FUGITIVE POET MUSIC PRESENTS: BIOGRAPHY ETC.
FUGITIVE POET MUSIC PRESENTS
FUGITIVE POET MUSIC PRESENTS
www.fugitivepoetmusic.org
muddyharp49@aol.com
Mark ’muddyharp’ Hodgson
BIOGRAPHY
Born in Detroit, grew up in Daytona Beach, Mark’muddyharp’Hodgson, started listening to the music through the influence of the British Invasion. John Mayall and the Rolling Stones provided the LP’S that would turn the 12 year old on to the wonderful world of the 12 bar blues.
One day at a friend’s house in Daytona Beach, while his buddies were surfing, the youngster noticed a harmonica lying on the kitchen counter. He went over and picked it up. He blew into it and from then on he was hooked. The friend gave the ‘HARP’ to him. This simple introduction would prove to be a turning point in the lad’s life. He devoured everything he could find on the subject of the Blues sometimes walking 10 miles just to go to a record shop that was rumored to carry all the 78’s and 45’s available at the time. Discs by Muddy Waters, Howlin’Wolf, Sonny Boy Williamson, Little Walter and Sonny Terry would more than satisfy the new found hunger. As the days grew into months and the months became years, Mark’muddharp’Hodgson, became a band leader. The night club scene in Florida was strong in the 70’s and 80’s and would become a proving ground for the budding bluesman. The first recording that was released under Hodgsons’ name was a vinyl LP titled ‘Mark Hodgson and The Rootie Tootie Band ‘SURVIVAL IN A TOURIST TOWN’. This was a live recording and put the group on the map. Soon The boys would travel to Nashville to record demos for Gary Lamb productions. The music was ahead of its time incorporating rock and reggae with the blues, in 1981 this was a bit much for the Nashville crowd, tuned into the likes of groups like Alabama. Hodgson was asked to stay on in Nashville to become a solo artist but declined out of loyalty to his friends in the band.
The years flew by and so did the members of the group. There were more recordings, concerts, nightclubs, videos, and heartaches. Through it all, Hodgson remained entrenched in the Blues and kept writing and performing. In 1985, Hodgson once again tried the Nashville game. Tony Joe White, the composer of Mega Hits, Polk Salad Annie and Rainy Night In Georgia, among others, signed Hodgson to a publishing contract. During this period Hodgson became involved with the Memphis Blues Foundation and placed 1st runner up in the National Blues Talent Search. Many notables were introduced to Hodgson at the time, which led Bob Greenlee of King Snake records to go National with his fledging Blues label based in Sanford, Florida. Hodgson was responsible for placing The Return Of The Thin Man, The comeback recording of the late Tenor Saxophonist, Noble Watts, on the W.C.Handy Awards,1985 ballot for best recording. The partnership of Mark’muddyharp’Hodgson and Noble ‘thin man’Watts lasted almost 20 years. When Noble passed in 2004, Hodgson went solo.
In 2005, Hodgson started a scholarship fund, with the Daytona Beach Community College, in the names of Bob Greenlee and Noble Watts. The Florida Blues All-stars were formed by Hodgson to commemorate the music of his two late friends. This yearly event is held each February at the Theatre Center on the Daytona State College campus
Hodgson has given workshops on the history of the blues at all educational levels since 1986.
Mark’muddyharp’Hodgson , now resides in Virginia with his family. There have been many awards presented to Hodgson over the years and there have been many recordings now available on the Internet. The most recent, From the Delta to the Piedmont is a double cd featuring his strong original writing and performing and the Greatest Live performances of his various bands over the past 10 years. As a special feature, Noble Watts shows up with 3 outstanding performances with the Mark Hodgson Band and 3 original studio recordings performed by Hodgson and members of the Florida Blues All-stars, written by the late Bob Greenlee.
A Google search under the name ‘muddyharp’ will provide further information.
SAMPLE LYRICS
MAKE LOVE(on a starless night) -
March 8, 2008
Make Love (on a starless night)
Got a crocodile skeleton
Got the lips from a goose
Got a swamp water milkshake
Got snakeskin boots
Got the eye of the Iguana
Got the wings off a bat
Got the wick from a Gypsy lantern
Two pounds of chicken
Gonna walk upon the water
Cross the desert on my hands
Scale ol’ Mt. Whitney
Do everything I can’t
I wrestle two ton Tony
Take the stars out the night
Smash my brand new Sony
Just see you tonight
Take it on down to Madam X
Make me a special brew
Put the Queen of Hearts in my wallet
Ace of Spades in my boot
Gonna get my ham bone boiled
Get my ham bone right
Walk through the Valley of Death
Make Love On A Starless Night
I give you all my attention
I give you all my love
I give you a smooth reaction
If you be my turtle dove
What say baby?
That’s not good enough for you
Theres only one thing left for me to do
Take it on down to Madam X
Make me a special brew
Put the Queen of Hearts in my wallet
Ace of Spades in my boot
Gonna get my ham bone boiled
Get my ham bone right
Walk through the Valley of Death
Make Love On A Starless Night
DON'T MUCH FEEL LIKE SINGIN' THEM BLUES TONIGHT -
March 7, 2008
DON’T MUCH FEEL LIKE SINGIN’ THE BLUES TONIGHT
(m.hodgson)
I got plenty of money stashed in the bank
I got a hot rod Lincoln with a tank full of gas
I got on winged tipped shoes and a paisley shirt
And a hot blooded woman lookin’ great in a skirt
And I don’t much feel like singin’ them blues tonight
No, I don’t much feel like singin’ them blues tonight
I got AquaVelva right after my shave
I got my hair fluffed up..a funky white boy wave
I got three square meals and a camper for the road
And a hot blooded woman takin’ the chill out the cold
And I don’t much feel like singin’ them blues tonight
No, I don’t much feel like singin’ them blues tonight
(I feel like playin’ the blues!)
