A video of the great Son House, weak and ill, shortly before his death. The song, "John, The Revelator," is about Apostle John, who wrote the book of Revelations,(the book of the 7 Seals), the last book in the Bible. St. John the Divine,as he is also called, also wrote St. John 1, 2,and 3.
Son House is called a Blues artist, although much of his music has gospel themes.
Many people do not realize that there were two Mississippi Delta African American music cultures, Blues and Gospel. These two communities were distinct and separate. They had very little to do with each other.
The Blues people established their meeting and music places called jukes, cafes, and clubs. The Gospel people built their chuches and congregations for worship. They worked hard to see that their offspring stayed as far away from the Blues people as possible.
Although many Blues artist sang about poverty and other unjust conditions, many churches actively involved itself in change. They believed that they had a God given mandate to actively work to improve conditions. Most, but not all,of the civil rights organizations were formed by people of faith.It was in the churches where meetings, workshops, and conventions on strategy was created on improving the political, educational, and social conditions of the people.
Many people are not aware that there were other kinds of music.Just like other ethnic groups...all people within the same ethnic group do not like the same music. The personal choice of music often bring in parameters of age, education, even gender.
When one gets to truly understand a culture, then they began to see all aspects of that culture. They realize that in the Mississippi Delta, as in other parts of the world, people choose their music according to many different variables.
Those of us who were raised on Gospel appreciate the importance, heritage, accomplishment, and place in the world of Delta Blues. Many people who are not Blues fans appreciate and love B.B.King,because of his hard work, accomplishments, gentlmanly nature, and his gifts as an Ambassador from the Delta.
You have to live among people, get to know the distinctions and differences among the populace, to really understand their preferances,likes and dislikes, and why. Like a good Gumbo, the Delta has many flavors.
