Dan Sane

Dan Sane
Also known as Dan Sain
Born September 22, 1896
Hernando, Mississippi, United States
Died February 18, 1956 (aged 59)
Memphis, Tennessee, United States
Genres Country blues, Memphis blues[1]
Occupation(s) Guitarist, songwriter
Instruments Guitar
Labels Paramount, Victor
Associated acts Frank Stokes

Dan Sane (September 22, 1896[2] – February 18, 1956) was an American Memphis and country blues guitarist and songwriter.[1] He was a working associate of Frank Stokes and, according to Allmusic journalist, Jason Ankeny, "they had emerged among the most complementary duos in all of the blues, with Sane's flatpicking ideally embellished by Stokes' fluid rhythms."[1] The best known of Sane's penned songs were "Downtown Blues" and "Mr. Crump Don't Like It." His surname was alternatively spelt as 'Sain'.[3]

Biography

Sane was born in Hernando, Mississippi.[4] He moved to Memphis, Tennessee, and played in Will Batts' string band,[1] before meeting guitar player Frank Stokes. Sane and Stokes busked together around Memphis' Beale Street at weekends.[4] During the 1920s the pair performed on Beale Street as a duo billed as the Beale Street Sheiks and played in white venues, including country clubs, parties and dances, as members of Jack Kelly's Jug Busters.[1][5][6] Their first recording was for Paramount Records in August 1927, under the Beale Street Sheiks name.[4] A National Park Service's tourist guide to the blues heritage of the Mississippi Delta says: "The fluid guitar interplay between Stokes and Sane, combined with a propulsive beat, witty lyrics, and Stokes's stentorian voice, make their recordings irresistible."[6]

They moved to Victor Records in 1928, where the recordings were under Stokes' own name.[4] They recorded a two-part version of "Tain't Nobody's Business If I Do", a song well known in later versions by Bessie Smith and Jimmy Witherspoon, but whose origin lies somewhere in the pre-blues era.[7] A locally popular song was "Mr. Crump Don't Like It," whose lyrics referred to Memphis mayor E. H. Crump and his campaign to clean up Memphis' less salubrious areas. That song may have been based on an earlier song on the same topic by W. C. Handy.[4][8] The Sheiks also continued to busk the streets, and play informally at parties.

In 1929, Stokes and Sane recorded again for Paramount, resuming their 'Beale Street Sheiks' billing for a few cuts.[4] These 1929 sides were their last together, although Sane and Stokes continued their intermittent performing partnership up to the latter's retirement from music in 1952.[1]

In 1933, Sane and Batts (1904–1956), alongside Kelly, recorded as the South Memphis Jug Band.[4][9]

Sane died in Memphis in February 1956, aged 59.[1]

His guitar playing contributions have appeared on numerous compilation albums, including The Best of Frank Stokes (Yazoo Records, 2005).[10]

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 Ankeny, Jason. "Dan Sane". Allmusic. Retrieved October 28, 2010.
  2. ↑ Other sources cite 1904 as his birth year - they also cite Michigan, Mississippi (sic) as the birth place, which may invalidate the accuracy of the information.
  3. ↑ Charters, Samuel Barclay (1977). Sweet as the showers of rain (1st ed.). Indiana University: Oak Publications. p. 60. ISBN 0-8256-0178-9.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 Russell, Tony (1997). The Blues: From Robert Johnson to Robert Cray (1st ed.). Dubai: Carlton Books Limited. p. 169. ISBN 1-85868-255-X.
  5. ↑ Herzhaft, Gérard (1997). Encyclopedia of the blues (2nd ed.). Fayetteville: University of Arkansas Press. p. 134. ISBN 1-55728-452-0.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 'Trail of the Hellhound: Frank Stokes', U.S. National Park Service, Mississippi Delta Region, April 30, 2001. Accessed October 28, 2010.
  7. ↑ "Frank Stokes The Victor Recordings 1928 - 1929 - Document Records Vintage Blues and Jazz". Document-records.com. Retrieved 2014-01-26.
  8. ↑ Dowdy, G. Wayne (2006). Mayor Crump Don't Like It: Machine Politics in Memphis (1st ed.). United States: University Press of Mississippi. p. 102. ISBN 1-57806-859-2.
  9. ↑ "Where Dead Voices Gather: Life at 78 RPM: "Cold Iron Bed" - Jack Kelly & His South Memphis Jug Band". Theanthologyofamericanfolkmusic.blogspot.com. 2010-09-13. Retrieved 2014-01-26.
  10. ↑ Bruce Eder (2005-01-25). "The Best of Frank Stokes - Frank Stokes | Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 2014-01-26.