What Do Hall and Oates Have in Common with Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee?
Feuds in the music business have been going on for centuries. But, there is more than meets the eye with these four American musicians. But if the feuding factor weren't enough, then read on and find out how John Oates seals the deal on his latest album, Reunion.
In popular music, so many duos have carved out legendary careers over the decades. It’s not hard to look beneath the surface to find the disharmony in the history of beloved acts like The Everly Brothers, Simon and Garfunkel, and Ike and Tina Turner. The near impossibility of famous musical duos to get along has most recently been driven home by Daryl Hall and John Oates. From 1972 until 1990 the pair sold millions, toured the world, and made a fortune through record sales and song publishing. But what happens when they go into their sunset years and one of them wants to cash it in? You have a battle of will and wit that has been among the most publicized in recent history. Because of their popularity and success, millions of dollars are at play.
Then there’s Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee. It seems their musical chemistry was so strong together they influenced generations as they specialized in Piedmont blues, a style that was known for its deep contrast with the sound that came out of the Delta during their original era. While most of the blues from the Delta came out of a time of segregation, the music from the southeastern Piedmont high country region drew from an integration of the white population’s country, gospel, and hoedown music. This set the duo up to remain important across eras, from the folk music of the 1930s and 1940s to the folk revival of the 1950s to the blues revival of the 1960s and 1970s. They were an active, creatively forceful duo bringing their spirited brand of music to new generations.
Not much is known about their friendship. History suggests they had ups and downs in their personal relationship which was, at best, icy. However, their love for the music they made and their collective success held them together in spite of a less-than-lucrative career and personal discord. Both men were masters on their instruments with Sonny Terry most known for his gritty and soulful harmonica, Brownie McGhee was a fine blues guitarist and a vocalist. They made records and toured the world. At their highest peak of fame, they shared the stage with Fleetwood Mac before Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks joined the band. The duo maintained a 35-year career. And while they were not friends, they respected each other’s music enough keep performing and recording. And they never sued each other. While their limited success may have contributed to this, their live recordings, film and stage appearances attest to their durability.
So just what is it that connects Hall and Oates to Terry and McGhee? In 2013, I had the pleasure of interviewing John Oates for his Good Road to Follow album. During the interview, he revealed how influenced he was by early blues recordings by Robert Johnson and Son House. He emphasized the fact that Philadelphia, his hometown, is home to one of the oldest folk festivals in the country. John Oates will be headlining the Philidelphia Folk Festival this year. During our interview he remembered how as a very young musician he sat in the same room with Son House, Mississippi John Hurt, and Doc Watson as they prepared to go on stage. This influence has driven his solo projects on his most recent album, Reunion, as well as other albums filled with great roots music in the singer-songwriter tradition.
His most recent news making rift with his partner must have been on his mind when he wrote the song for his new release, Reunion, “Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee.” It’s not hard to identify the subtext that emerges from lyrics like,
The house that’s divided
isn’t strong enough to stand
Nothing gets decided
by drawing lines in the sand
But the song draws on Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee’s most vulnerable parts. Terry was blind and McGhee had childhood polio which left his right leg incapacitated. He walked with a cane throughout his life. Knowing this moved Oates to write:
They sang the blues in different keys
Just dreaming dreams of what could be
I’ll walk for you, you’ll see for me
Said Sonny Terry to Brownie McGhee
It seems there is a hint of personal disappointment in the dissolution of a professional relationship between Hall and Oates, in this touching song he underscores the way two veteran performers could have complimented each other through their weaknesses. They didn’t have this kind of friendship, but Oates’ song provides a way call up our better angels. While musical duos seem to be hard-wired for personal disharmony, John Oates has given us an insightful illustration in song that sees beyond the individual ego into universal compassion.
What Do Hall and Oates Have in Common with Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee?
Feuds in the music business have been going on for centuries. But, there is more than meets the eye with these four American musicians. But if the feuding factor weren't enough, then read on and find out how John Oates seals the deal on his latest album, Reunion.