On May 22, 2008 six of us met at Joe Lee's house in Jonesboro. We climbed into the blues van for a road trip to Senatobia, Mississippi to meet Joe's childhood friend, Calvin, "Fuzz" Jones. Driving was Jimmy Ashley. "Papa" Joe Lee was the navigator. In the hospitality section was Philip Crego and Jim "The Generator Man" Drennen. Hanging in the back was Joe's neighbor, John Milum, and myself, Hairy Larry.
I summarized our visit in an email to Pete Mitchell, the Stratmaster. Here's what I told him.
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Pete,
You'll dig this. My friend Joe Lee grew up with Calvin "Fuzz" Jones in Inverness, Mississippi in the thirties. We went to Senatobia, Mississippi today to visit, take pictures, and conduct a very informal interview.
Joe was a top session man in Memphis during the late fifties and sixties and he worked with Scotty Moore at Fernwood, played with the Bill Black Combo, recorded many hits in Memphis at Fernwood and other studios and in Jonesboro at his own studio and label, Alley Records.
Meanwhile Calvin moved north to Chicago. Started playing guitar and hanging with Freddy King. Played in and fronted several bands including the Chicago Flames playing rock n roll and blues. Took up bass when a guy gave him a pawn ticket for a bass. He'd been knowing Muddy Waters for a while but now he started playing bass in Muddy's band. Worked with Muddy through most of the seventies. Still plays with Bob Margolin in Muddy Waters reunion band plus he recorded with my friend Sam Carr in just the last few years.
Joe and Calvin hadn't seen each other for nearly seventy years. Joe has pictures of the farm in Mississippi where they were raised that he took to Calvin's apartment. They had a great time reminiscing. Myself and several other blues fans would occasionally interject a question.
Joe became aware of Calvin and his life in music when Calvin was interviewed by Living Blues and he mentioned Joe Lee (Joe's father) and his childhood friend Sonny (Joe Lee). We connected with Bob Margolin and Living Blues, I got Calvin's phone number, and it turns out we're just a few hours apart.
What a long strange trip it's been.
I have over an hour of audio tape with Joe and Calvin reminiscing and catching up. Plus still pictures taken today and not yet out of the
camera.
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I'm posting the audio of the interview here. Joe and Calvin reminisced informally and asked each other a few questions. All of us asked some questions. So it was a group effort and very informal.
Also check the Photo Gallery for some more pictures. The group shot was taken by Catherine.
I want to thank Calvin Jones and Catherine for their hospitality. We filled their living room for a few hours and then dragged Calvin outside for some pictures.
Pictured above Calvin "Fuzz" Jones. Bass man for Muddy Waters.
Below is Joe Lee with his sax and Calvin Jones holding a guitar. Joe also has a life in music.
Part 1 Reminisce mp3 file
Part 2 Quarter Photo mp3 file
Part 3 Living Blues mp3 file
Part 4 Fuzz mp3 file
Part 5 Calvin Jones mp3 file
Part 6 Bruce Page mp3 file
Part 7 Calvin Jones mp3 file
Part 8 Chinaberry Tree mp3 file
Part 9 Selmer mp3 file
Part 10 Farm Life mp3 file
Part 11 Fernwood mp3 file
Part 12 Aaron Love mp3 file
Part 13 Calvin Jones mp3 file
Part 14 Bobby Lee Trammel
Calvin Jones and Joe Lee Reunion - Photos
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Joe Lee and Calvin Jones meet again after seventy years
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Joe Lee and Calvin Jones talking
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Calvin "Fuzz" Jones
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The Whole Crew - John Milum, Philip Crego, Calvin Jones, Jim Ashley, Jim Drennen, Joe Lee, Hairy Larry
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