Last year, my friend Tony Garnier, Bob Dylan’s bass player and music director, gave me a CD he was quite proud of. It was recorded in the 1980s with Billy Marlowe, an unknown musician, whose story resembles that of Sixto Rodriguez in some ways. Unlike Rodriguez, Marlowe died at 53. He lived an itinerant lifestyle and went to Canada to avoid the Vietnam draft. He was jailed for two years when he returned home. Through it all, Marlowe wrote songs and kept writing them. He hauled his guitar (nicknamed Louise) thru a lot of bad neighborhoods. Once, he had to buy “her” back from druggies who swiped it while he slept in some dark corner. In 1983, Marlowe responded to an ad in the Village Voice placed by Steve Satterwhite who was looking for an artist to test run his new recording studio just blocks away from CBGB’s and the Lone Star Cafe on East Fourth Street. Over the next year, he recorded an album. Marlowe somehow gathered some of the best musicians in New York City to help out. Satterwhite and Stephen Gaboury did the recording. Playing was Tony Garnier, of course. And guitarist Jeff Golub, who often played with Tony at 78 Below. Also, Lincoln Goines, Kenny Kosek, Shawn Colvin, Gary Bristol and many others assisted. Billy was always astounded and often reduced to tears when a musician added a new note that was just right for his music. Tony, years later, was moved as well by the incredible quality of Marlowe’s music. He gave me the CD and said listen carefully. I would be amazed. I was. Marlowe’s songs are bittersweet poems and he delivers them in a voice that carries a truckload of emotion. In this cut from the CD, “Mama Was Right,” the song tugs at the heartstrings as the violin soars into the blue. Thanks Tony Garnier and Paul Kerr! Your can order the CD at: newtexrecords.net/
Posted on: Sun, 01 Jun 2014 12:25:19 +0000
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