Your Voice.
In 1941 Muddy Waters recorded two songs for Alan Lomax. When the recordings were played back to him, it was the first time he’d ever heard his own voice. Of this experience he said “Man, you don’t know how I felt that Saturday afternoon when I heard that voice and it was my own voice. Later on he sent me two copies of the pressing and a check for twenty bucks, and I carried that record up to the corner and put it on the jukebox. Just played it and played it and said, ‘I can do it, I can do it’.”
- Muddy Waters
“Muddy Waters was the single most important artist to emerge in post- war American blues. A peerless singer, a gifted songwriter, an able guitarist, and leader of one of the strongest bands in the genre… and helping pioneer the Chicago Blues style that would come to dominate the music through the 1950’s, 60’s, and 70’s.”
Muddy Waters, born McKinley Morganfield on April 4, 1915, hailed from the rural landscapes of Issaquena County, nestled along the banks of the mighty Mississippi River. His early life was marked by hardship and loss, with his father, Ollie Morganfield, a farmer and blues guitarist, departing shortly after Muddy's birth. Tragedy struck again when his mother, Bertha Jones, passed away when he was just three years old, leaving him under the care of his grandmother, Delia Jones.
It was during these formative years that Muddy acquired his iconic moniker. Nicknamed "Muddy" for his fondness of playing in the mud as a child, the name stuck, later accompanied by "Waters" due to his penchant for exploring puddles and creeks. From a young age, Muddy's fascination with sound was evident, as he recalled, "When I was around three years old, anything with a sound, I would try to play it. I'd take my stick and beat on the ground trying to get a new sound and be humming my little baby song along with it."
Despite his truncated formal education, which ended around the age of eight when plantation work beckoned, Muddy's passion for music only intensified.
“I went to school, but they didn’t give you too much schooling because just as soon as you was big enough, you get to working in the fields. I guess I was a big boy for my age.”
At the tender age of five, Muddy embarked on his musical journey by teaching himself to play the harmonica. His early exposure to music also came from singing in church, where he honed his emotive style, crediting the experience for imbuing him with "good moaning and trembling." At 17, Muddy scraped together enough funds from selling his last horse to purchase his first guitar. Reflecting on the acquisition, he reminisced, "I sold the last horse that we had. Made about fifteen dollars for him, gave my grandmother seven dollars and fifty cents, I kept seven-fifty and paid about two-fifty for that guitar."
Driven by a deep passion for the Delta Blues, Muddy immersed himself in the music of local luminaries like Robert Johnson, Charley Patton, and his ultimate inspiration, Son House. Despite his young age, Muddy's responsibilities on the plantation expanded as he grew, encompassing tasks such as cotton picking, driving tractors, and plowing mules and trucks. Yet, his weekends were dedicated to a different pursuit entirely.
Transforming his humble abode into a vibrant juke joint, Muddy played host to raucous gatherings where revelers indulged in music, dance, and moonshine. Recalling those spirited nights, Muddy remarked, "At night in the country, you'd be surprised how that music carries. You could hear my guitar way before you get to the house, and you could hear the people hollerin' and screamin'." Whether performing solo, with a band, or at other local haunts, Muddy's music became synonymous with the essence of Delta Blues.
“Saturday night is your big night. Everybody used to fry up fish and have one hell of a time. Find me playing till sunrise for 50 cents and a sandwich. And be glad of it. And they really like the low- down blues.”
In 1941, Muddy received unexpected news that a white man was seeking him out. Initially apprehensive, he feared repercussions for his moonshine dealings. However, the visitor turned out to be folklorist Alan Lomax, representing the Library of Congress and on a mission to record blues musicians. Muddy, wary of the encounter, was taken aback when Lomax extended a gesture of trust by sharing a cup of water—a profound act of camaraderie in the segregated South.
Setting up his recording equipment on Muddy's porch, Lomax and Muddy shared moonshine as they captured renditions of "Country Blues" and "I Be's Troubled." The momentous occasion marked Muddy's first encounter with his recorded voice. Overwhelmed with emotion upon hearing himself, he recounted, "Man, you don’t know how I felt that Saturday afternoon when I heard that voice and it was my own voice." Lomax later sent Muddy copies of the recordings along with a $20 check, a gesture that affirmed Muddy's talent and potential.
Moved by the experience, Muddy played his recordings incessantly on the local jukebox, reaffirming his belief in his abilities. This pivotal moment served as a source of inspiration for Muddy, reinforcing his determination to pursue his passion despite the challenges he faced. Reflecting on this transformative event, Muddy's story resonates as a testament to the power of self-belief, hard work, and unwavering dedication to one's craft.
In 1943, Muddy took a leap of faith and relocated to Chicago, despite warnings from friends that his rural blues style wouldn't resonate in the bustling metropolis. Undeterred, he plunged into the city's vibrant music scene, performing at house parties and bars across the South Side. Recognizing the need to adapt to the urban environment, Muddy was quick to realize that his acoustic setup wouldn't cut through the noise of the city.
