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Remembering Snooks, A Giant Of New Orleans Guitar Blues

PSW associate publisher Mark Shemet, blues lover and aficionado as well as a performing drummer in his own right, posts on the recent passing of New Orleans guitar legend Fird Eaglin Jr., better known as Snooks.

I first saw Snooks play live in the late 1980’s at the Rock ’n’ Bowl, New Orleans. It was a Monday after the New Orleans Jazz Festival, a double bill with Johnny Adams (the “Tan Canary”). The cover charge was $7.

Snooks was set up as a trio, and both bands were separated by the center bar, taking alternating sets without a break, playing on the floor with no risers while people bowled.

Snooks played every request and threw in many curves – from Hank Williams to “those Isley guys” It’s Your Thing, Lipstick Traces to boogie on Reggae Woman by Stevie Wonder, and back to P Longhair and Snooks originals. His playing and singing always brought a smile. He punctuated song endings with barked comments like “how bout dat y’all?” and “well all—right?”

A unique talent, unpretentious and welcoming, you could always find New Orleans’ best musicians in attendance at his gigs, and often stars like Bonnie Raitt or Eric Clapton sitting in.

I never missed a chance to see him live and even once escorted him to the men’s room between sets (Snooks was blind); he simply grabbed my elbow and asked me to lead the way. His wife always sat close by the stage with his guitar case, and a small circle of family or friends accepted accolades from fans on his behalf.

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Snooks and George Porter Jr on bass at the 2006 New Orleans jazz festival (photo by Mark Shemet)

As with the recent passing of Earl Palmer, sadly so goes another big chunk of New Orleans musical legacy. Fird “Snooks” Eaglin, 72, died in New Orleans from cardiac arrest and complications from prostate cancer on Feb 18, and a jazz funeral was held Feb 27 at the Howlin’ Wolf club.

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There’s a great bio about Snooks here.

Go here to check out a video that shows his immense skill, where he’s playing rhythm and lead simultaneously (Snooks is playing with George Porter Jr on bass and Jon Cleary on piano, no ID for the drummer.)

And here is another great video from 1985.

The New Orleans Times Picayune provides some good coverage of the funeral with video. (Go here.)

There was a T-shirt for sale at the Rock ’n ’Bowl that stated, “There’s nothing more New Orleans than hearing Snooks live at the Rock ’n’ Bowl.”

I’m still smiling for having had that pleasure.

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