Robert Petway

Infobox musical artist
Name = Robert Petway


Img_capt = The only known photograph of Robert Petway (c. 1941)
Background = solo_singer
Born = 1908
Died = Unknown
Instrument = Vocals
Guitarist
Genre = Blues
Delta Blues
Label = Bluebird Records
Associated_acts = Tommy McClennan

Robert Petway was an African-American blues singer and guitarist.

Very little is known about Robert Petway. His birthplace is speculated to have been at or near J.F. Sligh Farm near Yazoo City, Mississippi, birthplace of his close friend and fellow bluesman Tommy McClennan. His birthdate is guessed at 1908, and the date and even the occurrence of his death is unknown. There is only one known picture of Petway, a publicity photo from 1941. He only recorded 16 songs, but he is said to have been an influence on many notable blues and rock musicians, including John Lee Hooker, Muddy Waters, and Jimi Hendrix.

Career

Like many bluesmen from the Mississippi Delta, Petway traveled around as a musician, playing at parties, roadhouses, and other venues available. Petway and McClennan often travelled and performed together. After McClennan had been in Chicago for a few years, Petway travelled north to join him and cut records, as did Georgia's Frank Edwards who met them in MS.

"Catfish Blues"/"Rollin' Stone"

One of Petway's most influential songs is "Catfish Blues", which he recorded in 1941. Muddy Waters used the lyrics and style of "Catfish Blues" for his first single "Rollin' Stone", the song from which the rock group The Rolling Stones chose their band name. There is debate on whether Petway deserves any credit for the Muddy Waters song, mostly stemming from the fact that blues musicians often borrow lines and verses from each other and often use common symbols and phrases that can't be traced back to one source. There is even some speculation that Tommy McClennan wrote the version that Petway recorded. Max Haymes has written a well-researched article, " [http://earlyblues.com/essay_catfish.htm Catfish Blues (Origins of a Blues)] " on the topic, available at earlyblues.com. When David "Honeyboy" Edwards, a follower of Petway, was asked if Petway wrote the song, he replied, "He just made that song up and used to play it at them old country dances. He just made it up and kept it in his head." [ [http://www.document-records.com/series-5000.asp?offset=-1 Document Records Catalogue] ]

econd verse of "Catfish Blues"

What if I were a catfish, mama
I said swimmin’ deep down in, deep blue sea
Have these gals now, sweet mama, settin’ out,
Settin’ out hooks for me, settin’ out hook for me
Settin’ out hook for me, settin’ out hook for me
Settin’ out hook for me, settin’ out hook for me [ [http://www.thedevilsmusic.net/lyrics/robert_petway.html Lyrics to "Catfish Blues" from thedevilmusic.net] ]

First verse of "Rollin' Stone"

Well, I wish I was a catfish,
swimmin in a oh, deep, blue sea
I would have all you good lookin women,
fishin, fishin after me
Sure 'nough, a-after me
Sure 'nough, a-after me
Oh 'nough, oh 'nough, sure 'nough [ [http://www.thedevilsmusic.net/lyrics/muddy_waters.html#Rollin_Stone Lyrics to "Rollin' Stone" from thedevilmusic.net] ]

Death/Disappearance

There is no record, official or unofficial, of Petway's death. As such, he may still be alive, though he would be roughly 100 years old. The last record of his public life is a quote from Honeyboy Edwards: "nobody I know heard what become of him." [http://www.document-records.com/fulldetails.asp?ProdID=DOCD-5671 Liner notes for Catfish Blues: Mississippi Blues, Vol. 3 (1936-1942)] ]

Discography

Petway only recorded two sessionsliner notes] [ [http://www.wirz.de/music/petwafrm.htm Illustrated Robert Petway discography] ] , both for Bluebird Records in Chicago.

Original 78's (in chronological order)

References

External links

* [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:2j867uu0o0jh~T0 Robert Petway] at Allmusic.com
* [http://earlyblues.com/essay_catfish.htm Catfish Blues (Origins of a Blues) By Max Haymes]