Determined to make an impact, Muddy made a pivotal decision to electrify his sound, a move that would shape the course of his career. Acquiring his first electric guitar in 1944, he embraced the amplified instrument as a tool to revolutionize his music, blending the raw authenticity of Mississippi blues with the urban sensibilities of Chicago. This transformation marked the birth of his legendary style, characterized by its energetic rhythms and vibrant melodies.
While working day jobs at a paper mill and later as a truck driver, Muddy dedicated his nights to honing his craft and captivating audiences with his electrifying performances. Unlike the somber melancholy blues prevalent at the time, Muddy's music exuded vitality and optimism, reflecting the spirit of postwar African Americans striving for a brighter future. Through his innovative sound and tireless work ethic, Muddy emerged as a pioneering figure in the evolution of blues music, leaving an indelible mark on the genre and inspiring generations of musicians to come.
By 1946, Muddy's growing popularity had caught the attention of major record labels like RCA, Colombia, and Aristocrat. Securing a deal with Aristocrat, thanks in part to the support of fellow Delta musician Sunnyland Smith, Muddy began recording for the label. However, his early recordings failed to gain significant recognition. It wasn't until 1950, when Aristocrat rebranded as Chess Records, that Muddy's career truly skyrocketed. Armed with iconic hits like "I'm Your Hoochie Coochie Man" and "Got My Mojo Working," Muddy's electrifying performances and sensual lyrics captivated audiences, particularly the younger crowds in the city.
Throughout the 1940s and 1950s, Muddy embarked on extensive tours across the South and Midwest, eventually expanding his reach to encompass the entire United States and even Europe. Recognized for his immense contributions to the blues genre, Muddy was among the inaugural inductees into the Blues Hall of Fame.
His influence extended far beyond the realm of blues, profoundly impacting the world of rock music. Notably, legendary rock band The Rolling Stones drew inspiration from Muddy's music, even adopting their name from his song "Rollin' Stone" and making a pilgrimage to Chess Records to record. In acknowledgment of his monumental influence, Muddy Waters was posthumously inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987. Notably, even the iconic music magazine Rolling Stone derived its name from Muddy's seminal track "Rollin' Stone," cementing his legacy as one of the most influential figures in the history of popular music.
“It’s true that he never grew rich from his music, but he worked as often as he wanted and was well paid when he did. He lived comfortably in his two-story frame house in the suburbs, bouncing grandchildren on his knee, drinking fine champagne and frying shrimp and other delicacies seasoned with peppers and herbs from his own garden. He talked on the telephone to admirers who called from near and far, spinning tales of mojo bands, Delta wanderings and big-city tavern brawls. That’s how he passed the time during the months before his death –– ‘enjoying the fruits of his labor,’ as his manager, Scott Cameron, put it.”
How Yoga Can Help
”Yoga is when every cell of the body sings the song of the soul.”
- B.K.S. Iyengar
This class explores the stages of kicking up, and balancing in the inversions. The hardest part about our inversion practice is often getting over the fear of being upside down, and having to find strength and support from a place that we’re not use to. This practice teaches the stages to developing and continuing our inversion practice, so that we can meet ourselves where we are. So that we overcome fear by meeting it with equanimity. Overcoming fear can help us hear our inner voice and follow our dreams.
Notes On Practice
Poses 1- 3
Adho Muka Virasana (Downward Facing Hero Pose/ child’s pose) Adho Muka Svanasana (Downward Facing Dog Pose) Uttanasana (Intense Stretch Pose/ Standing Forward Bend Pose) These poses strengthen and stretch the muscles in arms, legs, and shoulders. The extension of the spine helps relieve back pain. The release of the head and neck also helps reduce stress and anxiety.
Poses 4- 6
Adho Muka Vrksasana (Downward Facing Tree Pose/ Handstand) Salamba Sirsasana (headstand) Salamba Sarvangasana (shoulderstand) Inversions take us to a place that we haven’t been before. Many of us do not stand upside down in everyday life. What makes these poses difficult is fear of reversing the body position. B.K.S. Iyengar explains that “the best way to overcome fear is to face with equanimity the situation of which one is afraid.” Inversions are energizing, improves blood circulation, and helps balance hormones. Regular practice of these poses strengthen the outer body, and disciplines the mind. We are able to turn our attention inwards toward our core tapping into our inner strength, wisdom, and emotional intelligence.
Poses 7-8
Janu Sirsasana (Head to knee pose) Paschimottanasana (Intense stretch of the west (back) of the body/ seated forward bend pose) These poses stretch the back of the body the calfs, hamstrings, and the back of the spine and neck. Releasing the head and neck helps calm the mind and soothe the nerves, making these poses cooling and grounding.
Pose 9
Savasana (Corpse Pose) This final resting position helps calm the mind, reduce stress, and helps promote a deeper awareness to ourselves, and a higher consciousness.