Watkins goes to Italy, the blues come to Discover Mills
by Bryan Powell
- John Moran
- Beverly Watkins
Atlanta blues bandleader Beverly "Guitar" Watkins, 62, is one of the most recent musicians to have this experience. Watkins, who performs this weekend at the Georgia Music Hall of Fame annex at Discover Mills, has had her share of recognition: Her 1999 CD debut, Back in Business, earned a W.C. Handy Award nomination. The Discover Mills performance, which also features Atlanta artists Eddie Tigner, Mr. Frank Edwards and Danny "Mudcat" Dudeck, is recognition in itself. The show marks the release of Blues Came To Georgia, a CD compilation from the hall of fame and the nonprofit Music Maker Relief Foundation, featuring cuts from these artists and others.
The CD presents 15 tracks, most with a raw, field-recording feel, including nine previously unreleased performances. Among them: new recordings of Edwards' inimitable signature tune, "Chicken Raid," a tale of a preacher who comes to dinner and proceeds to eat everything in the house, and Neal Pattman's "Market Blues." Also featured are Tigner's "Route 66," Watkins' "Miz Dr. Feelgood" and Cora Mae Bryant's "McTell, Moss & Weaver."
Local attention notwithstanding, Watkins noticed a distinctly higher level of appreciation during a late-2001 tour of Italy. The vocalist/guitarist performed in 10 cities over 11 days, including a show in a historic opera house. The tour, called Blues Al Femminile, honored the work of American women in blues, jazz and gospel. Also appearing were Ida McBeth & Her Quartet and Alma Whitney & the Whitney Gospel Singers.
As part of the tour, Watkins visited local schools, fielding questions about her career and her experiences with her former musical mentor and employer, the late William "Piano Red" Perryman. On the last night of the tour, she received an award from the city of Pinerolo, a "community thank you," she says, for her visit. She also received gifts of wine and candy.
Watkins notes that the Atlanta-based Piano Red, with whom she worked for much of the 1960s, is still well recognized in Europe. Red scored major R&B hits in the '50s with "Rockin' With Red," "Red's Boogie" and "The Right String but the Wrong Yo-Yo." In the late '50s and through the '60s, he toured as Dr. Feelgood, with his band, the Interns. Watkins performed in a nurse's uniform.
Italian audiences are "very appreciative, very supportive," says Watkins. "It wasn't a lot of dancing, more clapping, that was their appreciation. They really support the artists, from not only the U.S., but from all over. They are more concerned about the artists there."
Lest it sound like sour grapes toward the home folks, be informed that Watkins doesn't present it that way. She's far too gracious for that. It's merely an observation from someone who's been there and can make an honest comparison. Blues artists "get more respect over there in international towns and cities," she says. "It seems like [they should get more recognition] over here, but that's the way it is. If you make a CD, it's rolling (selling well) over there, but [not] over here ... that's just the nature of different cities."
Watkins plans to return to Italy in April. Meanwhile, she continues to play locally with her band, the 4 Souls. She gigs regularly at Blind Willie's, and even performs at St. Luke's Missionary Church on Magnolia Street most Sundays.
Blues Came to Georgia's CD release party takes place Sat., Feb. 2, at 7 p.m. at Discover Mills. For more information, call 678-847-5201.
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