Traditional country blues light up library

By JOHN ROCKLIN

Acoustic Country Blues artist Paul Geremia visited the Tusten-Cochecton branch of the Western Sullivan Public Library Saturday, June 26.

Both entertaining and informative, his performance of country blues was well received by a full house at this free event. Singing and playing songs by such artist’s as Blind Lemon Jefferson, Reverend Gary Davis and Leadbelly, with both the six and twelve string guitars, Geremia also educated his audience in music history between songs.

Growing up in Rhode Island, Geremia began playing harmonica at an early age, but guitar became his main instrument after he saw Mississippi John Hurt’s performance at The Newport Folk Festival in 1963.

“That’s what music is supposed to sound like,” he remembered as his face lit up.

Learning from a friend who was a fairly accomplished fingerpicker in the style of Merle Travis and Chet Atkins, Paul was soon able to play from old records by ear.

In 1970, he traveled to Spartanburg, South Carolina in search of one-time blues great Pink Anderson.

During the 1920s and 1930s, Anderson had been quite a recording star among black audiences.

Finding the man living in obscurity (his neighbors were not even aware of his one-time status, or even that he was a musician), Geremia was able to convince Anderson to teach him a thing or two, and he eventually helped to somewhat revive Pink’s career.

As of the few people in the Rhode Island area accomplished in traditional blues, Geremia had many opportunities to open up for and be around such artists as Son House, Skip James and Howling Wolf.

The intimate performance series at the library has been made possible with funds from the Decentralization Program for Sullivan County, a re-grant program of the New York State Council on the Arts, administered by Delaware Valley Arts Alliance.

For more information email lmoran@rcls or call 845/252-3360.