Jo Ann Kelly was the real item. Real blues singer. I found out about her way back, seventies, when I heard a few cuts with Stefan Grossman. I wish more had been captured. She showed that a white woman from UK could sing the blues like anyone-like Minnie, or Mama Thornton, lots of others. Nobody has a lock on the blues. It just pops up anywhere that someone really feels it. Jo Ann Kelly felt it.
I know she was British BUT Why why why did this women not blow away every other blues artist in America ! ABSOLUTELY PHENOMENAL Have you heard of "ola belle reed" ? She's was the real deal, a housewife living up in the appalachian mountains. I recommend "my epitaph" and "high on a mountain" as an introduction (She's more bluegrass than blues)
@@matt01506Dear Wurzel, Thank you for your kind words and comments. I knew Jo-Ann Kelly personally, and it was she who put me on to Charlie Patton back in the 1960's, so I may be a little biased, but I've always thought her one of the very best regardless of country of origin or so-called 'race'. And that's including Bessie Smith, Leadbelly, Charlie Patton, and her idol Memphis Minnie. So good to see so many positive comments. Thank you everyone. Black Jake of Norwich, England.
Saw her upstairs at the Goodwill Pub's Folk Club, Harrow & Wealdstone about 1971 - nearly blew us off our chairs such was the power of her voice - didn't expect that from such a diminutive girl - she played a Gibson J200 which dwarfed her.
blues legendary // classic voice, soulful legacy of the late Jo-Ann Kelly, a British performer who seems like she could have been from a small town down here in the Mississippi Delta ;-)
I'm 21 and have grown up listening to jo ann Kelly, it upsets me that most of the people my age won't have even heard of her or any of the earlier blues artists for that matter... Never get tired of hearing her epic voice!
Got to see her around 1980 in a blues venue above capitol radio on euston rd ... fabulous and historic.. a tad disappointed when i asked if she could do 'rolling and tumbling',,, said she couldn't remember it. but an historic night
Hi Ron well done for putting these up on youtube. I got to see Jo Anne lots when she used to play around Sussex, always stunning. Sometimes saw her as a duo with Pete Emery and sometimes solo. I even got to play with her once. Very sadly missed, just genius.
brilliant this was a great folk club and this clip is priceless i have a teenage daughter getting into blues i can show her what itw as about with clips like this
Wonderful.....Charlie Patton song..I seem to recall two guitars on the original -so - Jo-Ann uses a 12 string ! First saw her in 'Original Oak' , Leeds...'67/68 ?.....Steve Phillips opened for her and he was stunning on the "Don" really great...Then Jo-Ann came on and brought the house down......(Steve backed her on piano for a couple of songs) .....She was wonderful, and very sexy (I realise that's no-longer pc)....her body fitted the guitar perfectly - the white NHS glasses were a bonus. Last saw her in Llandudno '93/94 where she opened for Louisiana Red .......we all knew the writing was on the wall.....but you'd never have known it when she did M.M ' Me and my chauffer' better than ever......RIP
I've never seen video of her.. crap sound, but greeat to see her in action... I'm sure some wizard out there could work with the sound. I've some vinyl of her.
The best blues artist to come out of her country.
a singer and guitarist par excellence . She was and is untouchable. Rest in the blues sweet spirit.
Jo Ann Kelly was the real item. Real blues singer. I found out about her way back, seventies, when I heard a few cuts with Stefan Grossman. I wish more had been captured. She showed that a white woman from UK could sing the blues like anyone-like Minnie, or Mama Thornton, lots of others. Nobody has a lock on the blues. It just pops up anywhere that someone really feels it. Jo Ann Kelly felt it.
Simply splendid! One of these days the Blues world is going to wake up to what an amazing blueswoman she was.
I know she was British BUT
Why why why did this women not blow away every other blues artist in America !
ABSOLUTELY PHENOMENAL
Have you heard of
"ola belle reed" ? She's was the real deal, a housewife living up in the appalachian mountains. I recommend
"my epitaph" and
"high on a mountain" as an introduction (She's more bluegrass than blues)
@@matt01506Dear Wurzel,
Thank you for your kind words and comments.
