Music Page: Willie Houston

             BLUESMAN WILLIE HOUSTON

 

America's number of original delta bluesmen grows smaller with each passing day. Their importance is realized with every generation that follows them. One such bluesman is Willie Houston. Now in his late seventies Willie Houston has waited a long time to get his recognition. For every well-known Bluesman like BB King, John Lee Hooker or Muddy Waters there were literally hundreds of delta bluesmen from that same era that didn’t go to Memphis or Chicago. They were never heard by the likes of Alan Lomax or had a chance to record for the Library of Congress. Many bluesmen moved on to cities like Phoenix, Seattle or Denver to make a living that often times didn’t include playing the blues.