by jon bosworth jaxvillain@yahoo.com
WHAT: Blackwater Sol Revue
WHERE: St. Augustine Ampitheatre
WHEN: Sunday, September 2nd
“The last time [a hurricane] took everybody out in Mississippi, they had predicted that it would go straight, but it turned like an ‘L.’ It’s just like a wild horse out there, it’s gonna do what it’s gonna do.”
From the moment you hear the deep, booming drawl of Tony Joe White’s voice, you know he’s always been a singer and the South courses through his veins. As a man from Louisiana talking to a Florida boy while there’s a hurricane in the Gulf of Mexico, talking weather isn’t just a way to pass the time, it’s a serious topic.
Not many living musicians can claim success that strings from the 1960s into contemporary culture. Tony Joe White is an anomaly in that regard. Before the Stones ever even hit American soil, the Swamp Fox was making waves that reached all the way to France.
Elvis Presley recorded White’s song ‘Polk Salad Annie’ and the legendary Brook Benton made ‘Rainy Night in Georgia’ an enormous hit. Since that 1969 hit, ‘Rainy Night’ has been covered more than 120 times by artists, including Ray Charles. And that’s just a start. Tony Joe White has worked with artists that range from Jerry Lee Lewis to Tina Turner. Southern Culture on the Skids gave him a nod on a recent album and then Tony Joe White returned the favor in his song ‘Gumbo John’ from the record One Hot July. EU caught up with Tony Joe White at his home in Franklin, Tennessee, to talk with him about his influence on music and the influence music has had on him.
EU: What is a Swamp Fox?
Tony Joe White: It started back in Paris, France, with the first hit record I had over there; it was called Soul Francisco. Because of my guitar playing and being from Louisiana they started calling it Swamp Rock and started calling me Swamp Fox, so it kinda’ kicked off over there and came back over here when ‘Polk Salad Annie’ made it here, and that just kinda’ furthered the thing. It’s a pretty cool name.
EU: Are you as appreciated stateside as you are overseas?
TJW: Through the years, I have great fans in America and a good crowd I like to play for here, but my biggest crowds are in Australia and France. Over there you get a lot more airplay, you know? Over here they pretty well stick with the top forty and the flavor of the week. Most radio over there just plays free, so people get to hear you and they stick with you.
EU: What is it about the South that the rest of the world needs to know?
TJW: (Laughing) Oh God, I don’t know. Everybody needs to know right now it’s not a good spot to be when it’s a 104 degrees (laughing), but people should know there’s good food, good music, and it’s not nearly like it was back in the early days. Back when things were really rough and dangerous. It got a pretty heavy rap at one time, but I think it’s pretty alright right now, if they can keep dodging the storms.
EU: Wikipedia says you started Swamp Records to be able to produce your own music your way. What way is that?
TJW: I’ve had this studio about fifteen years, so it’s all analog, reel to reel, and good old equipment with good tones. Jody, my son, and I, we just both always liked a particular sound. Through the early years I got tired of dealing with record companies. You’d go in and cut an album and feel really great about it and you’re ready to get out and rock and a year goes past and they go “Oh, we’re going to release it in two more weeks.” Two more months go by and your music is just completely at the mercy of people who run things like its McDonald’s. Boxed burgers, you know? So to be able to write throughout the years and get ahead of it, I consider myself real lucky. Especially having a son that can do a website and all that and these great studios where I can go in there tonight and turn it all on and there ain’t nobody looking over my shoulder. I can get in and out and when we’re through, we’ll be through.
EU: Do you think the Internet will put the music industry in its place?
TJW: (Laughing) I wish it would. I wish there was someway that I could find people like me that got clutched up in that whole thing in the early days. I see people right now doing the same thing. Ain’t nothing you can do until they learn the ropes and get their own thing going. My thing was that I happened to write some good songs that, through the years, let me financially drop off on my own like that.
Tony Joe White will be performing a number of his legendary songs as well some of his newest work on the brand new stage at the St. Augustine Amphitheatre during the Blackwater Sol Revue concert on Labor Day weekend. Joining Tony Joe White are Los Lobos, JJ Grey and Mofro and several other great musicians. “I’m looking forward to getting on down there. Keep it cool and I’ll see you soon.” Read the entire interview at eujacksonville.com.
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