News and Observation: Buddy Guy on Obama-- Should Etta James Have Sung?-- The Queen of the Blues

Just Some Thoughts and Observations. From a Blues Standpoint This Time.


1. BUDDY GUY ON OBAMA-- I was listening to Tom Marker, host of WXRT's Bluesbreakers program, talk with Chicago Bluesman Buddy Guy who made a good point about Barack Obama, saying he is half and half. His mother was white and father black. As such, he shouldn't be called African-American. Buddy Guy believes that Obama needs a new name. Said Marker, "How about Mr. President?" I'd agree with that.

However, I really get tired of all this African-American stuff. After all, he is as much white as he is black. Too bad his mother and grandmother were not alive so they could have been at the swearing in ceremony.


2. SHOULD ETTA JAMES HAVE SUNG?-- The question was, was Etta James really angry that Beyonce got to sing her song "At Last" as the inaugural ball instead of her. Compared to James, Beyonce had it easy breaking into the music business as blacks are much more easily brought in than back in James' days in the fifties, when black stars could perform in places, but not be allowed to stay in them.

Often, they did not get the same opportunities as white performers. Look at how many black artists Pat Boone ripped off. Then, there was the Isley Brothers' "This Old Heart of Mine" where they wouldn't put their picture on the record cover because they were black.

I think it would have been fitting for Etta James to have sung the song. At last, blacks have much more equal opportunities. These early black performers endured hardships Beyonce could never understand.

3. THE QUEEN OF THE BLUES-- Still missing that great voice that left us last week. I had the opportunity to see Koko Taylor at a small club in Lincolnshire, Illinois, back in the late 70s or 80s. What a performer!! If you could get into that old "Wang Dang Doodle," you were not a fan of music. "All Night Long," indeed.

Is It a Black or White Thing? --RoadDog