20
Mar
2010
Gavin’s Blues Heritage Tour — Episode 3
Welcome to the second leg of my Blues Heritage Tour. I’m on a road trip in a beautiful red 1966 Ford Mustang working my north from New Orleans up Highway 61 – the blues highway – to Chicago.
I’m in Baton Rouge, Louisiana – home of the ‘swamp blues’. Famous for harmonica stars Slim Harpo and Lazy Lester, and the guitarist Lightning Slim.
It’s also the home of ‘zydeco’, a strange mix blend of French Cajun music, blues, and rock n roll. Accordion player Clifton Chenier kick started this off in 1955.
I’m not here for the zydeco though.
I’ve come to Baton Rouge to meet Larry Garner, a blues singer and guitarist. He was the first blues artist I ever saw playing live. He played at Woodford Community Centre, Stockport, backed up by the Norman Beaker Band.
