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Blues For Satchel Paige
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Jump blues tune featuring solo acoustic guitar and vocal by Michael 'Hawkeye' Herman
memphis dance singer songwriter soul music composer chicago musician folk blues vocal songs song boogie slide delta jump hawkeye picker fingerpicker
Artist picture
Michael Hawkeye Herman: Blues Musician
"Herman plays with a sensitive, reflective touch that continually draws attention to his vocals, which are effectively understated and free of affectation... Herman can rock with the best of them. A solid choice for fans of traditional acoustic blues." - Living Blues Magazine "One of America's finest acoustic guitarists and blues educators." - Cascade Blues Association "...an uncanny grasp of so many different Blues styles." - Holler, Colorado Blues Society "Robert Johnson, Big Bill Broonzy, and Muddy Waters were giants of the genre he grew up listening to and who live on through the evocative, haunting acoustic slide-guitar style he plays." - The Reporter, San Diego, CA "...plays haunting music on a mournful guitar." - Los Angeles Times "...plays a powerful variety of hard-driving acoustic blues, a crowd pleaser." - Mississippi Valley Blues News "...a mean, clean guitar picker." - San Francisco Examiner "The only thing better than hearing this live album is seeing Hawkeye Herman in the flesh. Whether adding his own spin to blues classics or offering his own songs, Herman is a one-man history of blues, noteworthy guitar player and inimitable communicator. Miss him at your peril." - Blues Access "Each song is presented with a heartfelt depth rarely witnessed these days amongst all the amplifiers and studio embellishments... Throughout "Blues Alive!," Herman proves to be a seasoned storyteller above all, as well as an accomplished guitarist." - Blues Revue Magazine "Playing both fingerpick and slide guitar, Herman's licks are clean, yet spare..., his vocals are direct and straightforward, but full of emotion... he has immersed himself in the sound and feeling and has emerged as one of the most widely respected acoustic blues musicians around... Blues Alive! ain't electric, doesn't have drums and such, wasn't produced in a high-tech studio, but it's about as real as the blues gets." - Sing Out!
Song Info
Genre
Blues • Blues General
Charts
Peak #141
Peak in subgenre #61
Author
Michael "Hawkeye" Herman
Rights
©1990 Michael "Hawkeye" Herman
Uploaded
January 02, 2006
Track Files
MP3
MP3 1.9 MB • 128 kbps • 1:22
Story behind the song
Satchel Paige was one of the greatest pitchers in the history of baseball. However, he was not allowed to participate in the world of professional Major League Baseball for most of his career because of the "color line" - segregation. It is estimated that Leroy "Satchel" Paige was born on July 7, 1905. The mere idea that his birthday is an estimate provides perfect evidence to the mystery that was Satchel Paige. In 1965, 60 years after Paige's supposed birthday, he took the mound for the last time, throwing three shutout innings for the Kansas City Athletics. Joe DiMaggio called Satchel Paige "the best and fastest pitcher I've ever faced". His pitching was amazing and his showboating was legendary. His career highlights span five decades. Pronounced the greatest pitcher in the history of the Negro Leagues, Paige compiled such feats as 64 consecutive scoreless innings, a stretch of 21 straight wins, and a 31-4 record in 1933. For 22 years, Paige mauled the competition in front of sellout crowds. Sure, he liked the attention, but to him, there was only one goal. That goal would be to pitch in the Major Leagues. In 1948, Paige's dream came true. The Cleveland Indians were in need of extra pitching for the pennant race. Legendary Bill Veeck tested Paige's accuracy before offering him a big league contract. As the story is told, Veeck placed a cigarette on the ground to be used as a home plate. Paige took aim at his virtually nonexistent target. He fired five fastballs, all but one sailing directly over the cigarette. Veeck was indeed pleased, and Paige helped the Indians win the pennant. In addition to Cleveland, Paige played for St. Louis and Kansas City. When his Major League career was completed, he compiled a modest 28-31 record with a 3.29 ERA. He also served as coach for the Atlanta Braves in 1968. What made Paige so memorable was his longevity in the game. The main reason his age was so difficult to track was his seemingly endless success. He rarely answered questions about his age, and when he did, he replied with something like: "Age is a question of mind over matter. If you don't mind, it doesn't matter." In 1971, Leroy "Satchel" Paige was given the ultimate honor, he was elected to join the very best in baseball history in the Hall of Fame. Quotes: "Age is a question of mind over matter. If you don’t mind, it doesn’t matter." "I ain't ever had a job, I just always played baseball." "I don't generally like running. I believe in training by rising gently up and down from the bench." "I never rush myself. See, they can't start the game without me." "I use my single windup, my double windup, my triple windup, my hesitation windup, my no windup. I also use my step-n-pitch-it, my submariner, my sidearmer and my bat dodger. Man's got to do what he's got to do." "If a man can beat you, walk him." "It's funny what a few no-hitters do for a body." "My feet ain't got nothing to do with my nickname, but when folks get it in their heads that a feller's got big feet, soon the feet start looking big." "One time I snuck a ball on with me and when I went to winding up, I threw one of them balls to first and one to second. I was so smooth I picked off both runners and fanned the batter without that ump or the other team even knowing it." "The only change is that baseball has turned Paige from a second class citizen to a second class immortal." "There never was a man on earth who pitched as much as me. But the more I pitched, the stronger my arm would get." "When a batter swings and I see his knees move, I can tell just what his weaknesses are then I just put the ball where I know he can't hit it." "Ain’t no man can avoid being born average, but there ain’t no man got to be common." "I never threw an illegal pitch. The trouble is, once in a while I would toss one that ain’t never been seen by this generation." "Just take the ball and throw it where you
Lyrics
Blues for Satchel Paige words & music by Michael "Hawkeye" Herman © 1990 Michael Herman/Topaz Productions I want to tell you a story about a hero named Satchel Paige. I want to tell you a story about a hero named Satchel Paige. Satch pitched a baseball to earn his daily wage. Satchel was a star who lived way before his time. Yes, Satchel was a star who lived way before his time. But he couldn't make the big leagues, his skin color was his crime. So, with the Negro leagues he traveled from town to town. Yes, for twenty long years he traveled from town to town. He once struck out the side with his fielders all sitting down. Satch finally made the majors at the age of forty-two. Yes, Satch finally got the call at the age of forty-two. If he'd of been a white man he would have made it at twenty-two. Millions of people never got to see him pitch his game. Yes, millions of people never got to see him pitch his game. But now his name stands forever in the Baseball Hall of Fame. (repeat last line and fade out)
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