Snooks Eaglin, the idiosyncratic New Orleans rhythm & blues guitarist with fleet-fingered dexterity and a boundless repertoire, died Wednesday afternoon. He was 72.
"He was the most New Orleans of all the New Orleans acts that are still living," said Mid-City Lanes owner John Blancher.
Even in a city and musical community known for eccentric characters, Mr. Eaglin stood out. Extremely private, he lived with his family in St. Rose. For many years, he refused to perform on Friday nights, reportedly because of religious reasons.
The digits on Mr. Eaglin's right hand flailed at seemingly impossible angles as he finger-picked and strummed a guitar's strings. A set by the so-called "Human Jukebox" could range from Beethoven's "Fur Elise" to Bad Company's "Ready for Love."
He thrived on feedback from onlookers, gleefully took requests and challenged his musicians to keep up. Utterly unselfconscious, he would render fellow guitarists slack-jawed with a blistering run, then announce from the stage that he needed to use the bathroom.
Snooks Eaglin's fingers, hard at work during the 2008 Jazz Fest.
Mr. Eaglin was born Fird Eaglin Jr. in 1937. As an infant, glaucoma robbed him of his sight. He earned his "Snooks" nickname after his mischievous behavior recalled a radio character named Baby Snooks.
As a toddler, he received his first instrument, a hand-carved ukulele strung with rubber bands. As a boy, he learned to pick a guitar to songs on the radio. He attended the Louisiana School for the Blind in Baton Rouge. By 14, he had dropped out to work full-time as a musician.
His first steady job was with the Flamingos, a popular seven-piece rhythm & blues band that also included a young Allen Toussaint on piano. Post-Flamingos, Mr. Eaglin briefly billed himself as Lil' Ray Charles. In the late 1950s, he performed on street corners and recorded two acoustic albums for a folk label. His studio work included the guitar parts on Sugarboy Crawford's "Jockamo."
In the early 1960s, Mr. Eaglin released a handful of singles for Imperial Records under the name "Ford" Eaglin. He logged three years in the house band at the Playboy Club off Bourbon Street.
After the British Invasion decimated the market for New Orleans rhythm & blues, he semi-retired. The launch of the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival in 1970 brought with it fresh opportunity.
Snooks Eaglin, foreground, with bassist and frequent collaborator George Porter Jr. during the 2008 Jazz Fest.
Mr. Eaglin performed with Professor Longhair during the pianist's "comeback" gigs. He also contributed to Longhair's landmark "New Orleans House Party" album and the Wild Magnolias' early recordings.
In 1987, Mr. Eaglin released "Baby, You Can Get Your Gun!," his first album on Black Top Records. Several more well-received albums on Black Top further heightened his profile.
His annual appearances at Jazz Fest were hugely popular. In addition to legions of local fans, Mr. Eaglin's admirers included prominent musicians from around the globe.
It was Robert Plant, in fact, who first made Blancher aware of Mr. Eaglin.
In 1990, not long after he took over the Mid-City Lanes, Blancher received a call from Plant, who wanted to throw an after-party at the bowling alley. He asked Blancher to book Mr. Eaglin, whom he met years earlier when the guitarist performed at a party in New Orleans for Plant's former band, Led Zeppelin.
The after-party didn't happen, but the Mid-City Lanes became Mr. Eaglin's preferred venue. He played as frequently as once a month.
"He's an irreplaceable guy," Blancher said. "More celebrities came to see Snooks than anyone. His reputation was as big as anyone's in New Orleans. And he wouldn't travel, so if you wanted to see Snooks you had to come to Rock 'n Bowl."
During the 2000 Jazz Fest, Bonnie Raitt showed up at the Mid-City Lanes to hear Mr. Eaglin. He exclaimed from the stage, "Listen to this, Bonnie! You gonna learn something tonight, girl!" She later lent a hand by replacing a broken string on his guitar.
Bonnie Raitt swaps out a broken string on Snooks Eaglin's guitar at the Mid-City Lanes Rock 'n Bowl in 2000.
Blancher would often pick up Mr. Eaglin in St. Rose and drive him to and from shows at the Rock 'n Bowl. Along the way Mr. Eaglin regaled him with stories.
Among the most infamous is the time Mr. Eaglin drove the Flamingos home following a Saturday night gig in Donaldsonville. The musicians were so intoxicated that they decided their blind guitarist was the most qualified driver.
Mr. Eaglin claimed he navigated the curves of the road from memory. The crunch of gravel under the tires warned him when the '49 Studebaker strayed onto the shoulder. The story concludes with Mr. Eaglin pulling up to his house early Sunday morning and his mother suggesting the musicians proceed directly to church.
