Blind Blake: Bahamian Songs

Jul 28 2009 by Andrew Welsh, Perthshire Advertiser Tuesday

GUITARMAN Blind Blake (right) produced a body of work that’s one of the best kept secrets of 20th Century music.

Born in the Bahamas in 1915, Alphonso Blake Higgs was already an accomplished string player when he lost his eyesight aged just 16.

But his misfortune didn’t hold the young man back, and he relentlessly pursued his goal of a career in music to develop a unique blend of folksong, calypso and early zazz that continues to inspire listeners to this day.

The 28-track collection Bahamian Songs includes many of the politically and socially aware compositions that Blind Blake recorded for Philco Radio in his homeland in the mid-30s.

A huge influence on a host of genre-defying acts including Beck, Blake’s work has a timeless quality both musically and lyrically.

Listening to such as his most popular song, Love, Love Alone, it’s easy to understand why so many folk revival musicians have drawn inspiration from the multi-string instrumentalist.

Based on the love affair of King Edward VIII and Wallis Simpson, the track was banned by the colonial powers on its release.

However, Blake was later invited by the Duke of Windsor to perform it during his visit to the Bahamas and he was given a standing ovation by the assembled dignitaries.

Such a story illustrates Blake’s importance as a black artist who transcended his humble origins by reaching out to fans from international backgrounds with his easy humour.

The Beach Boys recognised this when they adapted Blake’s John B Sail for their Pet Sounds album and legends like Mahalia Jackson and Louis Armstrong praised him for his originality.

Bahamian Songs, which features Blake’s backing band The Royal Victoria Hotel Calypsos, is a must for students of classic roots.