In the early morning hours of August 29^th, David “Honeyboy” Edwards passed away in his sleep. Edwards was the last living pre-war blues man. This is a story I wrote a year ago about a special concert with Honeyboy that I attended in Los Angeles August, 2010. It was the last time I ever saw him.

On a recent Saturday night, at a private hillside residence in Los Angeles, David “Honeyboy” Edwards did what he has done for the better part of the last nine decades, he sang and played his guitar. 

The last living pre-war Delta Blues guitarist played to a living room full of people. As Honeyboy sat a few feet from television and film equipment the fans of his music double checked the settings on their digital cameras and were asked to turn off their hand held communication devices.

Honeyboy was able to get through an entire evening without tweeting or texting. What he did communicate this evening was far more compelling. He spoke in the enduring language of the blues. Greenwood, Mississippi of the early part of the 20^th century and "LaLa Land", circa 2010 have very little in common. Honeyboy bridged this historical and cultural chasm by telling the story of the blues better than any of the screenwriters and directors in this room could imagine.

Before the night was over a band of very talented musicians would try to keep up with the changes Honeyboy tossed at them. He would also tell stories about some of the changes he had seen in the music world since the 95 year old began playing professionally at the age of thirteen.

David “Honeyboy” Edwards told the audience that his “rememberies” are still pretty good. They were. He shared some of those with us late into the night. His history and that of the music born in the Delta that would become America’s gift to the world is well documented. Hearing his firsthand accounts of that history is something I will never forget.

Honeyboy told of meeting Charlie Patton, the first bluesman we can put a name and face to. He talked about Tommy Johnson. He also shared very personal stories of perhaps the most well known musician from that era, Honeyboy’s friend Robert Johnson.

Honeyboy talked about receiving a lifetime achievement award earlier this year at the Grammys. Edwards was backed this evening by guitarist Jeff Dale whose band the South Woodlawners opened for the blues legend and backed him as they did at the Grammy Museum in January of this year.

He also told us about his first gig. There was a dance on a Saturday night in a juke joint when the crank on a gramophone broke. The thirteen year old was summoned from his home nearby to play guitar. Honeyboy kept the dance alive. He went on to tell those lucky enough to be in this living room about playing all night and not getting back home “until the rooster crowed for day”.  

His first person accounts of the music from the Delta were described as dance music, not a
concert, recital or performance. The rhythmic syncopations of a single musician playing an acoustic guitar had always been dance music. He referenced this several times in his remarks. 

The only sour note of the evening was the side conversation that took place  throughout Edward’s performance by a woman who acted like she was at a drunken roadhouse keg party. The lack of respect for this living legend and musical icon shown by this clueless individual perhaps served as a symbolic undercurrent to the way our society marginalizes its greatest artists and reveres fly by night celebrities and their boorish behavior.

David “Honeyboy” Edwards has of course seen and heard it all. He seemed truly
appreciative of the audience that otherwise was enthusiastic and attentive. As he sat in front of the endless sea of lights that is the City of Angels he sang “Sweet Home Chicago” with a twinkle in his eye. He performed “the devil’s music” like a young man on a mission. It sure looked like it would be some time before the angels call this blues stringer back home.

- David Mac

David "Honeyboy" Edwards

June 28, 1915 - August 29, 2011