Henry Jesse James Townsend
b. October 27th, 1909 in Shelby (Mississippi)
d. September 24th, 2006 in Mequon (Wisconsin)
SAINT LOUIS COUNTRY BLUES
Document
November 1929 - November 1937
Fils d'Allen et Omelia Townsend, Henry vit un temps à Cairo avant de s'installer en 1924 à East Saint Louis. Influencé par Lonnie Johnson, il apprend d'abord la guitare et, plus tard, le piano. Tout en exerçant différents métiers, il trouve l'opportunité d'enregistrer pour Columbia dès 1929 ses premiers morceaux comme les superbes "Henry's worry blues", "Mistreated blues", "Poor man blues". Henry accompagne aussi son frère le pianiste Jesse Townsend. Quelques années plus tard, il grave une poignée de morceaux pour le label Bluebird (appartenant à RCA-Victor) où il montre sa belle technique à la guitare (parfois sous le pseudonyme d'Henry Thomas) : "She's got what I want" (avec Roosevelt Sykes au piano), "Sick with the blues", "Don't love that woman". Il accompagne aussi très régulièrement Walter Davis lors de nombreuses séances. Dans un contexte orchestral avec John Lee "Sonny Boy" Williamson (harmonica) et Robert Lee Mac Coy (alias Robert Nighthawk à la guitare), il enregistre - toujours pour Bluebird - de remarquables titres comme "Lose your man" et "A ramblin' mind".
The son of Allen and Omelia Townsend, Henry lived for a time in Cairo before moving to East Saint Louis in 1924. Influenced by Lonnie Johnson, he first learned the guitar and later the piano. While working various jobs, he had the opportunity to record his first tracks for Columbia in 1929 including the superb "Henry's worry blues", "Mistreated blues", "Poor man blues". Henry also accompanied his brother pianist Jesse Townsend. A few years later, he recorded a handful of tracks for the Bluebird label (owned by RCA-Victor) where he showcased his fine guitar skill (sometimes under the pseudonym Henry Thomas) : "She's got what I want" (with Roosevelt Sykes on piano), "Sick with the blues", "Don't love that woman". He also accompanied very regularly Walter Davis on numerous sessions. In an orchestral setting with John Lee "Sonny Boy" Williamson (harmonica) and Robert Lee Mac Coy (aka Robert Nighthawk on guitar), he recorded — again for Bluebird — remarkable tracks like "Lose your man" and "A ramblin' mind".
BULLET RECORDS BLUES
SPV
1948
Après avoir participé à la guerre entre 1940 et 1944, Henry Townsend grave deux titres pour le label Bullet de Chicago en compagnie du pianiste Henry Brown. Ils furent crédités par erreur à Saint Louis Jimmy. Ce recueil ne reprend qu'un seul des deux titres.
After participating in the war between 1940 and 1944, Henry Townsend recorded two tracks for the Chicago-based Bullet label with pianist Henry Brown. They were mistakenly credited to Saint Louis Jimmy. This collection includes only one of the two tracks.
CONVERSATION WITH THE BLUES
Decca
August 1960
Parmi les enregistrements de terrain fondamentaux que fit Paul Oliver en aout 1960, on trouve un monologue d'Henry Townsend ("What I have commited").
Among the fundamental field recordings Paul Oliver made in august 1960 was a monologue by Henry Townsend ("What I have committed").
TIRED OF BEIN' MISTREATED
Prestige - Bluesville
THE BLUES IN ST LOUIS vol.3
Folkways
May 1961
Grâce au Blues Revival, Henry Townsend put enregistrer ce remarquable album sous la supervision de Sam Charters qui l'avait redécouvert. Sa virtuosité à la guitare est restée intacte et Henry propose ici des morceaux formidables comme "Cairo is my baby's home", "Tired of being mistreated", "Rocks have been my pillow", "The train is coming", "I got tired", "All my money gone" (où il est au piano). On note qu'il est accompagné ici de Tommy Bankhead à la seconde guitare.
