Oscar "Buddy" Woods
Oscar "Buddy" Woods | |
|---|---|
| Also known as | The Lone Wolf |
| Born | April 7, 1903 Natchitoches, Louisiana,United States |
| Died | December 14, 1955 Shreveport, Louisiana,United States |
| Genres | Texas blues[1] |
| Occupation(s) |
|
| Instrument(s) |
|
| Years active | 1920s–1950s |
| Labels | Victor,Decca,VocalionandDocument(later re-issues) |
Oscar "Buddy" Woods(April 7, 1903[2]– December 14, 1955)[1][3]was an AmericanTexas bluesguitarist, singer and songwriter.
Woods, who was an earlybluespioneer inlap steel,slide guitarplaying, recorded thirty-five tracks between 1930 and 1940. He recorded solo and as part of a duo, the Shreveport Home Wreckers, and with a six- or seven-piece group, the Wampus Cats. Early in his career he backedJimmie Davison some of his recordings. Woods's best-known song was "Lone Wolf Blues", from which came his billing as "The Lone Wolf".[1]
Life and career[edit]
He was born nearNatchitoches, Louisiana,United States, on April 7, 1903. He relocated toShreveport, Louisianaaround 1925, where he started to work as a street musician and played for tips atjuke joints.[1]Various sources claim that he learned the rudiments of playing a bottleneck slide guitar after watching a Hawaiian music ensemble that toured in Louisiana in the early part of the 1920s.[4]Woods teamed up with another guitar player, Ed Schaffer, and they performed as the Shreveport Home Wreckers at the Blue Goose Grocery and Market, aspeakeasyin Shreveport.[5]In May 1930, the duo recorded forVictor RecordsinMemphis, Tennessee.[1]
In May 1932, the Shreveport Home Wreckers backedJimmie Davison four sides recorded inDallas,Texas. They also recorded another two tracks of their own, released as a single, on which they were billed as Eddie and Oscar. The significance of this mixed-race recording session spilled over into a joint tour—a unique sociological situation at that time in theSouth.[1]
Woods next recorded forDecca Recordsin March 1936 inNew Orleans.[1]The tracks included his best-known song, "Lone Wolf Blues," and the first take of "Don't Sell It, Don't Give It Away", which he wrote.[4]The records sold well, and by the time Woods recorded again, in October 1937, the Shreveport Home Wreckers had added new members and became the Wampus Cats. They backed both Woods and Kitty Gray, a singer and pianist,[6]on several tracks recorded in 1937 and 1938 forVocalion Records.[1]
In October 1940, Woods made his final recordings, five tracks for theLibrary of Congress.[1]Following the session,John Lomaxwrote, "Oscar (Buddy) Woods, Joe Harris and Kid West are all professional Negro guitarists and singers of Texas Avenue, Shreveport.... The songs I have recorded are among those they use to cajole nickels and dimes from the pockets of listeners."[7]Local records suggest that Woods continued to live in Shreveport, and after his recording career was over, he played again as a street musician and at dances.[1]
Woods died in Shreveport in December 1955.[1][8]
Style and legacy[edit]
Woods played his guitar flat on his lap, in a similar manner toHawaiian guitarplayers, using a small medicine bottle as a slide.[9]Themusic journalistUncle Dave Lewis noted that Woods played "in the style of lap steel, bottleneck blues slide guitar; some experts believe he may have been the primary force behind the creation of this whole genre".[1]
Woods's guitar-playing techniques were passed on to his protégé,Black Ace,who was approximately fifteen years younger than Woods and had played with him around Shreveport.[7][10]Thecompilation albummentioned below includes tracks by both Woods and Black Ace.[3]
The Shreveport Home Wreckers track "Flying Crow Blues" was recorded in 1932.Robert Johnsonused one set of its lyrics, almost word for word, for the final verse of his song "Love in Vain"(1937).[1]
Discography[edit]
Compilation albums[edit]
| Year | Title | Record label |
|---|---|---|
| 1993 | Texas Slide Guitars 1930–1938 | Document |
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^abcdefghijklmLewis, Uncle Dave."Buddy Woods: Biography".AllMusic.RetrievedJanuary 28,2014.
- ^Tomko, Gene (2020).Encyclopedia of Louisiana Musicians: Jazz, Blues, Cajun, Creole, Zydeco, Swamp Pop, and Gospel.Baton Rouge: Louisiana State University Press. p. 262.ISBN9780807169322.
- ^abcStefan Wirz."Oscar" Buddy "Woods Discography".Wirz.de.RetrievedNovember 23,2011.
- ^ab"Oscar 'Buddy' Woods".Thebluestrail.RetrievedNovember 23,2011.
- ^Brock, Eric J. (2001).Eric Brock's Shreveport.Gretna, Louisiana:Pelican Publishing. p. 217.ISBN1-56554-870-1.
- ^Dixon, Robert M. W.; Godrich, John; Rye, Howard W. (1997).Blues and Gospel Records 1890–1943.Oxford: Oxford University Press p. 325
- ^ab"Big Road Blues".Sundayblues.org.RetrievedNovember 23,2011.
- ^Eagle, Bob; LeBlanc, Eric S. (2013).Blues: A Regional Experience.Santa Barbara, California: Praeger. p. 303.ISBN978-0313344237.
- ^Oliver, Paul & McCormick, Mack, ed. Govenar, Alan (2019).The Blues Come to Texas.College Station: Texas A&M University Press, p. 164,ISBN9781623496388
- ^Oliver, Paul (1997).The Story of the Blues(2nd ed.). Boston:Northeastern University Press.p.157.ISBN1-55553-355-8.
- ^"Buddy Woods,Texas Slide Guitars 1930–1938:Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards ".AllMusic.RetrievedJanuary 28,2014.
- 1903 births
- 1955 deaths
- American blues singers
- Singers from Louisiana
- Songwriters from Louisiana
- Texas blues musicians
- American slide guitarists
- American blues guitarists
- American male guitarists
- Victor Records artists
- Decca Records artists
- Vocalion Records artists
- 20th-century American singers
- 20th-century American guitarists
- Guitarists from Louisiana
- 20th-century American male singers
- American male songwriters
- 20th-century American songwriters