The Things I Used To Do Legend of Eddie Guitar Slim Jones

The Things I Used To Do: The Legend of Eddie “Guitar Slim” Jones Produced by David Kunian during 2001 and 2002. This program features interviews with national and New Orleans luminaries such as Ray Charles, Jerry Wexler, Earl King, Gerri Hall (of Huey “Piano” Smith and the Clowns), Cosimo Matassa, Robert “Barefootin” Parker, Bill “Second Line” Sinigal, Edward “Kidd” Jordan, Carol Fran, and childhood friends of Slim from his hometown of Hollandale, Mississippi. This program features the music of Guitar Slim, especially his hit that has been covered over 30 times by Earl King, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Big Joe Turner, Ike Turner, and Buddy Guy, “The Things I Used To Do.” It also features his other blues classics including “Done Got Over,” “Story of My Life,” “Feelin” Sad,” “Certainly All,” and others. Before Jimi Hendrix and Buddy Guy, before Stevie Ray Vaughn and Albert King, before Earl King and Albert Collins, there was a drenched-in-emotion singer and wild guitarist who hit New Orleans from the heart of the Mississippi Delta in the 1950s. He was an unparallel showman known for walking out in the crowd or climbing the rafters with his 300 foot long guitar cord. He was famous for dyeing his hair and painting his shoes to match his brightly colored suit. He had many great songs and only one hit, “The Things I Used To Do,” which has become a standard of blues music. His name was Eddie Jones, but everyone knew him as GUITAR SLIM. In the words of Atlantic Records owner and producer, Jerry Wexler, “No one has as much soul as Guitar Slim.” Anyone who saw him perform cannot forget him. And then, just as suddenly as he appeared, he was gone, dead in 1959 at age 32. His was a star that burned brightly and quickly and still lives on in the memories of those lucky enough to see him. His story is told in the radio documentary “The Things I Used To Do: The Legend of Eddie “Guitar Slim” Jones.” “The Things I Used To Do: The Legend of Eddie “Guitar Slim” Jones” is an oral history and radio documentary about Eddie “Guitar Slim” Jones, the missing link between Robert Johnson and Jimi Hendrix. The documentary details the arc of Slim’s life. He was born in 1927 in Hollandale, Mississippi on Highway 61, 20 miles south of Greenville. He grew up there working in the cotton press and juking at the local bars at night. Then one day he got paid and took off to New Orleans. There he learned to play music and took on the name Guitar Slim. He started out in the notorious night spots The Dew Drop Inn and the Club Tijuana, and soon he became famous for his impassioned singing, loud, piercing guitar playing, and outrageous stage act. Slim was one of the first performers who would go into the audience, often hanging by his knees from the balcony or playing solos in the ladies’ bathroom. He was signed to Specialty Records where he recorded over 20 sides, including his monster smash, “The Things I Used To Do.” (with a young Ray Charles playing piano) This track hit number 1 in 1954, and Slim toured the country for the next several years. He continued recording many classic tracks for both Specialty and later ATCO records, but the rough life of traveling musician took its toll on his health. After a concert in Rochester, New York, in 1959, Slim took sick and died of pneumonia and complications from alcohol abuse. He was 32 years old. As Buddy Guy has said, “There’ll never be another Guitar Slim.”

[@AndyKaknes]

Guitar Slim's son is still playing in New Orleans. What a legacy!!!

[@miltonlevant3203]

Is he related to Johnny Taylor the soul singer?

[@AndyKaknes]

I have no idea. Why do you ask?@@miltonlevant3203

[@garymoore7654]

I'm 50 now I remember my pops play things I used to do time after time this song stuck in my head ill never forget this song rip pops and Mr slim

[@jvs333]

The original father of rock n roll not just musically but in life style
RIP Mr. Eddy “Guitar Slim” Jones
Thank you for all you created with your life.
Someone needs to make his life story into a movie (Spike Lee you listening?)

[@StephanieSmith-tx4oo]

I think (and don’t quote me but) this is Stevie Ray Vaughan’s favorite guitar player!

[@busterlives]

Any of the people you interviewed for this documentary still alive?