R. I. P. John Cephas
El Somnambulo has just received word that the great Piedmont guitar picker and folklorist Bowling Green John Cephas passed away today.
The duo of Cephas & Wiggins enthralled and educated audiences all over the world. Cephas also was a leading light in the arts community. He served on the National Council of the Traditional Arts, testified before Congress, and founded the Washington D. C. Blues Society. Please take some time to learn more about this great man here.
And then listen to his deeply-moving version of Skip James’ “Hard Time Killin’ Floor”, which today serves as a mournful elegy for an irreplaceable talent:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N-0juXLDa40
Rest In Peace, Dear Friend. You will never be forgotten.
Saw them at Clinton’s inaugural festivities in 1996 and was struck dumb by the honesty of their performance.
John was a man of many talents besides musician. He was a carpenter – Had a business some years ago that would build the platform the TV announcer and camera would broadcast games from at RFK Stadium, then tear it down afterwards; built his own house and the shed for his boat ‘Bluesman’, was an avid fisherman, was a gentleman farmer, and beat me 7 to zip in ping pong while he was having a conversation with someone else.
I had the honor of being in a guitar class taught by Mr Cephas a few years ago in Telluride. He seemed like a kind and wonderful man and had some amazing stories from his youth. I’m very sorry to hear of his passing.