Memphis Gold
"Pickin' In High Cotton"
Stackhouse Records
By Peter "Blewzzman" Lauro © September 2011

Although Memphis Gold and I have been friends via the Internet for a very long time, it wasn't until this past May that we physically met. It was at the Blues Music Awards, in Memphis, TN.

Starting about an hour before the actual awards ceremony, the lobby of the Marriott Hotel becomes a virtual who's who of blues folk. It's mingling at it's best. From across the room I couldn't help but notice a handsome, well dressed black man and it was undoubtedly his bright gold baseball cap with "Vietnam Veteran" in green letters that made him stand out. As sure as I am that anyone from GQ would have considered this improper accessorizing, I'm also sure that there wasn't a veteran in the room who'd agree with them. Being one of those veterans, meeting this gentleman and shaking his hand became my priority.

As I approached him I said "Good evening sir, I'd like to introduce myself"....and before I could, I was interrupted by a woman who said "You don't know who that is?" Turning to her I said "No Ma'am, but I'm pretty sure you're going to tell me". Then, as proud as a peacock showing off it's beautiful feathers, the woman excitedly and loudly said "Why that's my husband.....Memphis Gold". It was classic. Of course, I then finished my introduction after which Memphis and I hugged and laughed like long lost brothers. Considering what the evening still had in store, this moment was easily one of it's highlights.

"Pickin' In High Cotton" is Memphis Gold's third release over the last six years and the second of which I'm proud to be writing about. On this project Memphis - on vocals, electric & acoustic guitar and bass, is joined by Robert Lighthouse on slide guitar & harmonica, Jay Summerour on harmonica, Pete Ragusa, Robert "Mousey" Thompson, Eric "High Cotton" Selby and Dan Leake on drums, Danny Blue and Linwood Taylor on guitar, Rowe Oliver and Paulo Trinidade on bass, Lorenzo Johnson on percussion, and Mariah Moore on vocals.

If you ain't never had to pull no corn, if you ain't never had to slop no hogs, and if ain't never had to pick no cotton, then "How You Gonna Play The Blues?" Memphis Gold's done all that and more. And when he sings about it, it's not just the lyrics that will have you believing him. A song can't be sung with this much emotion, this much sincerity, and this much conviction and be anything but the truth. As he says, " I am the Blues". This acoustic track features the trio of Memphis Gold on bass, Robert Lighthouse on acoustic slide guitar, and Eric Selby on drums, and it as moving musically as it is lyrically.

Having lost everything but his blues, you can feel the fear in Memphis' voice as he pleads "Don't Take My Blues Away". This is another extraordinary acoustic track featuring more heartfelt vocals and some of the best acoustic pickin' and slide you'll ever hear.

On "John Brown", Memphis' growlin' and howlin' is reminiscent of the master of the howl - The great Howlin' Wolf. As a matter of fact, Jay Summerour's got the Wolf thing going on with the harp as well.

With Linwood Taylor on the lead, you gotta know that "Plow My Mule" will be featuring some serious blues guitar riffs. Backed by some strong rhythm, this time led by Robert Thompson on the drums, Linwood runs away with this one

The disc closes with one of it's hottest tracks - "Standing By The Highway". During the song, Memphis makes reference to having asked his dad for advice several times throughout his life and his dad always answered with 'Ya gotta get sanctified". However, from the sounds of it, Memphis seems to have gotten funkified instead. Making their first and only appearance, Rowe Oliver and Dan Leak are wicked on the bass and drums, and Lorenzo Johnson is kicking some ass on a set of congas and other implements of percussion. As usual, Memphis is awesome on the vocals.

Other tracks - which are all originals - include: "Biscuit Boogie", "Pickin' In High Cotton", "Back Po'ch Tennessee", "Homeless Blues", "Mississippi Flatlands" and "Ice Cream Man".

If you'd like to know more about Memphis Gold, a.k.a. Mr. Chet Chandler, please check him out at www.memphisgoldblues.com.  While there, take the time to read his bio. Yes, I've read more impressive one's but never any more interesting. From being a war veteran to spending most of his career traveling the world entertaining our troops to saving children in a train wreck to breaking his back in three places, you'll know you're reading about a real deal of a person. And to copy the way Mrs. Chandler said it to me back in Memphis.....Why that's my friend, Mr. Memphis Gold.