NPR’s A Martinez talks with Cary Baker, writer of “Down on the Nook: Adventures in Busking and Road Music.”
A MARTÍNEZ, HOST:
Here is a pop music pop quiz. What do these musicians have in frequent?
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, “LET THE GOOD TIMES ROLL”)
BB KING: (Singing) Let the nice occasions roll.
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, “GIVE ME ONE REASON”)
TRACY CHAPMAN: (Singing) Give me one cause to remain right here.
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, “SHAPE OF YOU”)
ED SHEERAN: (Singing) I am in love together with your physique.
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, “FOOLISH GAMES”)
JEWEL: (Singing) These silly video games are…
MARTÍNEZ: B.B. King, Tracy Chapman, Ed Sheeran and Jewel all started their careers as road musicians, busking for spare change. A brand new ebook explores 100 years of busking historical past by means of interviews with musicians, each well-known and obscure. It is known as “Down On The Nook: Adventures In Busking & Road Music,” and it is written by veteran music author Cary Baker.
CARY BAKER: I grew up within the Chicago space within the suburbs. In 1972, my father instructed me he needed to take me to Maxwell Road, which I might heard of however did not know a lot about. Seems it is a flea market south and east of the Chicago Loop. And we barely parked the automotive once I began to listen to a slide guitar. And I stated, Dad, we bought to test this out.
(SOUNDBITE OF ARVELLA GRAY SONG, “JOHN HENRY”)
BAKER: It was this man – I examine him – his title is Arvella Grey. And I used to be simply hooked in that second.
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, “JOHN HENRY”)
ARVELLA GRAY: (Singing) Properly, the foreman stated to John Henry. He stated, what are you able to do? Line a observe, and I can carry a jack. I can choose and shovel, too. Lord, lord.
MARTÍNEZ: What attracted you to this scene? What was it about it that form of like a siren music drew you in?
BAKER: There’s one thing in regards to the road that is spontaneous. You form of do not know what is going on to occur. There could be honks of horns. There could be sirens. I simply discovered it fascinating. And all over the place I went, there appeared to be road singers. Actually, Nashville, Beale Road in Memphis, Clarksdale, Mississippi, the birthplace of the blues, Los Angeles, the place I got here throughout Harry Perry, who was a person with a turban and curler skates taking part in electrical guitar. And I felt proper at dwelling.
(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)
HARRY PERRY: (Singing) Time journey freaks dance uncontrolled. Work the beat into a brand new period.
MARTÍNEZ: How did busking begin? Is there a historical past to it the place individuals at some point determined to begin singing on the road nook?
BAKER: Busking goes manner again – again to historical Greece and historical Rome. That goes by means of Shakespeare within the park. And for that matter, Benjamin Franklin, an orator, inventor, early politician, founding father and, because it seems, occasional singer.
MARTÍNEZ: Let’s speak about among the lesser-known musical gems you found. So inform us about George Coleman.
BAKER: Properly, I’ve a variety of singer-songwriter-guitarists in my ebook, however George Coleman was clearly the one oil drum participant. And I do not imply calypso metal drums. I imply an oil drum. And he would arrange on the River Stroll of San Antonio and have become a fixture, virtually a vacationer attraction in San Antonio.
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, “I WISH I COULD SING”)
BONGO JOE: (Singing) I might exit and make a file, and it might be one of the best of the whole lot. I might make a file, boy. One of the best of the whole lot.
BAKER: He was ultimately found by Arhoolie Information, a revered blues, folks and Norteno label that signed him and put him on the map. He went below the title Bongo Joe.
MARTÍNEZ: Now, one other gem is Tuba Skinny. Inform us about Tuba Skinny.
(SOUNDBITE OF TUBA SKINNY SONG, “I’M GOING BACK HOME”)
BAKER: Tuba Skinny was virtually too busy for me to interview. They’re a neo-Dixieland band, they usually definitely discovered from generations of nice Dixie land bands that performed the streets of New Orleans. They like to busk, they usually attempt to do it every time they’ll – every time they’re off tour.
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, “I’M GOING BACK HOME”)
TUBA SKINNY: (Singing) After I was at dwelling I used to be rested and relaxed. Now you bought me right here, you attempt to mistreat me. I am going again dwelling. I am going again dwelling. I am going again dwelling the place I do know I get higher care.
BAKER: As soon as upon a time, it was all about throwing quarters right into a guitar case, and it is nonetheless that, though hopefully, individuals throw some greenback payments in as properly. However these days, buskers have instructed me that the know-how has modified. They’ve a QR code. They’ve PayPal and Venmo, and perhaps individuals are leaving 5, 10 or $20 as a substitute of 25 cents or a greenback.
MARTÍNEZ: Now, you talked about how you have been to many, many locations in the USA to see this and listen to this in motion. Is there something that you’ve got observed that may be a frequent thread between all of those individuals?
BAKER: For me, I believe that it definitely has improved all of their venue performances. One in every of my favourite tales, Incredible Negrito, a three-time Grammy winner, was signed to Interscope Information. All people who indicators to Interscope turns into a star, proper? Dr. Dre, Eminem, Snoop Dogg. However in some way, Xavier, which is what Incredible Negrito glided by on the time, Xavier didn’t change into a star. So he went again dwelling to Oakland, California, opened a pot farm and in addition started to busk below the title Incredible Negrito and located a complete new sound. No extra rapping, perhaps somewhat extra blues, folks and rock. So busking helps artists discover themselves.
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, “I HOPE SOMEBODY’S LOVING YOU”)
FANTASTIC NEGRITO: (Singing) I hope someone’s loving you within the deepest methods. I hope someone’s loving you each evening and day.
MARTÍNEZ: One in every of my favourite issues, Cary, to observe on social media is when a busker is masking a music. After which the artist whose music it occurs to be is strolling or driving by after which winds up becoming a member of them. There is a viral video on YouTube – it has over 18 million views. A busker is on the nook of Hollywood and Highland, proper within the coronary heart of Hollywood. And he is singing this music known as “I Obtained A Feeling.” It is by the Black Eyed Peas.
(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)
LEVI MITCHELL: (Singing) That tonight’s going to be a great evening, that tonight’s going to be a great, good evening.
MARTÍNEZ: Proper behind him, the singer Will.i.am pulls up in a really fancy automotive, will get out in the midst of site visitors. After which, after a few minutes, he grabs the microphone and joins on in.
(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)
MITCHELL: (Singing) The place is the love?
WILL I AM: (Singing) What’s flawed with the world, Mama? Folks residing like they ain’t bought no mamas. I believe the entire world’s hooked on the drama, solely interested in issues that deliver the trauma. Abroad, yeah, we’re attempting to cease terrorism…
BAKER: Oh, that is an excellent story. There’s a number of busking websites on Fb. And usually, movies and social media have conspired to offer busking a little bit of a lift.
MARTÍNEZ: So the following time, Cary, somebody is strolling to work or strolling to go get dinner, they usually see somebody busking on a nook, what do you hope they take into account?
BAKER: Properly, I, for one, will at all times cease and take heed to a busker. I do not care if it makes me late for what I’ll do. I like to observe buskers. Even once they’re taking part in covers, even once they cannot carry a tune, I cease, I hear and I help buskers. And I proceed to be a fan.
MARTÍNEZ: That is Cary Baker. His new ebook known as “Down On The Nook: Adventures In Busking & Road Music.” Cary, thanks.
BAKER: It was a pleasure.
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, “JOHN HENRY”)
ARVELLA GRAY: (Singing) Properly, the foreman stated to John Henry. He stated, what are you able to do?
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