Mysterious Coon Song from 1928

The album is called "Black Blues in the Segregation Era". It's put out by Document Records. Amazon.com has an MP3 that you can purchase of a song on this album called the "Mysterious Coon" .

My band, The Hokum Scorchers, did their own version of this song in 1990 with Lou Reimuller singing and playing a National guitar and a National mandolin. I played washboard on this tinpan alley style song.

It was originally recorded by a group of musicians in 1928 from Mississippi (in Atlanta, GA) called "Alec Johnson and his Band" - Alec sang vocal, accompanied by Bo Chatmon & Charlie McCoy, Joe McCoy.

I posted this blog entry a few years ago, but this morning I uploaded the song to my tumbler because I had a request for it:

Have a listen to the "Mysterious Coon" done by the Hokum Scorchers.

(recorded in 1990)

The Art of Amy Crehore

Photosculpture of the Hokum Scorchers in Los Angeles by Mark Lowrie

Click to Enlarge

Photosculpture of Hokum Scorchers Band Copyright Mark Lowrie

Mark Lowrie makes the coolest photosculptures! He came to my "Dreamgirls and Ukes" gallery show last year in Los Angeles and he took a series of photos of my band, The Hokum Scorchers, playing music at the opening. As you can see, Lou Reimuller is playing a banjo-uke and I am playing the washboard. My fine art paintings and my painted ukes hang to the side of us and behind us. This image shows just a small corner of my entire solo show which featured a total of 15 oil paintings and 13 painted antique ukuleles. Mark made this wonderful photosculpture with the photos he took that night.

See more of Mark's amazing art here:

MARK LOWRIE

Listen to the Hokum Scorchers band here. And on my website.

Mark documented my entire "Dreamgirls and Ukes" art show with his photos!: LINK

Thanks again Mark! It really meant a lot to me to have you there.

The Art of Amy Crehore

"Let Me Play With Your Poodle" performed by the Hokum Scorchers

Someone was just saying on boingboing (in the comments section) that the song "Let Me Play With Your Poodle" is the dirtiest little ditty ever.

So, I changed the song on my website player to "Let Me Play With Your Poodle" by Hudson Woodbridge (a.k.a. Tampa Red) 1942. My band, The Hokum Scorchers, recorded this song in 1992 for our "Feed the Kitty" album. Lou plays the National guitar and we both sing. The poodle double entendre could go either way - male or female. In the old photo above, Lou seems to be sporting some sort of "poodle hair" (photo taken at Ken Kesey's house). Have a listen here:

Hokum Scorchers

(scroll down for music player)

The Art of Amy Crehore

"I Got Your Ice Cold NuGrape" performed by the Hokum Scorchers

Okay, this song is a jingle written for a brand of soda that came out in 1921 called NuGrape. The Hokum Scorchers are both singing with Lou playing the National guitar (the NuGrape Twins did the original version). Lou and I recorded this in 1995 for our "Yanna's Donut" tape.

Have a listen and find out "what makes your lips go flippity-floppa" in 1926: Hokum Scorchers

(follow this link and scroll down for music player)

The Art of Amy Crehore

Hokum Scorchers' Songs

Lou Reimuller and Amy Crehore- The Hokum Scorchers Band

I finally added 4 more Hokum Scorchers songs to my myspace music/art profile for a total of ten songs:

http://www.myspace.com/thehokumscorchers

Have a listen.These were all recorded in the 1990's. We rarely play gigs anymore, the last one being the opening of my "Dreamgirls and Ukes" art show at Thinkspace Gallery in Los Angeles, CA last February. Thanks, again Thinkspace! It was truly a night to remember.

The Art of Amy Crehore

2 Days Left to See "Dreamgirls and Ukes" at Thinkspace

This video was actually taken of The Hokum Scorchers on Feb 13, 2009 at Thinkspace on the opening night of my art show. I believe there are a couple more videos on YouTUBE of the rest of the performance. My solo art show will only be up for two more days, March 5 & 6th. Be sure to catch it if you are in Los Angeles. Hours: 1-6pm. 4210 Santa Monica Boulevard.

Thanks to Dinosaurs and Robots and King David Ukulele Station for recently blogging about the art in this show.

Here's a link to my Complete Art Show on FLICKR . I think I managed to pull off a really different type of art show with the help of Mr. Reimuller and the good folks at Thinkspace. I owe them all a ton of gratitude.

