'Last of the Great Delta Blues Drummers'

Sam Carr

April 17, 1926-September 21, 2009

By Billy Howell (Staff Writer, The Clarksdale Press Register)

Widely acclaimed Delta blues drum legend Sam Carr passed away September 21 in Clarksdale, MS. Cause of death was congestive heart failure. Born April 17, 1926, in Friars Point, Mississippi, Carr was 83 years old at the time of his death.

His father, whom he played with as a child and later in life, was the legendary Blues Man, Robert Nighthawk. Sam was adopted by the Carr family and raised on a farm near Dundee.

He did not meet his father, Nighthawk, until he was seven years old. Around the age of eight or nine he would dance and perform with his father's band. When Carr was 16 he moved to Helena where he worked the door at his father's gigs, taking up money at the city's then thriving night clubs.

 "Sam was the last great Delta blues drummers," said Roger Stolle, owner of Cat Head Delta Blues & Folk Art in Clarksdale and a friend and fan of Carr.

Stolle said that most of the first and second generation blues musicians were influences on Carr, and Carr's shuffle style of drumming has been influential on local drumming prodigy, Lee Williams.

Williams always wanted to learn the Delta Shuffle from Carr, and his dream came true when he and Carr began playing gigs together. "If you gonna play 'Sam style,' you just use a three-piece drum kit," said Williams, who still drums often at Ground Zero Blues Club and other local venues.

Bill Luckett, co-owner of Ground Zero, said, "Sam Carr was truly a living legend. He was a quiet man, very humble, but always full of energy sitting at our drum set at Ground Zero Blues Club where he played many times. His wife Doris was always dutifully in attendance looking on from a side table. We will miss him."

Big T, who plays guitar with the Jelly Roll Kings and Big Jack Johnson, said that he loved watching Carr do the "stick-trick," where he would twirl it in the air during play.  Big T started playing with Carr and his friends when he was young, and he said that playing the blues was "Business for them and fun for him."

Carr was innovative in his drumming style. According to Stolle, Carr would place his wallet or another object on the drums to tamp the sound, and would even place his keys on his symbols to get a different ring. One night after playing drums at Red's in Clarksdale, Carr arrived home realizing that his keys were still nestled on the drums back at the club.

Six years ago Stolle held a one-time Sam Carr Day at Ground Zero Blues Club. According to Stolle, "Sam Carr Day made Sam some money and gave him some recognition."

Carr's trademark hat and big smile as he played a small, stripped down drum set, even using the wall to bust occasional beats on, was one of Stolle's fondest memories of Carr.

 "It's impossible to verbalize what Sam Carr's tremendous talents have done for our community and blues music.  He and his wife Doris welcomed countless people into their home who shared their love of music.  Playing music gave him a special energy that you could see and hear. He was a true legend and will be greatly missed," said Shelley Ritter, Director of the Delta Blues Museum.

Hambone Gallery owner and local harp player Stan Street first met Carr when he was visiting the Helena King Biscuit Blues Festival. He played with Carr during the festival at Lefty's ArkaBlue Club on Cherry Street in Helena.

On several other occasions over the years Street played with Carr and local musician Bill Abel.  "It's not what Sam played but what he did not play that made him great, meaning that he never stepped on anyone else; he stayed in the pocket and set down a good groove," said Street.

Street's favorite memory of Carr was after he had been placed in Greenbough Nursing Home shortly before his death. Street went to see him and he was concerned that Carr might not recognize him or anybody else. Carr had been unresponsive and had not been eating.

Street asked the nurse when he arrived if he could play some music, and she let him set up in the hall.  When Street began playing Willie Dixon's famous blues tune, "Wang Dang Doodle," the entire staff began singing and dancing.

When Street looked in on Carr, he noticed the "old Sam" Carr smiling from ear to ear—he had come alive, at least for a while.

Carr friend and owner of Tricia's Italian Restaurant and Pie Hole in Clarksdale, Steve Kolbus, followed up on Stolle's idea, holding the Annual Sam Carr Day this past August 9 at Hopson Plantation Commissary.

Kolbus, local blues fan Dr. Patti Johnson, and two of Carr's nieces were with Carr when he passed away.

