That was the Cadillac of joints at that time. I forgot the name, real popular place.īR: Yeah. Then, later, there was another place we started to play when it opened up. So we had two audiences: played earlier for the teenagers, then at night for the adults. We also had another little place in Austin, a recreation center for teenagers, because they couldn't come to the juke joint at 9pm. It wasn’t nothing but a local tavern, man. When times get hard, I pick up guitar, soothe myself, and uplift from the down valleys of whatever I’m going through.ĪC: What are your earliest memories of playing in Austin?īR: Yeah, I played a few joints, but I don’t remember what they were called.ĪC: There was a spot called the Victory Grill.īR: I remember the Victory Grill, yes. I play and escape through my music – write and read and study. In 1951, I got a job in Illinois, where I was making $7.50 a night as a bandleader and I had Muddy Waters, who I was paying $5 a night as a special guest on Friday, Saturday, Sunday.īR What I do is grab my guitar and go in my bathroom or some room and set myself up. There’s no income coming in since February 29, but I can remember my earlier career when I was working and there wasn’t no income anyway. What’s it like to be grounded like this?īR: It’s been the strangest time – the most downtime I’ve had in 70 years. That’s my mantra.”ĪC: You’ve toured relentlessly for 70 years. “You gotta show love to your fellow man and ladies to try to survive this thing together, because we’re all in it together.
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