In The Language of the Blues: From Alcorub to ZuZu, author and rocker Debra Devi explores the meaning of a word or phrase from a blues song. The award-winning book includes a foreword by Dr. John and is blurbed by Bonnie Raitt and Joe Bonamassa.
A washboard is a wooden or metal board played as a percussion instrument with thimbles, spoons, knitting needles, or metal finger picks. Also called a rub board, it’s a staple of zydeco, the accordian-based dance music of southern Louisiana Creoles.
In The Roots of the Blues, musicographer Samuel Charters described seeing “four men rattling on dried calabashes with metal finger rings” during a Fula dance near the River Gambia in the same fashion that African American percussionists in the 1920s played washboards with metal strips wrapped over their knuckles.
The most popular blues washboard player was hokum artist Washboard Sam, who recorded hundreds of records in the late 1930s and 1940s, mostly with Big Bill Broonzy. Washboard Sam (born Robert Brown) was the illegitimate son of Frank Broonzy, who also fathered Big Bill Broonzy. Sam was raised on a farm in Arkansas and moved to Memphis in the early 1920s. There he met Sleepy John Estes and Hammie Nixon. The trio busked on street corners, collecting tips from passersby.
In 1932, Washboard Sam moved to Chicago. At first he played on the streets for tips but soon he began performing regularly with Broonzy. Within a few years Sam was supporting Broonzy on the guitarist’s Bluebird recordings. Washboard Sam went on to accompany many different musicians on their recording sessions, including pianist Memphis Slim, bassist Ransom Knowling, Bukka White, Willie Lacey, and Jazz Gillum.
“What a great resource, as fascinating as it is informative. Debra’s passion for the blues shines through.” – Bonnie Raitt
“Debra’s book will teach you what you really need to know about blues history and where the blues are coming from.” – Joe Bonamassa
“Finally one can understand the mechanics behind the overwhelming viscera of the Blues. Debra Devi’s work is a true guide book to the soul.” – Al Jourgensen (Ministry)
“This book is fascinating! Take it to the bathroom and don’t come out until you’re done reading it.” – Jimmy Vivino
“This is a beautiful book. Upon receiving The Language of the Blues I discovered my knowledge only scratched the surface. Debra Devi has written an invaluable reference book. And it’s also great fun to read.” – Hal Willner
“Don’t think that The Language of the Blues might read like a dictionary or reference book. There’s no plot, but you can open it up at random and fall into the world of your favorite Blues songs, and find out more about the lyrics than you would be guessing from context. I learned a lot more about the Blues music I already loved.” – Bob Margolin
