Tales from a Musical Past - Newport Folk Festival, 1963

At Newport Folk Festival in 1963, I was not quite 16 years old.  By my parents’ grace, I was staying all by myself at a hotel for the duration of the festival.

I was so excited looking at everything, my guitar strapped on my back, walking down the street amidst the wealth of music being played all over town and thousands of fellow music lovers.  I remember running full speed into a parking meter while gawking at the goings on.

On the lawn in front of the stage there were all sorts of players. I happened upon one who was trying to figure out a Robert Johnson song, he was used to playing more finger-picking style, so I had fun showing a few things I knew of that tune. It turned out that this was Taj Mahal, long before he became very well known. Soon I was sitting and jamming with him and another fellow sat down to join us. It was John Sebastian! And another young guy. This was one early high point, during a time of many high points.

Years later PBS showed a film of Mississippi John Hurt and Newport that year. I was stunned to see there was that very moment when I was jamming filmed! I am wearing my beloved red and black “smoking jacket” with my back to the camera - Taj Mahal was on harmonica and on the far right of the photo was John Sebastian, on the left a young man whose name I don’t recall.

It was likely at this time that I was invited to the house where all the bluesmen were staying.  There at the “Blues House” were Son House, Skip James, Fred McDowell, and Mississippi John Hurt, four of the greatest living country blues players ever.

I was soon sitting at the feet of, actually sitting on the couch, next to Skip James.  He was showing me how to play a riff from one of his famous songs; I think it was, “Devil Got My Woman”.  I couldn’t quite get the riff – it was maddeningly.  He got a kick out of this.  So I enjoyed my struggle as well.

As we sat there someone offered him some whisky from a flask.  He gave it to me and said, “You better check this out, David, ‘case it’s poison.”  Thank you, Skip, I was delighted to do so.  I was soon in a definitely altered state, ecstatic at being in the company of these famous and gracious men. 

That evening, our excited gathering naturally turned into a party.  Seeing all these greats sitting playfully around joking made me feel so privileged and comfortable.  What a warm and human time!

As the night proceeded, they began to make friendly fun of each other.  Fred McDowell joked with Mississippi John and then to our amazement and delight picked up a guitar and began to play his version of John’s fingerpicking style.  Then Mississippi John grabbed the guitar and responded with a series of Fred McDowell style blues guitar licks accompanied by laughter and delight from all in attendance.

Then Fred took the guitar back and began playing a more extended Mississippi John-type song.  And who should leap up and grab me and commence to dancing with me around the room but Mississippi John.

I am thinking, actually screaming ecstatically in my mind, being shuffled around the room with his arm around my waist, “I am dancing with Mississippi John Hurt!! I am dancing with Mississippi John Hurt!!”

To tell it now it feels like a dream.  Sometimes though life goes beyond our dreams.  Dancing with Mississippi John Hurt -- human life has this capacity…to sometimes go beyond what we have even dreamt.

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