I got mischief motavatin’ out in the deep blue sea
I got the hot yellow sun watchin’ over me
I got an angry red planet keep me right on track
And a hot blooded woman kickin’ my crazy ass
And I don’t much feel like singin’ them blues tonight
No, I don’t much feel like singin’ them blues tonight
BIG FOOT WOMAN -
March 7, 2008
BIG FOOT WOMAN
( m.hodgson)
I got a big foot woman, honey swing that thing over here
She’s my big foot woman, honey swing that thing over here
If I was in a dark alley with you baby,
All them punks’d run in fear
She’s a big foot woman, she wears about a size 13
Big foot woman, sports about a size 13
When she throws them hams around me
That’s when the blues man lets out a scream
( Wow, baby!)
Bring me iced tea when I get thirsty, baby
Bring me some meat when I get hungry too
Send me iced tea when I get thirsty
Send me a cup of meat when I get hungry too
You could put a Terrydactal steak inside your Payless shoe
I need to buy a small car, I need to save on some gas
‘Get me a smaller vehicle
Need to save on some gas
She couldn’t get her big foot in, she couldn’t get her ass through the door
(she’s a big foot woman, people)
O, big foot woman, honey swing that thing over here
She’s my big foot woman, O baby, throw it on over here
If I was in a dark alley with you baby,
All them punks’d run in fear
Whew!, BIG FOOT WOMAN
MUDDY WATERS -
March 7, 2008
MUDDY WATERS
(M. HODGSON)
LAST CALL FOR THE ILLINOIS CENTRAL!
WAY DOWN MISSISSIPPI
THAT’S WHERE THEY FIRST HEARD MCKINLEY MORGANFIELD SING
ON THE STOVALL PLANTATION
THAT’S WHERE THEY FIRST HEARD MCKINLEY MORGANFIELD SING
‘CALLED HIM MUDDY WATERS
HE COULD SOOTHE THE BURDEN OFF THE BIRD WITH A BROKEN WING
MAKIN’ TWENTY-TWO AND A HALF CENTS AN HOUR
NEEDED A RAISE, COULDN’T GET IT
HANGIN OUT WITH SON SIMS AND SON HOUSE
SON OF A GUN
THEN ONE DAY
HE’S DRIVIN THAT OLD RUSTY CHALMERS
HAD THE HOODOO CHAISIN’ HIM
HE’S THROWIN SALT OVER HIS LEFT SHOULDER
NEEDED THAT RECORD ON THE JUKE BOX
THEN ONE DAY
LOMAX COME ON DOWN
WITH A 300 HUNDRED POUND TAPE RECORDER
RECORDED MUDDY, MUDDY HEARD THE PLAY BACK
SAY “SHOOT MAN, I CAN DO THIS THING, I’M GETTING THE HECK OFF THIS PLANTATION, I’M GOIN’ TO CHICAGO!”
CALL ME THE MISCHIEF
CALL ME THE WIND
CALL ME THE HOODOO
LET THAT GUITAR RING
CALL ME THE CHOCTAW
CALL ME ORIGINAL SIN
CALL ME RAILROAD STEEL
CALL ME THE MOJO HAND
WELL THEY CALLED HIM MUDDY WATERS
AND I JUST LOVE TO HEAR THAT OLD MAN
HE COULD SOOTHE THE BURDEN OFF THE BIRD WITH A BROKEN WING
ROLL ON, ROLL ON MUDDY WATER ROLL ON
ROLL ON, ROLL ON MUDDY WATER, ROLL ON
BUST YOUR BACK, KEEP YOUR MIND RIGHT, ROLL ON
ROLL ON, ROLL ON MUDDY WATER, ROLL ON
BUST YOUR BACK, KEEP YOUR MIND RIGHT, ROLL ON
ROLL ON, ROLL ON MUDDY WATER, ROLL ON
BUST YOUR BACK KEEP YOUR MIND RIGHT, ROLL ON
© 2008 Mark 'muddyharp' Hodgson
FUGITIVE POET MUSIC PRESENTS
WHAT DO THESE PEOPLE HAVE IN COMMON?
BOZ SCAGGS
B.B. KING
BUDDY GUY
JOHN COHEN
CANNED HEAT
JOHNNY WINTER
BO DIDDLEY
CHARLIE DANIELS
MARIA MALDAUER
KENNY WAYNE SHEPPARD
LEON RUSSELL
FOGHAT
BUCKWHEAT ZYDECO
DIXIE DREGS
REV. BILLY C. WIRTZ
THE FABULOUS THUNDERBIRDS
BOB MARGOLIN
JIMMY THACKERY
JIMMY HALL
JERRY REED
TIM McGRAW
DIAMOND RIO
JOHN BERRY
TANYA TUCKER
TONY JOE WHITE
GYPSY SONS AND RAINBOWS
BLUE OYSTER CULT
NOBLE’THIN MAN’ WATTS
JUNIOR WELLS
ERWIN HELFER
DETROIT JR.
S.P. LEARY
ODIE PAYNE JR.
VASSAR CLEMENTS
THE VENTURES
THE NIGHTHAWKS
ROOT BOY SLIM
THE OUTLAWS
MOLLY HATCHETT
GREG ALLMAN
TINSLEY ELLIS
PAT TRAVERS
RICK DERRINGER
EDGAR WINTER
SAVOY BROWN
CARROTT TOP
SONNY RHODES
&
THE BUTTHOLE SURFERS
THEY HAVE ALL BEEN IN CONCERT WITH
MARK’muddyharp’HODGSON