Mr. Eaglin met his future wife, Dorethea "Dee" Eaglin, at a Flamingos gig during Mardi Gras 1958. They married in 1961 and she became his constant companion and confidant. Dee would sit nearby as her husband performed.
Blancher was among the few music industry figures that Mr. Eaglin allowed to visit his house. But even he was unaware of the guitarist's deteriorating health. Blancher learned in January that Mr. Eaglin had been battling prostate cancer.
Mr. Eaglin last performed at the Mid-City Lanes in July. Blancher spoke to him recently about booking a show in March. "He said, 'I'm going to wait until Jazz Fest. I'm not going to do any gigs until then,'" Blancher said. "I was surprised by that."
Mr. Eaglin checked into Ochsner Medical Center last week. With regret, he told his step-daughter, Carolyn Gioustover, "I've got to call Quint Davis and tell him I won't make it to Jazz Fest."
He went into cardiac arrest on Tuesday.
Mr. Eaglin often said his mother took care of him until Dee took over. He died on his mother's birthday.
Survivors include his wife; a daughter, Stacey Eaglin Hunter; a step-son, Allen Ancar III; and two step-daughters, Carolyn Gioustover and Deborah Ancar Randolph.
Funeral arrangements are pending.
Showing posts with label July. Show all posts
Showing posts with label July. Show all posts
February 20, 2009
Snooks Eaglin: 'Dead at 72' - Lucky Ol' Sun [NEW ORLEANS MID-CITY LANES: JULY, 2007 LIVE w/ George Porter] via: mrjyn + Keith Spera + Times Picayune
December 8, 2008
WHERE LIES THE TRUTH? 【Andy Kaufman vs. Jerry Lawler】[David Letterman Late Show Pts. 1- 2 July 1982]
NOT UNLIKE THE ZAPRUDER FILM [FUNNY HOMOPHONIC COINCIDENCE, THAT--BOB ZAMUDA], THIS SMACKDOWN AND SUBSEQUENT LATE NIGHT, TALK SHOW PUG-E-DY, WILL BE DEBATED HOTLY IN THE COMMENT SECTIONS OF YOUTUBE [EACH TIME THEY REMOVE ONE, ANOTHER SURELY POPS UP, LIKE LEAVES OF GRASS].
ZAPRUDER FILMED SOMEWHAT GRAINILY, SOMETHING WHICH WAS OUT OF CONTROL--A TRAIN WRECK. HE WAS ALSO A WITNESS FOR LOOKYLOOS AND FOREVERMORE-RUBBERNECKERS, AND CONSTANT ARMCHAIR CONSPIRACISTS. SPEAKING OF ARMCHAIRS, DID YOU NOTICE THAT AK MOVES HIS CHAIR CLOSE TO JL BEFORE THE FINAL SEGMENT, THE ONE IN WHICH THE (ANTICIPATED/RIGGED?) BLOW OCCURS.FOR THE UNINITIATED, BE PREPARED, FOR REPEAT VIEWINGS, UNTIL I LOCATE ULTRA-SLO-MO FOOTAGE--
FOR SUBTLETIES AND NUANCE ABOUND.
AS MUCH AS I LOVE KAUFMAN'S INSPIRED GENIUS
(PERFORMANCE? MAYBE UP UNTIL, JUST THE END? ARE YOU GETTING TIRED OF THE INTERROGATORY MARKERS YET?), I CANNOT, AND WILL NOT FEEL GUILTY PROFESSING MY ADMIRATION, RESPECT, AND SHEER DELIGHT, IN PRAISING "THE KING"..."THE KING"--JERRY LAWLER [NOT TO BE CONFUSED WITH THAT OTHER REI OF MEMPHIS SUNSHINE, "THE KING" ELVIS PRESLEY].
O, BUT THEY ARE BOTH SPLENDIDLY SARTORIAL, BOTH SPLENDIDLY BEJEWELED, BOTH SPLENDIDLY, PRIMARILY COLOR-CLAD RULERS, BOTH DARKLY AND DEEPLY WITTY, AND SHARP, AND BOTH TERRIBLE...TERRIBLY FUNNY.
BUT IT TAKES TWO TO RUB WRONLY [AS THE FRENCH SAY], AND HERE'S THE RENDEZVOUS RIB MEMPHIS DRY-RUB: BOTH, TERRIBLY PRONE TO UNCONTROLLABLE VIOLENCE [THE FARMER MORE DIRECTLY THAN THE LATKA] LAWLER'S, A POSSIBLE JOB HAZARD--HIS SPORT, VERSUS ELVIS'S, IMPOTENCE? [IN HIS CASE HIS COTERIE/COURT WAS INFILTRATED WITH 'YES MEN,' HANGERS-ONS, AND A DOCTOR OR TWO-HUNDRED WHO COULD NOT SAY 'NO' TO THEIR ETERNALLY UNDERMEDICATED ROYAL "HIGHNESS"! (YOU SEE WHEN HE FORCED PRISCILLA TO STUDY AT HIS DOJO WITH HIS MOJO, KANG RHEE (ANOTHER KING REFERENCE), WELL, SHE INADVERTENTLY, FELL IN LUST WITH A KARATE EXPERT, AND CONSUMMATED A WORLD OF "MARITAL ARTLESSNESS'S".]