Back Home

The Hokum Scorchers at Thinkspace Feb 13, 2009, photo by Mark Lowrie

I spent more than a week in L.A. and it was so much fun. I think I OD'd on the Farmer's Market as I went there probably twice a day... for 8 days. My friend, Mark Lowrie, took tons of photos of the show. I intend to write more about it after I rest up a bit.

Yesterday, Juxtapoz wrote a nice re-cap.

Pop Drawer , Arrested Motion, The Rumpus, boingboing , Metromix L.A. (the newspaper version, too), Hooping Humanist, Fabulist, Uke Hunt, Format Mag, KPFK radio (Ali Lexa) were kind enough to feature my show, "Dreamgirls and Ukes", on their sites. Thanks to all! I do hope people will try to get out and see it in person if they are in the Los Angeles area. It was a lot of work, but the results were well worth it. I was extremely pleased by Thinkspace Gallery's beautiful space and wonderful people. New VIDEO on YouTube of performance Feb 13, 2009 (don't be fooled- it says 2007).

The Art of Amy Crehore

My Solo Show in Los Angeles

Just a little reminder for people in Los Angeles: My solo art show, "Dreamgirls and Ukes", will be opening Friday, Feb. 13, 2009 from 7-11pm at Thinkspace Gallery. Go to the gallery website for a full preview of the show and a link to close-up photos of the ukuleles on flickr. My band, The Hokum Scorchers, will play at 9 pm. I painted a mural in the front room of the gallery this week. The show is looking great, the paintings and ukuleles are all hung. Anthony Clarkson will be showing paintings in the project room. See ya there!

The Art of Amy Crehore

Hokum Scorchers to Play Music at Thinkspace Gallery, Los Angeles Feb 13, 2009

The Hokum Scorchers will play live music at 9pm on Feb 13th, 2009 during the opening ceremony for "Dreamgirls and Ukes" (7-11pm), my solo show at Thinkspace Gallery in Los Angeles.contact@sourharvest.com

Follow this link to hear some samples of blues, jugband, ragtime songs from the 1920's-1950's:

HOKUM SCORCHERS

The Art of Amy Crehore

My "Dreamgirls and Ukes" Show

Antique Ukulele painted by Amy Crehore 2009

Hokum Hallelujah, 12" x 18", oil on linen, copyright Amy Crehore 2009

My solo show, "Dreamgirls and Ukes", will open on Feb. 13, 2009 from 7-11pm. There will be a special performance at 9pm by my band, The Hokum Scorchers. I just posted all of my images for the show on FLICKR in two sets:

14 PAINTINGS

13 RESTORED & PAINTED ANTIQUE UKULELES

OR watch the whole show as a

SLIDE SHOW

Follow links to view them.

The Art of Amy Crehore

P.S. All of the ukes will be set up by a luthier for this show.

Interview with me on Thinkspace Gallery's Blog

"Monkey Love Song" copyright 2009 Amy Crehore

Thinkspace gallery just posted a question and answer session with me on their blog. This image is one of the 14 new paintings in my solo show, which will also feature 13 hand-painted, antique ukuleles (that are restored and set up by a luthier). "Dreamgirl's and Ukes" opens Feb 13th, 2009 from 7-11pm. My little band, The Hokum Scorchers, will play around 9pm. Follow link to read:

Interview with Amy Crehore by Andrew Hosner.

The Art of Amy Crehore

Weed Smoker's Dream by the Harlem Hamfats 1936

Such a great title for a song that I think I will use it for one of my new paintings (detail in post below). The Hokum Scorchers played "Weed Smoker's Dream" sometimes. I always liked that song! Found it on YouTUBE.

What am I listening to?

I am listening to the free cd that came with my 2009 blues calendar! It's amazingly good! If you haven't purchased a calendar yet, get this one chock full o' race record ads. Just look at this play list on the cd:

Track Listings:January to December artwork(1) Night & Day Blues • Blind Blake(2) Milk Cow Blues • Kokomo Arnold(3) Shake It and Break It • Charley Patton(4) Jesus Is A Mighty Good Leader • Skip James(5) Home Town Skiffle-Pt. 1,2 • Paramount All Stars(6) Jailhouse Fire Blues • Buddy Boy Hawkins(7) Worried Blues • Blind Lemon Jefferson (8) Cherry Ball Blues • Kansas Joe and Memphis Minnie(9) Graveyard Dream Blues • Ida Cox(10) Nightmare • Elgar's Creole Orchestra (11) The Death of Blind Lemon • Rev. Emmett Dickerson(12) Death May Be Your Christmas Present • Rev. A. W. NixBonus tracks (artwork doesn't exist for these songs)(13) Sun to Sun • Blind Blake(14) The Laffing Rag • Ben Curry(15) Hot Dog • Ben Curry(16) Home Town Skiffle-Test •Paramount All Stars(17) Alchohol And Jake Blues • Tommy Johnson(18) Ridin' Horse • Tommy Johnson

NOTE: The "Paramount All Stars" includes Papa Charley Jackson, Blind Lemon Jefferson, Blind Blake, Hokum Boys, Will Ezell, & Charley Spand. (Great!)

