Big Joe Duskin
Big Joe Jumps Again
(Yellow Dog YDR-1133)
Joe Duskin was born in Birmingham, Alabama on February 10, 1921. One of
several children, living was hard. To keep food on the table, Joe's dad, Perry Duskin
found a job opportunity in Cincinnati, Ohio working for the railroad. At seven years of
age, Joe moved there with his entire family. Instead of chasing after girls like his older
brothers, Joe spent all his time practicing on the piano. It wasn't long before Joe
discovered the blues scene with its rollicking piano blues purveyors. Men such as Dr.
Clayton, Roosevelt Sykes and Memphis Slim, were known to frequent the clubs of Cincinnati.
House parties, beer halls and even people's own front yards, were areas
that attracted Joe to the blues he loved. Not a night or weekend would pass without the
sounds of the “rocking 88's” floating through the air. As a teenager, he chomped
at the bit to get involved, but was only allowed to play sacred music. This caused
friction between Joe and his father. Despite beatings to make him stop, Joe stubbornly
refused to quit. Joe finally told his dad that he was going to continue playing the blues
no matter what. In exasperation, Perry Duskin did the only thing he knew to do. He asked
his son to wait until he was buried in his grave! Joe really loved his dad, so he readily
agreed to this arrangement. Joe really was hedging his bet because his dad was 79 at the
time and he figured that Perry wouldn't be long for this world. So at the tender age of
17, Joe gave up his beloved blues. Soon after, Big Joe was drafted into the infantry and
fought in the European theatre. After the war, Joe came back and became a Cincinnati cop.
Ironically, it would take another 25 years before his father passed away in 1963 at the
age of 105!
By this time, Joe felt like his talents had atrophied too much and chose
to give up his dream. It would be the early 70s before Big Joe would let the fire of the
blues be fanned again. This came in the person of one Steve Tracy. A local musician and
scholar, he convinced Big Joe that there was still a reason for starting again. Together
they practiced, and eventually started playing the clubs with Steve on harp. As Big Joe's
chops returned to fine form, they moved on to blues festivals where his two-fisted boogie
style was met with public adulation.
In 1977, Chris Strachwitz heard about Big Joe Duskin and pegged him for
a recording. Joe's brilliant Cincinnati Stomp was released on Arhoolie. This was Big Joe's
official coming out party.
While the years have slowed Big Joe Duskin down, he still plays locally
in Cincinnati.
Now at the tender age of 83, we have a new project to cap off a career
that really represents a man and the blues. Big Joe Jumps Again is an album that is full
of reminiscing, bravado, the 88's and a message loud and clear, that the blues are here to
stay. Recorded live, this set was recorded at the United Methodist Church at Montfort
Heights in Cincy. Special guests include drummer Phillip Paul and bass player Ed Conley.
Also, Peter Frampton sat in on two tracks, lending his guitar and time to the once in a
lifetime project.
If one were to look for an example of what is the definition of the
blues, they'd need to look no further than to Big Joe Duskin and his incredible blues
story. They were on a “mission from God”, and now their fruits of labor are our
bounty.
- Big Daddy Hal -
Southwest Blues CD Review - February 2005
Current Reviews - 2005 Reviews - available at our store
