Snooky Pryor
Shake My Hand
(Blind Pig 5050)
At age 77 Snooky Pryor is going far stronger
than most musicians ever get to going at any age. For the past decade Snooky has been
cranking out high quality recordings that have reminded the blues community of his talent
and importance in the blues world. And, with Shake My Hand, Snooky Pryor has once again
put out another top notch collection of Chicago Blues. Snooky Pryor claims to have
originated the amplified harmonica sound having played his harp through U.S. Army P.A.
systems during World War II. Returning to Chicago after the war, Snooky started to refine
his skills playing constantly along Chicago's famed Maxwell Street. He merged his
Mississippi Delta upbringing and the sounds of Charlie Patton, Tampa Red, Robert Johnson
with Sonny Boy Williamson and Homesick James. In 1948 Snooky recorded Telephone Blues now
considered one of the earliest Chicago blues classics.
Snooky gave up music for most of
the sixties and seventies but, since 1987, has rejoined the blues world with a vengeance.
Shake My Hand shows Snooky Pryor is undiminished and as vigorous as in his 1940s and 1950s
heyday. This collection has eleven songs, seven being originals, that are mostly uptempo,
extremely enjoyable tunes. Backed by Billy Flynn (Mississippi Heat) on guitar, Robert
Stroger (Sunnyland Slim) on bass and Jimmy Tilman (Willie Dixon) on drums this disc shows
that the roots of Chicago Blues continue to grow and produce rich and juicy fruits today.
- Scott Ferman -
Southwest Blues CD Review - May 1999
Current Reviews - 1999 Reviews - available at our store
