Later I Get To Take A Taxi To The Hotel.

I met him for the first time during the Blues Estafette in Utrecht in 2001. It proved to be my last time….! A stocky figure, a weather-beaten face, wearing a clean but cheap suit. With a sandwich in one hand and drink in the other… a bottle of water if I’m right. His eyes checking out the place, full of admiration of the things he did behold. 

Wild Bill Pitre, born in port Arthur, USA. He grew up to be a local hero until he recorded his first record in 1970 as Wild Bill’s Washboard Band on the Goldband label from Eddie Shuler. The story goes that the band wanted to make an album but that the guitar player didn’t have a good guitar. Finally they came up with an unusual deal. In exchange for the recordings the guitar player was paid in kind in the form of a new guitar. The record turned out to be a heavy blues album with lots of zydeco influences. Taking the name of the band and Marcel Dugas on accordion this was no surprise.

Later on Bill passed in oblivion and only played in clubs in the Port Arthur area. Because he felt deceived a lot of times he didn’t want anything more to do with the music industry. It is a classical blues story, he sold the rights from his music for a handful of dollars and didn’t get any royalties from his records whatsoever. The Texan harp player Paul Orta rediscovered Wild Bill, took him under his wing and brought him to Utrecht.

During our informal chat he said: “Later on I get to take a taxi to the hotel”. He was clearly impressed. These words will stick in my mind forever.

The poor devil probably didn’t notice the commotion he had caused. He just gave a tremendous performance in the small hall. I was highly enthusiastic, I immediately bought his album “I Was Raised On A Farm”. Containing sixteen tracks with outstanding Texas and Louisiana blues, more than one hour of self written songs. Every fan of decent rocking Texan/Louisiana  blues should have this one as well. If you ever get the chance to listen to this album you will understand what Will Bill did with us during the Blues Estafette.
 
Bill died on 6-27-2003… I still think often of him.

I Was Raised On A Farm: Blues International (B12003)
Website info: www.great-recordings.com

Translation by: Bluesboy

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