Kolbus, like all of Carr's friends, said that the "Sam Carr" tales are endless. Kolbus and his wife Tricia traveled to Clarksdale yearly for many years, always stopping by Carr's home to bring him a sweet potato pie, and in exchange they were regaled with stories of times gone by.

"Being able to get a history lesson from a guy who lived the history himself was a privilege," said Kolbus.

At this year's Sam Carr Day, Carr played and got to see many of his old friends whom he had not seen in years.  It was a day of rejoicing, as Carr got to see camera lenses snapping all day as he performed.

He would make eye contact with his friends and both parties would break into tears-knowing that this might be the last time that they would share fellowship and laughter. Carr later told his nieces that this was about his best day ever.

Kolbus said that he promised Carr that he would hold the Sam Carr Day at least one more year, and "even with Carr gone, I plan on keeping my word."

Stolle said that most of the first and second generation blues musicians were influences on Carr, and Carr's shuffle style of drumming has been influential on local drumming prodigy Lee Williams.

Williams always wanted to learn the Delta Shuffle from Carr, and his dream came true when he and Carr began playing gigs together. "If you gonna play 'Sam style,' you just use a three-piece drum kit," said Williams, who still drums often at Ground Zero Blues Club and other local venues.

Bill Luckett, co-owner of Ground Zero, said, "Sam Carr was truly a living legend. He was a quiet man, very humble, but always full of energy sitting at our drum set at Ground Zero Blues Club where he played many times. His wife Doris was always dutifully in attendance looking on from a side table. We will miss him."

Big T, who plays guitar with the Jelly Roll Kings and Big Jack Johnson, said that he loved watching Carr do the "stick-trick," where he would twirl it in the air during play.  Big T started playing with Carr and his friends when he was young, and he said that playing the blues was "Business for them and fun for him."

Carr was innovative in his drumming style. According to Stolle, Carr would place his wallet or another object on the drums to tamp the sound, and would even place his keys on his symbols to get a different ring. One night after playing drums at Red's in Clarksdale, Carr arrived home realizing that his keys were still nestled on the drums back at the club.

Six years ago Stolle held a one-time Sam Carr Day at Ground Zero Blues Club. According to Stolle, "Sam Carr Day made Sam some money and gave him some recognition."

Carr's trademark hat and big smile as he played a small, stripped down drum set, even using the wall to bust occasional beats on, was one of Stolle's fondest memories of Carr.

 "It's impossible to verbalize what Sam Carr's tremendous talents have done for our community and blues music.  He and his wife Doris welcomed countless people into their home who shared their love of music.  Playing music gave him a special energy that you could see and hear. He was a true legend and will be greatly missed," said Shelley Ritter, Director of the Delta Blues Museum.

Hambone Gallery owner and local harp player Stan Street first met Carr when he was visiting the Helena King Biscuit Blues Festival. He played with Carr during the festival at Lefty's ArkaBlue Club on Cherry Street in Helena.

On several other occasions over the years Street played with Carr and local musician Bill Abel.  "It's not what Sam played but what he did not play that made him great, meaning that he never stepped on anyone else; he stayed in the pocket and set down a good groove," said Street.

Street's favorite memory of Carr was after he had been placed in Greenbough Nursing Home shortly before his death. Street went to see him and he was concerned that Carr might not recognize him or anybody else. Carr had been unresponsive and had not been eating.

Street asked the nurse when he arrived if he could play some music, and she let him set up in the hall.  When Street began playing Willie Dixon's famous blues tune, "Wang Dang Doodle," the entire staff began singing and dancing.

When Street looked in on Carr, he noticed the "old Sam" Carr smiling from ear to ear—he had come alive   at least for a while.

Carr friend and owner of Tricia's Italian Restaurant and Pie Hole in Clarksdale, Steve Kolbus, followed up on Stolle's idea, holding the Annual Sam Carr Day this past August 9 at Hopson Plantation Commissary.

Kolbus was with Carr, local blues fan Dr. Patti Johnson, and two nieces when he passed away Monday evening.

