T-Model's credentials are impeccable; if anything he's over qualified. He was born James Lewis Carter Ford in Forrest, a small community in Scott County, Mississippi. T-Model thinks he's seventy-five but isn't sure. He was plowing a field behind a mule on his family's farm by age eleven, and in his early teens he secured a job at a local sawmill. He excelled and was later recruited by a foreman from a bigger lumber company in the Delta, near Greenville, and eventually got promoted to truck driver. During the time he spent driving and working in a log camp, T-Model ran into trouble, and was eventually sentenced to ten years on a chain-gang for murder. He lucked out and was released after serving two. He says, grinning, "I could really stomp some ass back then, stomp it good. I was a-sure-enough dangerous man."
When asked how many times he'd been to jail, T-Model responded, "I don't know. How many?" He seemed to think it might be a trick question. Upon realizing it wasn't, he answered to the best of his ability. "Every Saturday night there for awhile."
As disheartening as this is, it's also a refreshing reminder of how ridiculous the present image of a bluesman is. Nothing could be more twisted than the romanticized and picturesque standard...an old black man devoid of anger and rage happily strumming an acoustic guitar on the back porch of his shack "in that evening sun". T-Model couldn't be further from this fabricated image. At 3/4 of a century old and with a dislocated hip, hes still cussing, fighting, and outdrinking men a quarter his age.
Spam to his friends,Tommy Lee Miles to the authorities, he has been T-Model's A-number-one drummer for the past eight years. T-Model and Spam are the only men still playing on Greenville's Nelson Street. Most of the audience has scattered due to violence from the crack trade, and with the exception of T-Model, the street that once boasted Booba Barnes and others is dead. On a typical night Spam and T-Model will arrive at the club and unpack T-Model's guitar and amp, and the bass drum and snare he allows Spam to use. When T-Model feels there are enough people, they start banging away in their own post-war Peavey-powered hill stomp. It's nothing unusual for T-Model to play eight hours a night. They keep going until no one's left standing. After his equipment's packed up T-Model will coat himself with Off and climb into his van to crash.
hey Chickenhead! Nice to meet you at Thee Parkside on Sunday, and great to see you playing the blues so well at 90 years old, and Gravelroad are the worthiest of accompanists Regards, Cormac
It’s been well over a year since I last recorded something new my friend, but it’s that time again. I posted a new original song called “Forever No Restraints.” It's the frist song on the Myspace music player.
I refer to it as cosmic blues.....but blues it ain't. I used to do this song as a short solo acoustic piece, but I decided to turn it into a lengthy electric guitar jam and let my freak flag fly!
It has a strong Hendrix vibe, but is uniquely me….. Please drop by my page and have a listen! I also posted a video of me doing the song as I recorded it, so even if the music player isn't working, you can check the song out in the video.
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CALLING FANS AND ARTISTS! Audimated is a website which helps Artists make more money with their music. Audimated is also the only site which PAYS FANS to share their favorite content.
Audimated just launched and is looking for our first Artists and Fans to join our community. If you are looking to make money with music, please join now at www.audimated.com.
Sign up in the month of July and receive $50 in premium Audimated services!
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