Blues Houseparty

Very nostalgic. The conversations and the way they people interact reminds me of my grandparents generation in North Carolina. I would visit every summer around this time in June when I was a little boy. These conversations give me ideas about language and it ultimately inspires much of my poetry. 

MC Spotlight: Bill Withers

Today's MC spotlight is on one of the greatest American singers of all time, Mr. Bill Withers.  He is one of my favorite singers and one of my biggest influences as a writer.  Although he is categorized as an R&B singer, Bill Withers is simply and completely an American songwriter, composer, musician, and singer in every way.  He was born Williams Harrison Withers on July 4, 1938. He was the youngest of six children in the small coal-mining town of Slab Fork, West Virginia.  He joined the Navy at the age of 18 and served for nine years.  Afterwards, in 1967 he moved to Los Angeles, California to pursue a career in music.  He was successful!

First, I cannot imagine being on the same ship as Bill Withers. I was in the Navy and none of the guys in my division could sing anywhere close to Bill Withers.  Mr. Withers has the type of lyrics that speak to the soul.  Some of his greatest hits such as Lean on Me, Ain't No Sunshine, Use Me, Just the Two of Us, Lovely Day, and Grandma's Hands were rhythmic, poetic, and they possessed the magic of a great American novel or short story.  One of my favorite songs, which spoke on the subject of the Vietnam War was I Can’t Write Left Handed. Listen to this song and perhaps you will understand how poignant and ingenious this song is, and how Mr. Withers addresses the atrocities of war without being judgmental.

Overall, Bill Withers is still one of the greatest singers of our age.  In 2009, the documentary Still Bill, which chronicles the career of this talented singer, was produced by directors Damani Baker, Alex Vlack.

Note to Mr. Bill Withers:

Mr. Withers, one of my regrets in life is that I’ve never had the pleasure of seeing you perform live, but I have treasured your music and lyrics since I was a boy.  I have to thank my parents for having your records. I was born the year you made your move to Los Angeles; 18 years later, I would also go on to join the Navy.  I’ve served on active duty for 3 years and went on to college where I served in the Naval Reserve for five years. Today, I still serve but as a teacher.  I also write.  You are one of my greatest influences as a writer.  Meaning, I try to capture and record in my writing how life has touched me, and I try to keep my words simple, poetic, and true.  I am often tempted to show the world just how deep my vocabulary can be, but then I think of your lyrics along with the writings of the late and great Paul Laurence Dunbar and the phenomenal Langston Hughes. So, I keep it simple and from the heart just as I feel you wrote your lyrics.  Sir, I salute you.  Relax and know that you have touched so many lives with your music.  In particular, you have profoundly touched my life. I thank you.  Peace and love to you and yours.

Interview with Buster Jones: CLICK!

Sources:  pbs.org, wikipedia, YouTube

Poem 8: Bright Eyes

Bright Eyes

A poem by Paul Laurence Dunbar comes to mind
whenever I see a little brown baby with sparklin’ eyes

Oooh wee, child!

Look at those eyes so big and bright
I bet you they could lead us back to the house tonight

Those big, bright eyes could shine and flicker straight to the front door
and it’ll be just in time for this little brown baby to go to sleep once more

Whenever I see a little brown baby with sparklin’ eyes
A poem by Paul Laurence Dunbar comes to mind

By: Stephen Bess

Poem?

(Click to Enlarge)

The road to writing a poem a day is too tiresome. So, I'm going to sit under this tree here and rest. I know...I know what I said, but I'm so tired and that shade looks so nice and cool.

P.S. I want to give a big thanks to new blog friend, Lovebabz. She's cooler than this shade tree. Peace~

Photo: Road off of Hwy 125 in North Carolina

Photo Source: Stephen Bess

Photography: The NC I See

Share-Croppers

By: Langston Hughes

Just a herd of Negroes

Driven to the field,

Plowing, planting, hoeing,

To make the cotton yield.
When the cotton's picked

And the work is done

Boss man takes the money

And we get none,
Leaves us hungry, ragged

As we were before.

Year by year goes by

And we are nothing more

Than a herd of Negroes

Driven to the field--

Plowing life away

To make the cotton yield.

These are photos that I took on Wednesday in Martin County, North Carolina. Martin County represents my roots here in America and cotton is where it all began. Have a great weekend!