Charlie Pool Documentry by Echo Films and Martin Stephenson (worth a look)
Good to see the music of Charlie Pool getting more recognition, with Loudon Wainright’s new album.
The Medicine Show theme tune The Cherokee Shuffle (or Lost Indian) is performed by The Hungry Hash House Ramblers pictured here Charlie Pools decendents Taylor and Doug Rorrer Family band. This is an interesting a documentry done on mutual friend Martin Stephenson’s play about the life of Charlie Pool and Possey Rorrer – Ramblin’ Boys a journey – The Martin Stephenson/Charlie Poole connection..
In 2003 Echo Productions were involved in the filming of a stage play about the music and life of North Carolina musician Charlie Poole. There was more to this than just the play. Director/Producer D. J. Patterson decided to delve deeper. He was to discover acclaimed musician Martin Stephenson who produced the play, had previously went on his own journey to North Carolina in 2000. After composing a song about Charlie Poole’s fiddle player Posey Rorrer, Martin’s journey took him all over North Carolina rediscovering many great forgotten musicians and recording them for a CD release – called “the Haint of the Budded Rose”. Martin decided to produce a play about Charlie’s life with scriptwriter Graham Rhodes. He set about telling the story and recreating the great string band music of the 1920s/30s that Charlie Poole performed. He brought together the cream of the North East of England’s accoustic musicians for the project. This is where Echo Producitons came on board and decided to document this unique story for prosperity. This was their our first feature length documentary. The film was premiered at the Mike Figgis Digital Lounge at Newcastle’s famed Tyneside cinema in July 2005. It was also premiered in the United States in Smithsfield, North Carolina at the Ava Gardner Film Festival in 2007.
This performance is taken from Echo Productions’ documentary Ramblin’ Boys a journey – The Martin Stephenson/Charlie Poole connection. The full documentary can be seen at Google video.
This film is also available for film festivals. (Please contact us at echofilms@hotmail.co.uk for all enquiries.)
Here “Round Eyes”Ray Burns shines as he takes the lead for Hungary Hash House.
Ray, know for his Superb Chromatic Harmonica playing and one half of the Hotlicks Cookies.
You can view the whole Ramblin’ Boys Documentry here http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=7816509350671327336#
Here’s some website’s worth checkin’ out-
myspace.com/whiskyrivers (Charlie Poole.)
myspace.com/hotlickscookies
myspace.com/fosterpilkington
myspace.com/grahamrhodesartistwritermyspace.com/piedmontfolklegacies
(Charlie Poole music festival.)
Here are The Hungry Hash House Rambers doing our theme tune for a Medicine Show in Glasgow we organised for Martin Stephenson in 2004 for Celtic Connections