RETURN TO NAVASOTA
A few days before Christmas, 1973, I boarded a Greyhound bus and headed for Navasota, Texas, to visit my friend and mentor, songster Mance Lipscomb, at his home. It was a long trip, and only once did I encounter hostility for my long hair, beard, and "damned" guitar. This particular driver didn't want any hippy disturbing his equanimity. However, everybody else I encountered throughout the journey was friendly and helpful. We had a wonderful visit, and I bid Mance and his wife, Elnora, farewell after a few days and headed to Houston to see Lightnin' Hopkins. It was to be the last time I saw him, as both he and his wife passed away in 1976.
Some time last year, an old Ash Grove buddy, Prof. Michael Birnbaum, also a great admirer and historian of Mance, told me about an annual festival given in Mance's name in Navasota. I got in touch and got invited to perform this year, on August 9. After a lapse of almost 35 years, I was going back to Navasota, albeit this time flying and renting a car. I arrived Thursday afternoon, August 7, and after cleaning up I attended a "blues mass" at the local Episcopal church, and spoke briefly at a short presentation about Mance. The festival kicked off the next evening, but I was not scheduled to play until Saturday at 3:00. By then I was champing at the bit to let it rip. I played a variety of Mance's songs, some from Lightnin', Albert King, Fred MacDowell, Blind Willie Johnson, Muddy Waters, most of them from the new CD. I used my vintage National and the same mahogany Martin I had when I played with Mance and Lightnin' way back when. Unless people read the publicity and went to this My Space page, they had no idea what I did. I think it's fair to say that they warmed to my music as the set went along and accorded me a standing ovation at its end. I was overwhelmed. It just doesn't get any better than that.  A couple of my musician buddies from here and a pal from Florida joined me, as did my daughter and her friend, for this significant return to Navasota.