Get your calendar and free cd here:

Blues Images

This is the kind of roots music that I play with the Hokum Scorchers.

The art and music of Amy Crehore

Extended Holiday SALE: Crehore Limited Edition Prints and Uke T-shirts

"Roaming Tomcat Rag" by Amy Crehore (Blues Gal Series)

Due to popular demand, I have decided to extend the sale on my website of limited edition, signed prints and Tickler Ukulele Artist T-shirts until Jan. 1, 2009. Blues Gal, Monkey Love, and Little Pierrot prints are still on sale! Free postcards come with everything and there is free shipping on the prints, plus I will include a small, signed drawing (limited one per customer).

Sadie online magazine has a brand new interview with me. Also, Inked magazine will have a feature/interview with me in their Feb. issue about my solo show, "Dreamgirls and Ukes", to be held at Thinkspace Gallery in Los Angleles, CA (opens Feb 13, 2009). Here's a Sneak peek. The Hokum Scorchers Band will play at the opening (follow the link to hear some tunes). Please order things in the next few days if you want them to be there for Xmas....otherwise, I can't guarantee it.

The Art of Amy Crehore

These items were featured on boingboing , the directory of wonderful things

"What's the Matter" Memphis Jugband Song performed by the Hokum Scorchers

Image of the Memphis Jug Band from R. Crumb's "Heroes of the Blues" trading cards. LINK

This Hokum Scorchers' song is a version of "What's the Matter"originally done by the Memphis Jug Band in 1929. Lou Reimuller is playing the National guitar, kazoo and vocals and I am on the washboard, kazoo and vocals. We recorded this in 1990 for our first Hokum Scorcher's album. Hokum Scorchers are now on myspace, so follow this link to hear the song,

plus 5 more:

Hokum Scorchers
The Art (and music) of Amy Crehore

Free Music- Hokum Scorchers

(Hokum Scorchers Band tape cover in the '90's)

Well, myspace finally worked out the kinks in their new music players, so the Hokum Scorchers' music (my band) is available for free download. I'll try to switch up the songs when I can. Here is the
Link
The Art and Music of Amy Crehore
Be my friend just for fun!

Hokum Music

I just posted some Hokum Scorchers songs to a myspace page where you can download them if you want to:

LINK

I will upload new ones periodically.

The Art and Music of Amy Crehore

The Hokum Scorchers Perform Mississippi Sheiks' Song

Mississippi Sheiks image from Wikipedia

Listen to "Please Don't Wake It Up" (original version by the Mississippi Sheiks 1931) performed by The Hokum Scorchers for our "Feed the Kitty" tape of 1992. Lou Reimuller is on the National guitar w/ vocals. I had fun playing a snare drum and singing on this one. Yazoo Records says that the Mississippi Sheiks were the "most popular blues artists of the 1930's" .

Follow this link and scroll down for the song:

The Hokum Scorchers

The Art of Amy Crehore

"Violent Love" is a Favorite Song

It's funny how many bands have done the Willie Dixon song, "Violent Love". I had no idea until I checked it out on YouTUBE and saw videos of Oingo Boingo, The Matches, Asylum Street Spankers, etc, etc. Anyhow, here's the Hokum Scorcher's 1990 version (follow link and scroll down for music player):

Violent Love Performed by The Hokum Scorchers

The Art(and Music) of Amy Crehore

Hokum Scorchers Play a Tampa Red Song

Tampa Red

From the Hokum Scorchers' "Feed the Kitty" album comes a wonderful song- originally done by Hudson Woodbridge (a.k.a. Tampa Red 1936)- called "When You Were a Girl of Seven". This version was recorded in 1992. Lou Reimuller plays the National guitar, sings and plays kazoo. Amy Crehore is on a vintage tenor banjo. Scroll down for the music player on this link:
Hokum Scorchers

This song changes every Sunday night, so it will be different by the time you read this post.