While Fred McDowell was born in Tennessee, he lived most of his life in Como, Mississippi. He is considered one of the ‘elder statesmen’ of the Hill Country and during the 60’s was the most well known outside of the area. He began playing guitar at a young age for picnics and house parties and in 1959 Alan Lomax recorded him. While he did play an electric guitar, McDowell always insisted that “I do not play no rock n’ roll.” He passed away in 1972 just a few years after meeting George Mitchell.
When George Mitchell decided to make the trip to MS he called some friends for some leads to go about finding these “unknown” blues musicians. He was given Fred McDowell’s name and told that he lived somewhere around Como. He and his wife, Cathy, headed south hit I-55 and took Exit 52 and pulled into a Stuckeys to get some gas. George decides to ask the attendant if he knows McDowell and he says yes….
Do you know where I can find him? I ask.
You’re looking at him.
I’m taken aback. The first man we meet in Mississippi is Fred McDowell?! Damn! And he works in a service station?!
Mitchell tells McDowell what they are doing in MS, that they want to interview and record some unkown blues musicians from the area and Fred says that shouldn’t be a problem. He then invites them to his house where he promises to have some folks for them to meet. The rest as they say is history.
Mississippi Fred McDowell—Going Down to the River
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