MullenRIA wrote:Hello Donal and Daniel:
Thank you so much for your hard work! Mentioning Rory around New York every chance I get,--and am amazed that there are SO many people who remember him fondly and with great appreciation!
My questions involve Rory's legacy as a Blues man. Certainly, he described himself as a folk musician, as someone who played rock, of course...But the Blues was special. Not watered down, but hard core, roots Blues. What troubles me is that the current Blues media ignores him almost completely. I can't be alone in feeling that it's simply not good enough for Rory to be a footnote in Blues history, propping up other artists by association. While the Prime Mover Project did place a series of bricks at the Delta Blues Museum in Rory's honor (sorry I couldn't get down there to photograph them for you yet), I'd really like to know how else we can help spread Rory's legacy as a *Blues* musician here in the States.
Regina
So, a few weeks ago I was checking out Robert Cray's wiki and came across mention of the Blues Foundation out of Memphis, Tennessee. Robert Cray was added to their Blues Hall of Fame.
Now, everyone knows there is a petition to have Rory inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, and most everyone has signed that one, http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/rorygallagherhalloffame/ in case you haven't had a chance yet to sign it . . .
but this seems at least as appropriate. Their site: http://www.blues.org/halloffame/#ref=halloffame_index They call themselves the "International home of Blues Music." I checked out their site, searched for Rory Gallagher and saw nothing for him- not one mention. Eric Clapton is in there (I counted 3 awards!) so it can't be because they're excluding non-Americans. I wrote to their contact person,] "For more information, contact Jay Sieleman at (901) 527-2583 xt 12 or jay@blues.org" 2 weeks ago to try to find out how to get them to recognize Rory for his contributions to blues music, especially for his efforts to bring the music to new audiences all over the world. So far I have heard nothing back.
But I saw your question posed to Rory's family, and I wondered if perhaps anyone on this forum, (Especially Americans, since it is here that I feel he needs to be recognized- the rest of the world seems to already be on that page) might be interested in getting him recognized? Is that something that others on this forum might want to pursue? Have any suggestions for how to get Rory recognized by the Blues Foundation? I'm willing to do whatever (as long as it doesn't cost in money as I have just joined the ranks of the unemployed) such as try to start a petition, etc.
RobertaSparrow
(copy of letter sent to Blues Foundation)-
The Blues Foundation
Memphis, Tennessee
Hello Mr. Jay Sielman,
I was checking out your website after reading up on some my favorite blues musicians (Robert Cray specifically) and noted that many have been mentioned in your Blues Hall of Fame.
One of my favorites is not from “around here” but has done so much to bring our native American blues to the rest of the world- the late Irish blues guitarist Rory Gallagher. Sadly he passed away in 1995 at the young age of 47, but he was an extraordinary musician who had a lifelong passion for the blues and spent his entire life bringing that music to new audiences all over the world.
Rory Gallagher listened to and incorporated so many early American blues artists’ music into his repertoire that I can’t list them all here, and unlike so many of his European contemporaries, he never tried to claim their music as his own- he always gave credit to the original musicians whenever he could.
Many of the songs he was known for performing, although he would change the lyrics or rework them to make them more accessible, and he always noted their original authors (examples: I Could’ve Had Religion, All Around Man, Bullfrog Blues, Want Ad Blues, Rag Mama Rag). Of note, Bob Dylan enjoyed Rory’s version of Could’ve Had Religion so much he wanted to cover it himself. He was surprised to learn from Rory himself that he did not compose the song, but credited it to Junior Wells.
I had wanted to search your website to see if Rory Gallagher is mentioned or acknowledged in any way but could find nothing about him.
So my question is, has Rory Gallagher ever been considered or nominated for the Blues Hall of Fame? and if not, is there a way to do that for him?
He loved American music, and much of his own compositions are about American places, people, and culture, and he worked very hard to be recognized here, but never achieved the success many of his contemporaries did, although he was at least as talented, and some, as I, would say, was unfairly under-rated in comparison to, say, Eric Clapton, John Mayall, Peter Green, and others “not from around here. It is a shame that he has become relatively unknown in this country. I saw him perform many times in the 1970’s and he always brought the house down with his wonderful playing. He was an extraordinary musician and composer in his own right.
His family, friends, and fans have a website about him- http://www.rorygallagher.com
Please let me know if there is a way to have his contribution to blues music recognized by the Blues Foundation. He deserves recognition for his contributions.
Thank You,
)) The brick program was also an easy in: hopefully, Robert Plant took a stroll down the brick path at the Delta Blues Museum and was reminded of Rory's legacy at this summer's Sunflower Festival. [ tee hee ]. St. Rory intervened and I got one of the last copies of Fin Costello's photography book, which serves as constant inspiration. A year-long Rory gallery in New York [ similar to the Phil Lynott exhibit in Dublin ] would be how hard? I dunno, but it's worth looking into. Espcially since marcus' book is coming out soon...Yippee!!
At long last!
