COMPLETE DELMARK CATALOG INSIDE - Delmark Records

Bob Koester and the Old Town School
Speech given before Delmark 55th Anniversary Blues & Jazz Program at OTS, 9/26/08
Bob Koester has been an enormously influential figure in the blues and jazz
worlds over the past half-century. The list of artists who have appeared on
Delmark Records, the label he began in 1953, includes some of the most
significant musicians and ensembles in 20th century – and now 21st century
- American music. But what’s less well known about Bob is his effort to bring
blues to the Old Town School community in the school’s earliest years.
The story began when Bob moved to Chicago from St. Louis in the summer
of 1958, less than a year after the Old Town School first opened its doors.
Once here, he started to search for the blues musicians who made Chicago
their home. Over the next several years, he located nearly two dozen of
them, including some of the most talented artists who had recorded in
Chicago in the years before World War Two.
At the same time, Bob was observing the steady stream of students heading
to the School at its original location on North Avenue. It occurred to him that
the folk music fans who were coming to learn the history of the blues might
enjoy hearing the music played by some of its most gifted performers.
Bob decided to launch a series of concerts in the Blind Pig coffeehouse, just
downstairs from the school. He called it “Blues and Barrelhouse, “ and when
he printed up flyers to advertise the series, he made sure to list the
performers he planned to invite.
And so in June of 1961, for the admission fee of one dollar, you could go to
the Blind Pig on Tuesday nights and hear performers like guitarist Walter
Vinson, who played with the legendary Mississippi Sheiks. Maybe
harmonica star Jazz Gillum, who had the first hit version of “Key to the
Highway”, would show up, or perhaps Washboard Sam, whose song “Mama
Don’t Allow” would later become a staple of the repertoire of Old Town alum
Steve Goodman. Or you might be treated to one of the legendary
barrelhouse piano players who had played in actual barrelhouses, like Little
Brother Montgomery or Roosevelt Sykes.
When you hear this roster of extraordinary talent, it’s hard not to
wish for a time machine to go back and sit in the front row on one
of those Tuesday nights. In fact, if you were to do that, you might
have had the row to yourself. It turned out that Bob was a little
ahead of his time, and the turnouts were disappointing. After a few
months, he discontinued the series.
But a year or so later Bob tried his hand again as a promoter,
booking some of the same artists at a North Side club called the
Fickle Pickle. Perhaps it was because people had by then seen
some of the performers at one of the early University of Chicago
Folk Festivals, or because guitarist Mike Bloomfield’s enthusiasm
in promoting the shows had gotten the word around, or maybe just
because the folk revival was gathering momentum, but for
whatever reason, the Fickle Pickle series had more success in
drawing a crowd. Soon other North Side venues were presenting
blues artists to white audiences, and a new chapter in blues history
began.
In the years since then, Bob and the Old Town School have each
become internationally recognized leaders in their fields. As we
celebrate Delmark on 55 years - and counting - of great music, we
salute Bob in particular for his steadfast determination to give the
artists he believes in the chance to reach audiences who might
appreciate them. From the Blues and Barrelhouse series to the
terrific show here tonight, we are still benefiting from his vision and
his tenacity.
- Bob Riesman, music documentarian
JRM TEES!
SWEET HOME CHICAGO
Gold/white on black
S-M-L-XL $18 2X $20
JUNIOR WELLS Hoodoo Man
Black on cream
M-L-XL $18; 2X $20
CHICAGO BLUES
2 color / 2 sided on orange
S-M-L-XL $20; 2X $22
CHARLIE CHRISTIAN
Color on white
M-L-XL $22; 2X $24
SUN RA Sun Song
Yellow on red
M-L-XL $20; 2X-3X $22
JRM TOTE
Only
$
12!
MONK
B&W on white tee
M-L-XL $22; 2X $24
MUDDY WATERS
B&W on white tee
M-L-XL $22; 2X $24
ROBERT JOHNSON
B&W on white tee
M-L-XL $22; 2X $24
JRM CHICAGO
White on blk/blk on mustard
S-M-L-XL $18; 2X-3X $20
15