Kolbus, like all of Carr's friends, said that the "Sam Carr" tales are endless. Kolbus and his wife Tricia travelled to Clarksdale yearly for many years, always stopping by Carr's home, where they always brought the Carrs a sweet potato pie, and in exchange they were regaled with stories of times gone by.

"Being able to get a history lesson from a guy who lived the history himself was a privilege," said Kolbus.

At this year's Sam Carr Day, Carr played and got to see many of his old friends whom he had not seen in years.  It was a day of rejoicing, as Carr got to see camera lenses snapping all day as he performed.

He would make eye contact with his friends and both parties would break into tears-knowing that this might be the last time that they would share fellowship and laughter. Carr later told his nieces that this was about his best day ever.

Kolbus said that he promised Carr that he would hold the Sam Carr Day at least one more year, and "even with Carr gone, I plan on keeping my promise—the Lord willing."

Probably Kolbus's favorite memory involving Carr was during the Juke Joint Festival held in April 2007. Carr had his first gig in several years set up by Kolbus at Hick's Tamales and BBQ Shop in Clarksdale.

Kolbus arrived early that morning to pick up Carr, whom he assumed would be too feeble to pack up his own gear.  He found Carr packed, smiling, and ready to jam.  Carr played three long sets to only a handful of people, but Kolbus said, "Sam had the time of his life playing that day."

Carr was paid $100 that day plus whatever was thrown in the tip bucket, but he told Kolbus, "Steve, don't you tell nobody what I am being paid 'cause I don't want nobody to know I can be bought that cheap."  This was evidence of the duality that was Sam Carr—generous but astute.

Kolbus visited Carr as often as possible once he had been placed in Greenbough Nursing home, where he would sneak him Sonic hot dogs and meatballs.

Carr's finest legacy according to Kolbus might have been his change in behavior from his early years.  One time Carr pointed at a picture of himself and said, "See that picture there; that is what I used to look like. I was stupid. That mean look I had on my face was there because I thought I had to be a tough guy. I got to looking at Frank Frost and I said to myself that I wanted to have friends like Frank did. I changed my attitude right then."

Kolbus said that before Carr's death he saw so many people caressing his hands and showing him love and affection that he knew then that Carr ended up getting what he wanted, and it was all at his bedside when he died.

"Because of how Sam treated people, he ended up getting what he wanted, and I want to achieve the same thing Sam did-having a lot of friends, which is the most important thing in life," said Kolbus.

Dr. Johnson, also at Carr's side when he passed, has about 25 years of memories involving Carr.  She first met him when she ran a blues booking agency in California in the mid-eighties. The Jelly Roll Kings, including Big Jack Johnson, Frank Frost, and Sam Carr played several gigs in the Golden State.  When she moved here later, Dr. Johnson renewed and deepened her friendship with Carr.

"Sam understood the simple realities of life; he was a bit of a philosopher-often talking to me  about days gone by-things he was glad he did and things that he wish he had not done," said Dr. Johnson. "Sam was a generous but cautious man with his advice; he would give you the shirt off his back."

If Carr had to go to the restroom during a set, he would hand one of his drum sticks to Big Jack Johnson who would play guitar with one hand and the drums with the other until Carr returned to the stage.

Carr used cymbals with cracks in them in order to give the right ring that would produce the exact sound that he desired.

Reminiscent of a scene from the movie The Blues Brothers, Carr used to play in tough clubs where the band might have to make a hasty exit after the gig was over.

Dr. Johnson saw Carr as a friend and mentor, and she said that one of his greatest pleasures was when young musicians would come hear him play and spend time with him. "He was a great teacher, but not too aggressive, students had to want to receive from him," said Dr. Johnson.

Carr's early experiences made him stand up for himself.  His uncle told him as a child to always hold his head up.  Carr was both humble and proud at the same time.

Carr, a 2007 winner of a Governor's Award for Excellence in the Arts, was also a multiple nominee for a Handy Award. He last performed as recently as this past summer at Mother's Best Festival in Helena, AK, and at a celebration honoring him on Sam Carr Day, at Hopson Plantation near Clarksdale this past August.

Carr was the author of his own classic epitaph, telling a filmmaker, "I've lived a rich man's life in poor man's shoes."