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Language of the Blues - Edmonton Blues Society

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`<br />

<strong>the</strong> far more popular blues artists <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> day, such as hokum star Tampa Red, Leroy Carr,<br />

and Lonnie Johnson- three giants largely forgotten today.<br />

<br />

<br />

<strong>the</strong> Hudson Motor Company. Produced between 1932 and 1938, first as <strong>the</strong> Essex-<br />

Terraplane and <strong>the</strong>n simply as <strong>the</strong> Terraplane, it was affordable, yet sleek and powerful.<br />

Elliott Sharp and Hubert Sumlin at Studio z OaR recording Terraplane album Do The Don't, 2002<br />

photo by Toni Ann M amary<br />

Fifty-<br />

-instrumentalist<br />

Elliott Sharp released an instrumental blues album called Terraplane<br />

<br />

<br />

combination <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> power <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> music and <strong>the</strong> strange title compelled me to find out<br />

what a Terraplane was. This name also appealed to my longstanding interest in science<br />

fiction. The combination was unbeatable: fast car, futuristic vibe, sexual metaphor, and a<br />

killing song. I held <strong>the</strong> name in my mental reserve for years for <strong>the</strong> time when I would<br />

358<br />

<br />

Although Sharp is known for a wildly creative approach to music that includes<br />

experiments like tuning his guitars to Fibonacci sequences, he had listened closely to<br />

<br />

168

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