Robert Pete Williams
Robert Pete Williams (born March 14, 1914 in Zachary , Louisiana , † December 31, 1980 in Rosedale , Louisiana) was an American blues guitarist and singer whose style of playing was characterized by unusual guitar moods and musical structures. His compositions are often about the time he spent in prison. His song “I've Grown So Ugly” was covered in 1967 by Captain Beefheart on his LP Safe as Milk , and in 2004 by the Black Keys .
Life
Williams' parents were ' sharecroppers ', and he himself spent most of his life in the Baton Rouge area . From the ethnomusicologists Dr. Harry Oster and Richard Allen 'discovered' him in 1959 in Angola State Prison , Louisiana, where he was serving a life sentence for shooting a man at a local club in 1956 (Williams himself always pleaded self-defense ). Oster and Allen recorded Williams reciting songs about his prison life and campaigned for his pardon. This was granted relatively quickly, but only partially, so that Williams was initially only released on condition that he did not leave the state of Louisiana. The full pardon was not given until 1964, so that he was only allowed to stay outside of Louisiana afterwards.
In the meantime, his fame had grown so widespread on the basis of the long-playing records taken over by Chris Strachwitz 's Arhoolie Records from Oster's newly founded record label 'Louisiana Folklore Society' (renamed 'Folk Lyric Records' in 1960) that he was a first appearance outside of Louisiana at the Newport Folk Festival , held in July 1964, was booked. Williams then began touring the United States and played alongside other 'rediscovered' blues musicians on a number of occasions. B. Mississippi Fred McDowell . He continued his concert and festival appearances (including at the American Folk Blues Festivals in 1966 and 1972 in Europe) until the late 1970s, when his health began to deteriorate.
Williams died in Rosedale at the age of 66.
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| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Williams, Robert Pete |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | American blues singer and guitarist |
| DATE OF BIRTH | March 14, 1914 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Zachary , Louisiana |
| DATE OF DEATH | December 31, 1980 |
| Place of death | Rosedale , Louisiana |