays and feeling vocals.

Death Letter Blues

This is a video of him performing the death letter blues, which is one of his greatest hits and a song which influenced heavily the blues for the next half century.