DIGRESS, YES, BUT, ONLY TO CONFESS THAT LESS IS MORE, OR MORE OR LESS, THIS KING-SIZED BLOW MATCH IS EITHER A GARGANTUAN PUT-ON WITH ALL CONSPIRATORS INVOLVED: LETTERMAN, SHAEFER, LAWLER, KAUFMAN, ZAMUDA, ETC., OR ONE WITH NONE: NO CONSPIRACY AT ALL, PURELY ACCIDENTAL, OR HALF-CONSPIRED [IN FACT, EXACTLY WHAT MANY KENNEDY ASSASSINATION CONSPIRACISTS BELIEVE]. I SAY, 'TOO DIFFICULT AND PAINFUL TO CONCOCT ENTIRELY; TOO WELL-ACTED TO BE REHEARSED; TOO NATURAL TO BE CONTRIVED; TOO EMOTIONAL TO BE ANTICIPATED.'
A HALF-HELPING, INDEED, DOES SEEM LIKELY, IF ONLY IN ITS DIVY OF EXACTLY HOW A HALF CAN BE, WELL, HALF. A HALF COULD EASILY BE KAUFMAN/ZAMUDA, NOT LAWLER/LETTERMAN, OR ANY PERMUTATION [I'M NOT A MATHEMATICIAN] OF THE PLAYERS WHO SURROUND THE NIGHT ON 'LATE NIGHT WITH DAVID LETTERMAN'.
OBVIOUSLY, [ALTHOUGH, PERHAPS ONLY, NOT, IF YOU'RE INSANE], NO ONE BELIEVES THAT KENNEDY OR ANY RIDERS IN THE CONTINENTAL WERE COMPLICIT IN AN ASSASSINATION; HOWEVER, SOME BELIEVE THAT A WHOLE LOT OF PEOPLE IN A MUCH LARGER CIRCLE, AND, WITH COUNTLESS MORE PERMUTATIONS OF COMBINATORIAL ACTORS, WERE.
LIKE THAT INFAMOUS DALLAS DAY, THIS LATE NEW YORK NIGHT WILL NEVER BE FULLY KNOWN/SOLVED. PERHAPS ONLY ONE PERSON KNOWS, AND LIKE THAT OTHER MORE FAMOUSLY INFAMOUS EVENT, HE'S NOT TALKING, KAUFMAN'S DEAD! [IMAGINE THAT GUY FROM DATELINE SPEAKING THAT LINE] NOT KILLED BY A FATAL STRIKE, IN FACT, NOT THE AGGRESSOR AT ALL [I REALLY WRITE SCRIPTS FOR THAT SHOW], BUT THE ONE WHO (NEED I LIST THE MANY WAYS IN WHICH THE WORLD SEES POSSIBILITIES FOR WHY KENNEDY WOULD HAVE BEEN ASSASSINATED?)...WHO WAS ACTED UPON BY PROVOCATION, GOADING, BULLYING, BAITING [DID YOU HEAR AK CALL JL A REDNECK!]
AFRICAN AMERICANS MAY BECOME UPSET AT THIS NEXT CONTROVERSIAL PRONOUNCEMENT, BUT PROUD WHITE SOUTHERNERS MAY CALL EACH OTHER, DEPENDING ON WHICH PART OF THE SOUTH THEY HAIL, REDNECK, COONASS...THE LIST IS LONG; HOWEVER, JUST AS IN THE 'N'-WORD DEBATE: DARE ANYONE, ESPECIALLY ONE WHO CONSIDERS HIMSELF MORE ERUDITE BECAUSE OF STATUS, UTTER THAT WORD OUT LOUD.
MY FRIENDS, ONLY A SOUTHERNER CAN QUIXOTICALLY AND TRULY UNDERSTAND AND EMPATHIZE (SOMETIMES IN THE SAME EQUATION) WITH A PROUD AFRICAN AMERICAN, WHO HAS THE MISFORTUNE TO HEAR THE EPITHET, "NIGGER" SPOKEN AT THEM BY A WHITE MAN.