Thanks to the Blues Revival, Henry Townsend was able to record this remarkable album under the supervision of Sam Charters who had rediscovered him. His guitar virtuosity remains intact and Henry offers such formidable tracks as "Cairo is my baby's home", "Tired of being mistreated", "Rocks have been my pillow", "The train is coming", "I got tired", "All my money gone" (on which he plays piano). It's worth noting that he's accompanied here by Tommy Bankhead on second guitar.
THINGS HAVE CHANGED
Adelphi
HENRY T. MUSIC MAN
Adelphi
CAIRO BLUES
Genes
September 1969
Dans cette anthologie assemblée par Gene Rosenthal, on trouve trois beaux morceaux d'Henry Townsend : "Cairo blues", "Tired of being mistreated" et "Christmas blues". Le LP "Henry T. Music Man" reprend un des trois morceaux. Le CD "Cairo blues" quant à lui en reprend deux.
In this anthology assembled by Gene Rosenthal, we find three beautiful pieces by Henry Townsend : "Cairo blues", "Tired of being mistreated" and "Christmas blues". The "Henry T. Music Man" LP features one of the three tracks while the "Cairo Blues" CD features two of them.
HENRY T. MUSIC MAN
Adelphi
CAIRO BLUES
Genes
September 1969 / August 1970 / August 1971 / April 1974
Le producteur Gene Rosenthal permit à Henry Townsend de participer à différentes séances entre 1969 et 1974. Parfois seul (à la guitare ou au piano) et parfois supporté par Andrew Cauthen (harmonica), Mike Stewart (alias "Backwards" Sam Firk à la guitare), Henry Brown (piano) ou sa femme Vernell Townsend. Ce programme remarquable et varié mérite absolument une écoute attentive : "Cairo blues", "Tired of being mistreated", "Every day of my life", "Why do we love each other", "Deep Morgan stomp", "Heart trouble", "Doing better in life".
Producer Gene Rosenthal allowed Henry Townsend to participate in various sessions between 1969 and 1974. Sometimes alone (on guitar or piano) and sometimes supported by Andrew Cauthen (harmonica), Mike Stewart (aka "Backwards" Sam Firk on guitar), Henry Brown (piano) or his wife Vernell Townsend. This remarkable and varied program is definitely worth a listen : "Cairo blues", "Tired of being mistreated", "Every day of my life", "Why do we love each other", "Deep Morgan stomp", "Heart trouble", "Doing better in life".
BLUES PIANO AND GUITAR
Omnivore
February 1973
Dans ce concert de 1973 déterré par Leroy Jodie Pierson, on retrouve Henry Townsend sur scène en bonne forme (et parfois accompagné de sa femme Vernell). Il partage aussi quelques morceaux avec le pianiste Roosevelt Sykes. Excellente qualité sonore.
In this 1973 concert unearthed by Leroy Jodie Pierson, we find Henry Townsend on stage in fine form (and sometimes accompanied by his wife Vernell). He also shares some tracks with pianist Roosevelt Sykes. Excellent sound quality.
MORE DEVIL'S MUSIC
Red Lightnin'
Catfish
January 1976
Il s'agit de la bande-son d'un documentaire sur le blues réalisé pour la BBC. Henry Townsend y apparait pour deux beaux morceaux : il joue de la guitare sur "Tears came rolling down" et du piano sur "Wave my hands bye bye".
This is the soundtrack to a BBC documentary on the blues. Henry Townsend appears on two nice tracks : he plays guitar on "Tears came rolling down" and piano on "Wave my hands bye bye".
39TH NATIONAL FOLK FESTIVAL
NCTA
July 1977
THE REAL SAINT LOUIS BLUES
Arcola
August 1979
HARMONICA BLUES
Arcola
August 1979
Après avoir enregistré "The real Saint Louis blues", Henry Townsend proposa au producteur Bob West d'enregistrer l'harmoniciste Big Al Calhoun. Celui-ci enregistre un intéressant album de blues campagnard avec Henry qui l'accompagne à la guitare et chante sur quelques titres (parfois rejoint par sa femme Vernell).