I knew Jo-Ann Kelly personally, and it was she who put me on to Charlie Patton back in the 1960's, so I may be a little biased, but I've always thought her one of the very best regardless of country of origin or so-called 'race'. And that's including Bessie Smith, Leadbelly, Charlie Patton, and her idol Memphis Minnie.
So good to see so many positive comments. Thank you everyone.
Black Jake of Norwich, England.
So real and soulful. She is missed.
Saw her upstairs at the Goodwill Pub's Folk Club, Harrow & Wealdstone about 1971 - nearly blew us off our chairs such was the power of her voice - didn't expect that from such a diminutive girl - she played a Gibson J200 which dwarfed her.
blues legendary // classic voice, soulful legacy of the late Jo-Ann Kelly, a British performer who seems like she could have been from a small town down here in the Mississippi Delta ;-)
She's playing a Gibson 12 string guitar. Wonderful sound. She plays it fantastically well.
Wow! Great to see a video of her!
I'm 21 and have grown up listening to jo ann Kelly, it upsets me that most of the people my age won't have even heard of her or any of the earlier blues artists for that matter... Never get tired of hearing her epic voice!
Relate.
Nice - great stuff from Jo Ann. Bonnie Raitt is a big admirer of hers.
Small English woman = big soul! Thank you for posting this.
Got to see her around 1980 in a blues venue above capitol radio on euston rd ... fabulous and historic.. a tad disappointed when i asked if she could do 'rolling and tumbling',,, said she couldn't remember it. but an historic night
i just discovered her while searching tony mcphee (one of my favs) what a find, i'm blown away, i have never heard of her till now.
I heard her for the first time in Peer Belgium in 1978. Never forgot her since.
Hi Ron well done for putting these up on youtube. I got to see Jo Anne lots when she used to play around Sussex, always stunning. Sometimes saw her as a duo with Pete Emery and sometimes solo. I even got to play with her once.
Very sadly missed, just genius.
It amazing the way of her singing..!!! if you don't see her, you think she is an old black blues lady... Lovely performance!!!
Genius. Authentic.
Wonderful, wonderful stuff! Watch it and weep...
Pure brilliance
brilliant this was a great folk club and this clip is priceless i have a teenage daughter getting into blues i can show her what itw as about with clips like this
THANK YOU , this is wonderful !!!
Super!!! Beauty!!! Legend!!!!
Wow - great stuff
Magnificent.....
This must have been filmed shortly before her untimely passing. Man, she was great!
She died less than a year later from a malignant brain tumor.
She had already had chemo for the tumour when she recorded this. She had lost her hair. That's why she was wearing a beret. She was very brave.
Wonderful.....Charlie Patton song..I seem to recall two guitars on the original -so - Jo-Ann uses a 12 string ! First saw her in 'Original Oak' , Leeds...'67/68 ?.....Steve Phillips opened for her and he was stunning on the "Don" really great...Then Jo-Ann came on and brought the house down......(Steve backed her on piano for a couple of songs) .....She was wonderful, and very sexy (I realise that's no-longer pc)....her body fitted the guitar perfectly - the white NHS glasses were a bonus. Last saw her in Llandudno '93/94 where she opened for Louisiana Red .......we all knew the writing was on the wall.....but you'd never have known it when she did M.M ' Me and my chauffer' better than ever......RIP
Awesome!!!
W O W!!! ... congrats for dat ul ... what a gal! thx a lot for diz gem! YAY!
I thought I heard a Memphis Minnie tune coming from the PA of the Bitter Lemon, but it sounded live. It was Joanne.
WOW
Fabulous. Thanks Ron (whoever you are!) for these and the Dave Evans clips.
I've never seen video of her.. crap sound, but greeat to see her in action... I'm sure some wizard out there could work with the sound.
I've some vinyl of her.
And her real name is Madea...
Really good, can anyone tell me what year this was?
I recorded this in 1989 🙂