I SAY, IF NOT STAGED (AND UPON EXAMINATION, HOW COULD IT (THE SLAP) HAVE BEEN?), LAWLER WAS IN HIS RIGHTS, AND IN FACT, I'VE SEEN WORSE BEATINGS OVER MORE TRIVIAL BAITINGS.
ALL IN ALL, IT IS YOUR REMARKABLE OPPORTUNITY TO BE THE JUDGE, REFEREE, CONSPIRICIST, LOOKYLOO, RUBBERNECKER, RACE-BAITER, JEW HATER, OR ANY OF A PLETHORA OF EXPERIENCE DERIVABLE.
EACH TIME CLIP #2 IS VIEWED WILL MULTIPLY INTO A MORE AND MORE INEXACT APPROXIMATION OF, WHERE LIES THE TRUTH?
[::]
PT. 2
[THE MARKDOWN]PT. 1
[I'M FROM HOLLYWOOD!]
JUST THE Hits + UNCENSORED PROFANITY
what kind of sound is that, when that guy is swearingIts a flute of some sort, I guess.
Kinda sounds like the old kooky clocks you,... never really see anymore when I think about it. :)what was it all about?The slap looked real enoughAndy the classic Jew. He can make the jokes on everyone but Lawless was ready to turn the tables on the Jew on LIVE TV. Andy the Jew wouldn't hack it. NOW this is FUNNYwhat do you have against Jewess people and the newish religion, you racist bastard.Humans sometimes laugh when they feel uncomfortable. Its a comedians job to make people laugh. Kaufman was way ahead of his time.Lawler and Kaufman did a whole hell of a lot for wrestling.
I'M FROM HOLLYWOOD + WRESTLING SUSAN, THE 327 LBS. WOMAN [COMPLETE]
shut the fuck up. your clearly A. a skinhead B. Iranian or C. virgin
with no life/friends/family
go pick on some ants you firkin racist tool i hope you go crazy
and blow your firkin head off CZ you provably hate how Obama is presidentAndy Kaufman was not Jewish.not religiously but he is a Jew ethnicallypretty good acting from bothlowlier is good too, very convincing.I take my hat off before you two!!!Andy and Jerry Lawler were fucking BRILLIANT!!!!
I love how Andy comes across as an asshole and Lawler plays his straight man... Kaufman at his best. Classic moment!!!!
ANDY INTERVIEWS 'TONY CLIFTON- PUPPET' +
INTERVIEWS, OLD GIRLFRIEND, ELAINE BOOSLER ON OLD FIRST
ANDY KAUFMAN SHOW
It is only a little funny now because you know it is a joke now. Believe me this was not funny as it unfolded just as his 3 years of wrestling women was deemed psychotic. What was worse was when people would spend their hard earned money to attend a live comedy show starring Kaufman and he would create the same fighting atmosphere with a "stranger" in the audience. The guy had no respect for his audience!oh poor audienceBeing "not funny" doesn't take the brilliancy of the whole thing away. Comedy ain't just laughter. Comedy is about getting emotions out of people... If the audience didn't get that (which obviously they did watching this segment), well screw the audience. Knowing it's rigged just separated the fun in half. Trust me, I've seen the effect of the ICC on our appreciation of Wrestling... ain't what it used to be, we know too much.If you had neighbors that invited themselves to your house at dinner time once/week for 5 years. The husband:ANDY PANHANDLES FROM ZAMUDA ON LETTERMAN MORNING SHOW
Then 15 years later they show up and say- hey we were just kidding- we are actually stunt actors and we were "putting you on"....Still funny? If you were older you would remember the chaos only. This was not funny then- it is rude now.Lola... actually, what you've just said is quite funny for me. But I don't know why you you're talking about that, because no where I said the skit was funny... and you are refereeing to the whole Kaufman Vs Women thing... while I'm not even talking about that...you can hear lawyer chuckle at 6:42Betcha that wasn't Good to the Last Drop!
God's snatches
the feud was fake, but the slap was real
Nixon
Andy looks so different from taxiWEE were booking this they would have had a rematch on NBC - hate to have this go to wasteYOU CENSORED IT!!!!!!!!!!!!I didn't censor it; that is the way it was broadcast by NBC at the time.oh Caz someone has a UN censored Thanksgivings for posting it full though!thanks for putting up the videoWhy isn't T.v. still like this?Ono, I wish it were :(A Moron's comedy for Morons. No wonder why the U.S.A. is so deep in shit.What?pantry, your the moron ;) Andy Kaufman pioneered uncomfortable comedy,
and he has an array of characters that live on to this day. Just what type of comedy do you enjoy, and please list some examples.I wish Letterman was still like this. This and the 1985
Mr. T interview make the newer shows look so... fake.
Isn't THAT ironic?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)