Elder Roma Wilson
Encyclopedia
Elder Roma Wilson is an American
gospel
harmonica player and singer. A clergyman, Wilson discovered he had a degree of notability later in his life, having originally been unaware of interest in his work.
, United States
, and his father was one-half Muscogee. Wilson was a self taught harmonica player in his early teens, having utilised the discarded instruments
of his elder siblings (he had five brothers and four sisters). He developed an unusual "choking" style, based around the difficulty of soliciting sounds from his well-worn equipment. By the age of fifteen, Wilson was working on the railroad and later at a local sawmill. Wilson married at the age of nineteen. His faith saw him become an ordained minister in the Pentecostal church
in 1929, and he joined with the self-styled Reverend Leon Pinson, who played the guitar, in traveling across North Mississippi, both playing and preaching. They developed a strong church following, before Wilson moved to Michigan
in 1940 and later to Detroit. He continued his musical interests playing on street corners, which ultimately led to his unbeknownst twist of fate. In 1948, he played in a local record store on Hastings Street, and was recorded by the shop owner. The owner subsequently allowed the tracks to be released, and students of Wilson's style of playing were intrigued. Wilson remained blissfully unaware of the attention.
Following the death of his first wife, Wilson moved back to Mississippi and remarried in 1977. By 1989, and following a chance telephone call, Wilson reactivated his playing partnership with Pinson. Finally, he became aware of the global interest in his earlier 'recordings', which he heard for the first time in 1991. Capitalizing on the notability, he and Pinson started to play at music festival
s, including the Chicago Blues Festival
and New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival
.
In 1993, Wilson was awarded the National Heritage Fellowship
, and recorded the bulk of what turned out to be his debut album
.
The majority of tracks on his 1995 LP, This Train, were recorded when Wilson was in his early eighties. The sides contained a mixture of solo efforts, some accompanied by his wife or with a church choir, and included "Ain't It a Shame
," "This Train Is a Clean Train," and "Amazing Grace
." The album also included the six harmonica dominated pieces, unwittingly recorded with his own children in 1948.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
gospel
Gospel music
Gospel music is music that is written to express either personal, spiritual or a communal belief regarding Christian life, as well as to give a Christian alternative to mainstream secular music....
harmonica player and singer. A clergyman, Wilson discovered he had a degree of notability later in his life, having originally been unaware of interest in his work.
Biography
Wilson was born in Hickory Flat, MississippiHickory Flat, Mississippi
Hickory Flat is a town in Benton County, Mississippi, United States. The population was 565 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Hickory Flat is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , all land....
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, and his father was one-half Muscogee. Wilson was a self taught harmonica player in his early teens, having utilised the discarded instruments
Musical instrument
A musical instrument is a device created or adapted for the purpose of making musical sounds. In principle, any object that produces sound can serve as a musical instrument—it is through purpose that the object becomes a musical instrument. The history of musical instruments dates back to the...
of his elder siblings (he had five brothers and four sisters). He developed an unusual "choking" style, based around the difficulty of soliciting sounds from his well-worn equipment. By the age of fifteen, Wilson was working on the railroad and later at a local sawmill. Wilson married at the age of nineteen. His faith saw him become an ordained minister in the Pentecostal church
Pentecostalism
Pentecostalism is a diverse and complex movement within Christianity that places special emphasis on a direct personal experience of God through the baptism in the Holy Spirit, has an eschatological focus, and is an experiential religion. The term Pentecostal is derived from Pentecost, the Greek...
in 1929, and he joined with the self-styled Reverend Leon Pinson, who played the guitar, in traveling across North Mississippi, both playing and preaching. They developed a strong church following, before Wilson moved to Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
in 1940 and later to Detroit. He continued his musical interests playing on street corners, which ultimately led to his unbeknownst twist of fate. In 1948, he played in a local record store on Hastings Street, and was recorded by the shop owner. The owner subsequently allowed the tracks to be released, and students of Wilson's style of playing were intrigued. Wilson remained blissfully unaware of the attention.
Following the death of his first wife, Wilson moved back to Mississippi and remarried in 1977. By 1989, and following a chance telephone call, Wilson reactivated his playing partnership with Pinson. Finally, he became aware of the global interest in his earlier 'recordings', which he heard for the first time in 1991. Capitalizing on the notability, he and Pinson started to play at music festival
Music festival
A music festival is a festival oriented towards music that is sometimes presented with a theme such as musical genre, nationality or locality of musicians, or holiday. They are commonly held outdoors, and are often inclusive of other attractions such as food and merchandise vending machines,...
s, including the Chicago Blues Festival
Chicago Blues Festival
The Chicago Blues Festival is an annual event held in June that features three days of performances by top-tier blues musicians, both old favorites and the up-and-coming. It is hosted by the City of Chicago Mayor's Office of Special Events, and always occurs in early June...
and New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival
New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival
The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, often known as Jazz Fest, is an annual celebration of the music and culture of New Orleans and Louisiana...
.
In 1993, Wilson was awarded the National Heritage Fellowship
National Heritage Fellowship
The National Heritage Fellowship is a lifetime honor presented to master folk and traditional artists by the National Endowment for the Arts. Similar to Japan's Living National Treasure award, the Fellowship is the United States' highest honor in the folk and traditional arts...
, and recorded the bulk of what turned out to be his debut album
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
.
The majority of tracks on his 1995 LP, This Train, were recorded when Wilson was in his early eighties. The sides contained a mixture of solo efforts, some accompanied by his wife or with a church choir, and included "Ain't It a Shame
Ain't It a Shame
"Ain't It a Shame" or "Ain't It a Shame to Go Fishin'" or "Keep You Hands Off Her" is an American folk song. It has been recorded by Lead Belly and Nirvana, among others. Also the name of a song by The B-52s on the Bouncing Off the Satellites LP . Covered by Sinead O'Connor in 2003 on She Who...
," "This Train Is a Clean Train," and "Amazing Grace
Amazing Grace
"Amazing Grace" is a Christian hymn with words written by the English poet and clergyman John Newton , published in 1779. With a message that forgiveness and redemption are possible regardless of the sins people commit and that the soul can be delivered from despair through the mercy of God,...
." The album also included the six harmonica dominated pieces, unwittingly recorded with his own children in 1948.
Discography
| Year | Album title | Record label |
|---|---|---|
| 1995 | This Train | Arhoolie Records Arhoolie Records Arhoolie Records is a small record label run by Chris Strachwitz. The label was founded by Strachwitz in 1960 as a way for him to record and publish previously obscure "down home blues" artists such as Lightnin' Hopkins, Snooks Eaglin and Bill Gaither... |