After recording "The real Saint Louis Blues", Henry Townsend suggested to producer Bob West that he record harmonica player Big Al Calhoun. He recorded an interesting album of country blues with Henry who accompanied him on guitar and sang on a few tracks (sometimes joined by his wife Vernell).
MULE
Nighthawk
Omnivore
1979
Dans cet album produit par Bob Schoenfeld et Leroy Jodie Pierson, Henry Townsend se consacre davantage au piano qu'à la guitare. Il est parfois rejoint par le mandoliniste Yank Rachell ("Things have changed"), le guitariste Norman Merritt et sa femme Vernell au chant ("Tears came rollin' down", "Can't you see"). Dans la réédition CD Omnivore parue en 2018, 8 titres inédits ont été ajouté.
On this album produced by Bob Schoenfeld and Leroy Jodie Pierson, Henry Townsend devotes himself more to piano than guitar. He is occasionally joined by mandolinist Yank Rachell ("Things have changed"), guitarist Norman Merritt, and his wife Vernell on vocals ("Tears came rollin' down", "Can't you see"). The 2018 Omnivore CD reissue adds eight previously unreleased tracks.
SAINT LOUIS BLUES
Wolf
ORIGINAL SAINT LOUIS BLUES LIVE
Wolf
November 1980
Ce recueil est composé de séances autrichiennes enregistrées en studio et en live. Henry se montre en bonne forme au chant, à la guitare et au piano (parfois secondé par sa femme Vernell) mais la set-list apparait un peu répétitive par moments. La réédition CD "Original Saint Louis blues live" reprend une partie des titres et ajoute quelques inédits.
This collection is composed of austrian sessions recorded in the studio and live. Henry is in good form on vocals, guitar and piano (sometimes assisted by his wife Vernell), but the set list seems a bit repetitive at times. The "Original Saint Louis blues live" CD reissue compiles some of this tracks and adds a few previously unreleased tracks.
HARD LUCK STORIES
Swingmaster
August 1981
Une belle séance capturée au domicile d'Henry Townsend à Saint Louis par le hollandais Leo Bruin. Henry possède toujours ce superbe jeu de guitare en fingerpicking et s'assied derrière le piano pour certains morceaux. Un programme intense avec, en particulier, "Hard luck story", "Heartbroken man blues", "Baby boy blues", "What would you do", "The three G's blues". Une partie des titres est reprise dans le CD Swingmaster "Saint Louis blues ace".
A beautiful session captured at Henry Townsend's home in Saint Louis by dutchman Leo Bruin. Henry still possesses his superb fingerpicking guitar style and sits behind the piano for some of the tracks. An intense program including, in particular, "Hard luck story", "Heartbroken man blues", "Baby boy blues", "What would you do", "The three G's blues". Some of the tracks are included on the Swingmaster CD "Saint Louis blues ace".
SAINT LOUIS BLUES ACE
Swingmaster
August 1981 / March 1983 / November 1987
Dans ce CD, on retrouve 5 morceaux provenant du LP "Hard luck stories". Le reste de la tracklist propose des morceaux inédits d'Henry Townsend enregistrés chez lui à Saint Louis en 1981, 1983 et 1987 par Leo Bruin (avec la collaboration d'Oliver Sain pour ceux de 1983). Comme précédemment, Henry se montre aussi inspiré à la guitare qu'au piano sur des titres comme "Big city blues", "Dirty trick blues", "Too pretty for me", "Your doggone ways", "Hey dear brother".
