This Week In The Blues: July 12 - July 18, 2026

HEY BLUES FANS

Here's the latest episode of "This Week In The Blues" for the week of July 12 - July 18, 2026.

Some of the highlights include the day Magic Sam started recording the album "West Side Soul", Delta blues guitarist Richard “Hacksaw” Harney, and blues musician Washboard Sam Brown .

Keep in mind that there's so much more that happened this week in the blues. If you want to know more about these artists or other things that happened this week in the blues, be sure to visit our website or follow our Facebook page:
https://bigtrainblues.com
https://www.facebook.com/BigTrainBlues

Photo credits (if known) and past episodes are posted on our YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/@BigTrainBlues

Here are links to a few of the artists or songs we've referenced in this week's episode:

"Blues in the Mississippi Night" - https://youtu.be/oQbLBQ-0sSU?si=HAf0B8JV1SQI5yJd

Blind Boy Fuller - Forgotten Durham Blues Musician - https://youtu.be/e00TyUOIyU4?si=RctmMkk5FzcIn12q

PLEASE CONSIDER joining the Blues Society of Oklahoma and helping them continue their mission - https://bluessocietyoklahoma.com/membership/

ALSO - Join me every weekday from 12:15pm-12:45pm CT to watch a live stream on Facebook of the longest running blues radio show program. https://www.facebook.com/DeltaCulturalCenter 

We’ll have a new episode next week – we’ll see you then!

NOW AVAILABLE AS A PODCAST! If you would prefer to listen to this as a podcast, "This Week In The Blues" is now available on all major podcast platforms.

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 If you want to know more about these artists or other things that happened this week in the blues, be sure to visit our website or follow our Facebook page:

     https://bigtrainblues.com

     https://www.facebook.com/BigTrainBlues

Transcript

Magic Sam started recording the album "West Side Soul" on July 12 in 1967. It would prove to be groundbreaking in pairing soul and blues together. West Side Soul was a fresh, spirited distillation of the blues as it was being played in Chicago's south side clubs. It is often cited as one of the most important modern electric blues albums. The album includes an updated "Sweet Home Chicago", which became a popular blues anthem.

"Blues in the Mississippi Night" was recorded on July 13, 1947, and this is an important story, so please hear me out. When folklorist Alan Lomax recorded Big Bill Broonzy, Memphis Slim, and John Lee “Sonny Boy” Williamson, the results were so controversial that he waited a decade to release the album and even then, disguised the identity of the artists and the location of the session. They did more than play the blues on the album; they defined it in candid conversation, relaying such wrenching tales of hardships and racial injustice that, according to Lomax, they feared that a release of the recording might bring reprisals against them.

Born in Arkansas in 1924, Claude “Blue” Smitty was an overlooked Chicago blues guitarist and singer who helped bridge acoustic Delta blues into the electric postwar sound. After serving in the Army, he performed alongside Muddy Waters and Jimmy Rogers while working as an electrician. In 1952 he recorded several strong sides for Chess Records, including “Sad Story” and “Date Bait,” but his career never gained major traction. Though largely forgotten outside blues circles, Blue Smitty’s recordings remain respected examples of classic early electric Chicago blues.

Blues musician Washboard Sam Brown was born on July 15, 1910. He was reputedly the half-brother of Big Bill Broonzy. In the 20s he performed with Sleepy John Estes and Hammie Nixon in Memphis. In the 30's, he moved to Chicago, performing regularly with Broonzy, Memphis Slim and Tampa Red. In 1935, he began his recording career, and became one of the most popular Chicago blues performers of the late 1930s and 1940s, selling numerous records and playing to packed audiences. He recorded over 160 tracks in those decades.

Born on July 16, 1902, Richard “Hacksaw” Harney was a Delta blues guitarist and pianist whose talent remained largely overlooked. He first recorded in 1928 accompanying Pearl Dickson and Walter Rhodes, but personal tragedy, shyness, and a speech impediment limited his rise to fame. Harney spent much of his life tuning and repairing pianos while performing in juke joints, on street corners, and briefly on the famed King Biscuit Time radio show in Helena, Arkansas. Despite decades in blues music, he rarely recorded until releasing a solo album in 1972.

Here is a weird one for you…on July 17 1967, Jimi Hendrix plays his eighth and final show as the opening act for The Monkees, which understandably does not go well, as the 10-year-old bubble gum chewing Monkees fans want nothing to do with Hendrix. Go figure.

Blues guitar player Lonnie Mack was born on July 18, 1941! Mack was a self-taught musician who developed a unique blend of blues, rock, and country that defied categorization. Mack's virtuosic guitar skills were evident from an early age, employing techniques such as string bending, vibrato, and fast-paced solos. His signature instrumental track, "Memphis," showcased his incredible talent and became a blueprint for future generations of guitarists.

Alright blues fans, if you want to know more about these stories or other things that happened this week in the blues, then head over to BigTrainBlues.com and explore the archives. Better yet, follow us on social media and see every blues history post. We’ll be back next week with more blues stories, legends, and history. Until then, we will See you at the next stop!