About the Five Blind Boys from the Parish

ABOUT THE FIVE BLIND BOYS FROM THE PARISH

"The Five Blind Boys from the Parish" is my other band. Actually, it's rather drummer Raphael Pedroli's own project ; he's the one taking care of business, and the idea of setting up a blues trio ...About the Five Blind Boys from the Parish*by Washington* "The Five Blind Boys from the Parish" is my other band. Actually, it's rather drummer Raphael Pedroli's own project ; he's the one taking care of business, and the idea of setting up a blues trio with Simon Gerber and me is his. Originally, we were only to play a series of street gigs for a buskers festival, but it turned out so funny - and so close to the band Simon and were dreaming of since we were teenagers - that we kept it rolling. It took its shape when a few weeks before the original festival, as Raphael Pedroli was harassing me about how we should name the trio. I eventually replied "call it the Five Blind Boys from the Parish and be done with it". Much to my surprise, he did ! So we elaborated on this, and that's how we came up with the band's motto, "Don't tell them they ain't five. Don't tell them they ain't black. And don't try to get their attention by tapping against their sunglasses". For those who care, here's a link to the myspace page. *Yes, I do sing in the Five Blind Boys from the Parish. But ask me about Washington when I wear my hat and my sunglasses, and I'll tell you this other guy stole my name, then endlessly rant about me being the original Napoleon Washington. And once you'll have me started, you won't be home for supper, believe me. Reminds you of something ? Albert King's claim to be BB's cousin ? The two Sonny Boy Williamsons perhaps ? or the white-trash favourite supreme, the legend of the crossroads allegedly attributed to Robert Johnson (on his behalf, of course), but rather probably originated by Tommy Johnson ? There's a million stories like that, and they're the substance of the blues. I remember a video where late great Lightnin' Hopkins says to the camera "And now, I gwine play sumthin I wrote long time ago" and then plays "I'm a King Bee". First time I saw it, I laughed. But then... I tried to figure why he would say that, who he thought we were, and I stopped laughing. Imagine the pressure for a man in his sixties to "be" somebody on TV after so many years of struggle. Imagine the need to relate to a film crew among which - it was in the seventies - guess how many were black. What it means to me is that in such a hard-times-killing-floor era as the early and mid (and late, for that matter) 20th century, blues was just combat music. Ghetto music. A survival kit in the meanest of a social guerilla. It may very well still be, too. So what ? What's my story with that ? Well there's none, to be true, besides having fallen in love with the music (which is a private affair, and I don't discuss private affairs on the web). But the fact is, I don't believe it does history any good to turn it into our ball and chain. So, since all this is of quite some importance to me, maybe I'd better turn it into something funny so we won't have to wipe it away. And that's what led to the Five Blind Boys from the Parish, play-con men who naively believe you naively believe they're blind. I see it as a respectful tribute, believe it or not. And I see it as a wonderful tool not only to grant myself the permission to play that wonderful music I wouldn't dare to play otherwise, but also as the perfect vehicle to bring it to you coated with the sugar of comedy so you'll forget any of your bitter prejudice about the blues. That is, if you had any - bless your soul. Photo : Charly Rappo *Website created by Artinbox Multimedia.© 2010 - Napoleon Washington - Napoleon Washington
About the Five Blind Boys from the Parish
"The Five Blind Boys from the Parish" is my other band. Actually, it's rather drummer Raphael Pedroli's own project ; he's the one taking care of business, and the idea of setting up a blues trio ...
NAPOLEON WASHINGTON (Official Website)
A (modest but) comprehensive discography | Blues de Traverse, Cléon (Rouen) | Blues Café | Blues de Traverse | Blues et technique: des noces d'or ! | Blues surpassé | Bottes Ouest, âme Sud | Cahors Blues festival | Cahors Blues Festival | Napoleon Washington, coup de coeur | De guitariste de blues à bluesman | Discographie (modeste mais) complète | Du blues en toute liberté | Euro Blues | Frissons de blues avant la fin | Napoleon Washington : Hotel Bravo | Homegrown | Homegrown | Napoleon Washington, Homegrown | Just a Bluesman | La dernière conquête de Napoleon Washington | Larry's Short Takes | La voix d'un médium | Le disque de la semaine | Le Grand Théâtre de Napoleon Washington | L'empire de Napoleon Washington | Le souffle hanté | Les voies du Blues | Mad Man | Mille jours avec ma guitare | Musique organique | Napoleon Washington | Napoleon Washington, opus premier | Napoleon Washington : what about that name ? | Une bio rapide | A condensed bio | Napoleon Washington : pourquoi ce nom ? | Premier disque de Napoleon | Respect | Serious Acoustic Blues | The Five Blind Boys from the Parish | The Road To Washington | The Washington TV ! | The Washington TV ! | Un CD Noir étincelant | La voix intérieure | Un voyage avec air conditionné | Archives : The Washington Theater | Archives : Le Washington Theater | Washington en concert à Caen