Mr. Downchild blues slide guitar workshop

Thursday , August 28, 2003
06:00 pm
Location:
workshop ($30)

A comprehensive workshop which should have something for both the beginner and intermediate slide guitar players. Mr. Downchild will explain and explore the open tunings of D and G, show some useful chords in these tunings for self accompaniment, as well as some lead and bass lines. He will also show how playing solo can be different than ensemble playing styles. He will cover different types of slides used, as well as different styles of playing, (Fred McDowell to Robert Johnson and those in between.) The focus will be mostly on Delta Blues, and mostly acoustic. Electric styles will be briefly visited in reference only to development. He will explore the instruments (flat top acoustic, resonator/steel guitar,12 string etc.) He will end with a jam if people bring instruments and feel they will learn from this.

A veteran of the Blues scene, Mr. Downchild continues to grow, in both popularity and stature. Since coming to the U.S. from England in 1985 he has toured in more than half the states of America, released four CDs, toured and recorded with legendary Bluesman Robert Lockwood Jr., played with Pinetop Perkins and Sam Carr, enjoyed many good reviews for both his recorded works and live performances, and earned the love and respect of both his fans and his peers.

Born Steve Brazier In London, England in 1950, he first heard the Blues and rock & roll growing up in a household where this music was played all the time. His parents rode a Harley Davidson with U.S. airmen stationed nearby and had a constant supply of American records. British skiffle legend Lonnie Donegan was also an early influence.

At the tender age of five he started singing in talent competitions and was an instant success, in fact after winning every contest he was paid the princely sum of five pounds to stand down and be an example for the other youngsters. This was his first paying gig, it was not to be his last. During the early 1960s he had a career in London theater, national television and film as a young actor, singer. During this period he discovered the music of the legendary harmonica player Sonny Boy Williamson, and the song "Mr.Downchild." He formed his first band in 1965. He was inspired by British blues legends, Alexis Korner, Cyril Davis, John Mayall and Long John Baldry.

Through the seventies and into the eighties he worked at different jobs while he desperately clung to the blues for which he had now sacrificed his career in theater. He discovered the open tunings of the guitar and began to play slide, being heavily influenced by Robert Johnson, Elmore James, Muddy Waters and the British one-man band Duster Bennett. Now playing harmonica and guitar he began to find more satisfaction playing solo.

In 1985 Mr. Downchild realized one of his dreams, he came to the U.S. in search of the roots of the blues. His first stop was Cleveland, Ohio to meet the living legend Robert Lockwood Jr. At one of Lockwood's gigs, a lady arranged for him to sit in and play with Lockwood, her name was Marylin Adams, a writer for the W.C. Handy award-winning Ohio Blues Society. She was later to marry him and help him build a new life and a career in the U.S. He became a staple of the Cleveland blues scene and went on the road as a solo act playing clubs, festivals and colleges. In 1993 Robert Lockwood offered to record with him and the debut album "They call me Mr.Downchild" was released the next year. The album of all original material garnered great reviews with Mr.Downchild solo songs being especially noted.

The mid and late nineties saw Mr.Downchild on the road constantly. His second album, on his Mascita Music label, was released in 1997. "Live at Western Maryland Blues Festival" happened by chance when someone in the audience taped the show. The critics loved it, some wanting to see more solo work from him. But Mr.Downchild was already in the studio recording his third album, "Steppin on Time." Another album of originals, this was a band project in the fifties Chicago style. The CD received good airplay and reviews--it was popular with the East Coast "Shag" dancers and made the top ten at Radio KSPC in California.

In 1999 Mr.Downchild stopped touring with the band to concentrate on his solo act, and in February 2000 he finally disbanded the band. From the turmoil of career change and tragedy in his family came "Behind the Sun". Some consider it to be his best work. Another collection of original songs, this album takes you back to when the blues had soul.

Now fifty years old and still touring, Mr.Downchild has finally come into his own. He has served as an inspiration and role model for several up and coming blues artists. Like the old time troubadours of the Mississippi Delta, he travels the country telling it like it is. He became a US citizen in December 2000.

Check out recordings we carry featuring Mr. Downchild