This CD features five tracks from the "Hard luck stories" LP. The rest of the tracklist features previously unreleased Henry Townsend tracks recorded at his home in Saint Louis in 1981, 1983, and 1987 by Leo Bruin (with Oliver Sain collaborating on the 1983 tracks). As before, Henry is as inspired on guitar as he is on piano on tracks like "Big city blues", "Dirty trick blues", "Too pretty for me", "Your doggone ways", "Hey dear brother".
NATIONAL DOWN HOME BLUES FESTIVAL vol.4 (lp) / vol.2 (cd)
Southland
October 1984
Dans ce concert organisé par l'ethnomusicologue George Mitchell, Henry joue deux morceaux : "Tears come rolling down" (chanté par sa femme Vernell) et "Standing looking out the window".
In this concert organized by ethnomusicologist George Mitchell, Henry plays two pieces : "Tears come rolling down" (sung by his wife Vernell) and "Standing looking out the window".
ROOTS OF RHYTHM AND BLUES : A TRIBUTE TO ROBERT JOHNSON ERA
Columbia
July 1991
THE 88 BLUES
Blueberry Hill
October 1991 / July 1997
Malgré son âge, Henry Townsend se montre toujours en forme pour chanter le blues. Il est ici accompagné par de bons sidemen comme John May, Leroy Jodie Pierson, Ron Edwards qui apportent un peu de variété. On peut retenir "No doggin'", "You've changed", "Search your heart", "It's got to end somewhere", "Hear me cryin'", "The way you're actin'". On trouve aussi une reprise de "Baby please don't go" enregistrée lors d'une émission radiophonique "Nothing but the blues" sur KDHX en octobre 1991.
Despite his age, Henry Townsend still proves himself capable of singing the blues. He's accompanied here by good sidemen like John May, Leroy Jodie Pierson and Ron Edwards who bring a bit of variety. Highlights include "No doggin'", "You've changed", "Search your heart", "It's got to end somewhere", "Hear me cryin'", "The way you're actin'". There's also a cover of "Baby please don't go" recorded during a radio show called "Nothing but the Blues" on KDHX in october 1991.
MY STORY
APO
October 1999
Henry Townsend, désormais nonagénaire, trouve encore l'opportunité de graver un album complet grâce à Chad Kassem et Jimmy D. Lane (le fils de Jimmy Rogers). Accompagné de musiciens attentifs, il joue avec la même habileté guitare et piano. Une belle séance qui mérite l'écoute avec, en particulier, "Less than a man", "No fuss and fight", "My story", "Screaming and crying".
Henry Townsend, now in his nineties, once again found the opportunity to record a full album thanks to Chad Kassem and Jimmy D. Lane (Jimmy Rogers' son). Accompanied by attentive musicians, he plays guitar and piano with the same skill. A nice session that deserves a listen especially with "Less than a man", "No fuss and fight", "My story", "Screaming and crying".
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THE LEGENDS OF THE BLUES : LIVE 2000
Divine 10
March 2000
THE WALTER DAVIS PROJECT
Electro-Fi
August 2002
Henry Townsend a longtemps été le guitariste de Walter Davis. Il était donc naturel qu'il figure dans ce disque hommage supervisé par Christian Rannenberg. Henry apparait sur le morceau "Nothing but the blues" avec l'harmonciste Bob Corritore.
Henry Townsend was Walter Davis's longtime guitarist. So it was only natural that he be featured on this tribute album supervised by Christian Rannenberg. Henry appears on the track "Nothing but the blues" with harmonica player Bob Corritore.
LAST OF THE GREAT MISSISSIPPI DELTA BLUESMEN - LIVE IN DALLAS
Blue Shoe Project
October 2004
Dans cette réunion d'anciens bluesmen sur une scène de Dallas, on retrouve Henry Townsend (95 ans) qui joue sur cinq morceaux. Malgré sa voix affaiblie, il se montre en bonne forme au piano et à la guitare.
In this reunion of veteran bluesmen on a stage in Dallas, we find Henry Townsend (95 years old) playing on five tracks. Despite his weakened voice, he shows himself in good form on piano and guitar.