Notes about Essie
If there is ever a competition for a female to be named the B. B. King musical counterpart, if Essie the Blues Lady doesn‘t win that honor, you can be assured that she will be a very strong contender. Born and reared in central Arkansas, Essie spent much of her early childhood slipping and sliding up and down the river banks, fishing and hunting with her family. There was much work and little income, so the family members turned to the wild to supplement their livelihood.
While some people have to break away from their normal way of life and make a special effort to grasp what the blues is all about, Essie states “This is not so in my case. I was born into the blues; I was reared on the blues; and I’m a product of the blues. If you’re talking about wearing hand-me-down clothes, cars breaking down, and pinching pennies to get by, you’re talking about the life I've lived.”
Despite the shortcomings regarding “style and keeping up with the Joneses”, there were no shortcomings when it came to happiness. When the chores were done and the sun set in the evening, it was “music time.” Essie’s father played several instruments and her mother sang. Essie and her sisters and brothers would listen for hours (and join in, of course).
Essie, determined to learn to play, started picking her dad’s guitar when he was at work. He acknowledged her interest and started teaching her tunes he knew by Jimmy Reed, John Lee Hooker, Howling Wolf, etc. One of her dad’s friends would show her a few licks when he visited the family, and he once told Essie the blues was really a man’s music. Obviously, Essie let that comment go in one ear and swiftly out the other. Her dad bought for her several B. B. King records and told her she could play anything she wanted to play - just practice hard.
Essie listened to "The King" every day and every night and strove to replicate what she heard. When her dad was convinced that she was going to stick with it, he made the decision to buy her an electric guitar, instead of buying the family a new washing machine twhich was desperately needed. Needless to say, that didn’t go over too well with her mother at the time. However, Essie says her mom is the first one to say these days “I‘m so happy your daddy got that guitar for you instead of the washing machine.” Essie and her sisters formed an all-girl band in the '70s (Queen Bee and the Soul Seekers) and traveled throughout Arkansas and the surrounding states performing their music.
One might wonder about Essie’s outlook on life since she was deprived of the finer material things when growing up. Prior to a recent concert, she was asked the following questions: (1) Given a choice, what type of house would you live in? (2) What brand of clothing would you wear? and (3) What make of car would you drive? Essie chuckled and stated “A mansion or a teepee - they’re about the same to me as long as I’m warm in the winter and comfortable in the summer. Brand names don‘t really matter either. But so far as a car, make no mistake, the car I prefer to drive for the rest of my life (whether old or new; sleek or battered) is the one that will take me where I want to go and bring me home again - without leaving me stranded alongside the road.”
As Essie, The Blues Lady turned to walk onstage, she glanced back and shouted “But don’t mess with my guitar, ‘Ruckus‘!”
Hello Essie, It Is My Pleasure, To Be Your Friend. Thank You Kindly For The Encouraging Words... I Wish You A Week Full Of Many Blessings For The Many Blessings, That You Deliver Each Day Through Your Music, And Just By Being Who You Are . " You Are Made Special In Your Image" You Truly Are An Inspiration To Many So, Please Keep Up The Good Work!!!
Quote: "When Your Day Is Pressure-Packed Your Hours Are All Too Few, Just Close Your Eyes And Meditate And Let God Talk To You" Helen Steiner Rice
DEAREST ESSIE I AM REALY GLAD YOU ADD.I DIG WOMEN PLAYING AND WRITING SO WELL AS YOU DO!HONNORED TO HAVE YOU IN OUR CIRCLE OF FRIENDS.LOVE AND PEACE JANOS FROM THM.
PEACE & MANY BLESSINS' ON YOUR PATH LADY ESSIE!! MAY THERE BE FEW STONES IN YOUR PASSWAY MY FRIEND!! HOPE TO SEE YOU ON THE ROAD..TILL THEN.. KEEP MAKING IT DO WHAT IT DO... ~ RR
"DEVIL OFFERED A GOLD DOBRO~I SAID NO,I BE A HOBO!!" ~ RiYeN RoOtS
As a shepherd seeketh out his flock in the day that he is among his sheep that are scattered; so will I seek out my sheep, and will deliver them out of all places where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day.
And I will bring them out from the people, and gather them from the countries, and will bring them to their own land, and feed them upon the mountains of Ysryl by the rivers, and in all the inhabited places of the country.
Ooooooh Yeah, It's Showtime Buckaroos!! It's been such a Long Time but this Saturday at High Noon MST on KAFM I'll be back on the Air unleashing the Boogie for everyone on this Rock we Ride, It's all about the Groove we share in life that makes this Trip such Tasty Party...KAFM has a High Stream...Oooooh it has been such a Long Time and even the crack of Dawn is running from me! Go out this Weekend and Dance, Dance, Dance until ya' make your Soul Shine! It's so good to be back in Colorado and back where it all began! Tune In and Turn It Up!! The Boogie is On! Get on the Phone and call someone who needs to know just how you feel about them, tomorrow just might be too late! Roll the Dice and enjoy the World of Boogie Woogie and Jive!
Oct 22nd Thur Open Mic Blues Jam Session 8:30 PM Oct 23rd Ben "Swamp Donkey" Brenner with the Cruize Brothers 9:00 PM www.mikedollins.biz Details call 501-623-6343
I just wanna personally invite you out to my concerts this week at The West End Smokehouse in Little Rock, Ar on Fri. 16th & Auntie Skinners Riverboat Club in Jefferson, TX on Sat 17th!!!! I sure hope you can make it out...Its gonna be a great night of BLUES, GOOD FRIENDS, & DAMN GOOD TIMES!!! -Wes Jeans
Wes has been ranked as one of the Top Young Gun Guitarists in the nation by Guitar Player Magazine!
He has had the honor of sharing the stage with such greats as B.B King, Jimmie Vaughan, Buddy Guy, Johnny Winter, Lynryd Skynyrd, 38 Special, Susan Tedeschi, Joe Bonamassa, and MANY MANY more!
If you love the soulful rockin sounds of ZZ Top, Jimi Hendrix, SRV, & Johnny Winter...YOU DO NOT WANNA MISS THIS SHOW !!!!!
FRIDAY OCTOBER 16th - WES JEANS & MAX TAYLOR "LIVE" AT:
THE WEST END SMOKEHOUSE 215 N Shackleford Rd, Little Rock, AR, 72211. Phone: 501-224-7665. 9:00pm -----------------------------------------------------------------
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 17th - WES JEANS "LIVE" AT:
AUNTIE SKINNER'S RIVERBOAT CLUB 107 W Austin St Jefferson, TX 75657-2201 (903) 665-7121 9:00PM
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