I’ve been a fan of Joseph Spence for years and had no idea this documentary existed. I just finished it and it was an absolute joy to hear this story. Thank you for posting.
I was so privileged to see Joseph Spence live at a small club "World Control Studios" outside Philly in the early 70s. Meeting him and listening to him up close was definitely a highlight in my young life. The great Kate McGarrigle and I used to play Bahamian music together at Lena's in Saratoga Springs - that drop D. And I enjoyed a couple weeks at Small Hope Bay on Andros in 1978.... scuba diving, eating grouper, drinking Goombay Smashes, bicycling around the island, dancing, cock fights, hmm...so good. Magical days. Funny though... everybody I asked at Small Hope Bay Lodge had never heard of Joseph Spence. That was quite confusing to me at the time. Funny that earlier, ~1971, I had also seen Ry Cooder, 3 feet away, playing solo, no mic, in a kindergarten classroom in New Jersey with about 30 audience members sitting at the student desks, lol. Man that was amazing. He could close his eyes and play bottleneck absolutely perfectly! I was SO lucky as a young woman.
It's not adding to his legend to call him a virtuoso, to call him that is making the term meaningless. Virtuosos don't play everything in the key of D! What he was, was a great original songwriter and guitar player who is still fun to listen to.
Brilliant and important documentary about an artist who deserves greater exposure. And I was glad to see that Ferguson included Ralph McTell's lovely tribute to Spence, "Hands of Joseph" in the piece.
Fred Ferguson is a good guy; have not heard from him in a while. I had a very good friend, Steven Wood, who worked on his song 'Nassau Town'; Steven died before the song was released but is one of the best Bahamian works I have heard; excellent work as always, Fred.
I was at a funeral at Woodlawn Cemetery Nassau. The mourners broke into Glad Reunion day/Happy Meeting in Glory. I got chills then I looked down and was standing right next to Spence's grave marker...then the hairs stood up!!!!
I don't think I would call Spence "a genius". What he was though was a musician with a unique and idiosyncratic style that radiated a kind of spontaneous joy.
Great - thank you 😎 Ralph McTell wrote a wonderful tribute song for him called "Hands of Joseph", which incorporates an instrumental version of Great Dreams of Heaven ( There Will be a Happy Meeting ) that shows examples of style of JS, including his growling 😉
@@imkevintaylor Yes, thank you - I hadn't watched it all, when I wrote that 🙄😂 He btw. also wrote the song "From Clare to Here" ( County Clare in Ireland ), which a Jamaican band called Black Uhuru performs their great alternative cover version of called "From Jamaica to Here" 😎😉 m.ruclips.net/video/8X6v2ThuwbA/видео.html
So happy to have found this documentary. I have loved Spence for decades.
Absolutely wonderful. Thanks to all who made this possible.
I’ve been a fan of Joseph Spence for years and had no idea this documentary existed. I just finished it and it was an absolute joy to hear this story. Thank you for posting.
Thank you for watching!
Excelent and nice documentary about Joseph Spence. Enjoyable narration and delicious music.
I was so privileged to see Joseph Spence live at a small club "World Control Studios" outside Philly in the early 70s. Meeting him and listening to him up close was definitely a highlight in my young life. The great Kate McGarrigle and I used to play Bahamian music together at Lena's in Saratoga Springs - that drop D. And I enjoyed a couple weeks at Small Hope Bay on Andros in 1978.... scuba diving, eating grouper, drinking Goombay Smashes, bicycling around the island, dancing, cock fights, hmm...so good. Magical days. Funny though... everybody I asked at Small Hope Bay Lodge had never heard of Joseph Spence. That was quite confusing to me at the time. Funny that earlier, ~1971, I had also seen Ry Cooder, 3 feet away, playing solo, no mic, in a kindergarten classroom in New Jersey with about 30 audience members sitting at the student desks, lol. Man that was amazing. He could close his eyes and play bottleneck absolutely perfectly! I was SO lucky as a young woman.
Hey, what a great documentary! Thanks for putting in the love!
Our pleasure!
Wow... that's great! The house and the porch are still there!
In 2009 I flew to Nassau for work. I asked my taxi driver if he had heard of Joseph Spence. It turned out that he knew him!
It's not adding to his legend to call him a virtuoso, to call him that is making the term meaningless. Virtuosos don't play everything in the key of D! What he was, was a great original songwriter and guitar player who is still fun to listen to.
Brilliant and important documentary about an artist who deserves greater exposure. And I was glad to see that Ferguson included Ralph McTell's lovely tribute to Spence, "Hands of Joseph" in the piece.
Fred Ferguson is a good guy; have not heard from him in a while. I had a very good friend, Steven Wood, who worked on his song 'Nassau Town'; Steven died before the song was released but is one of the best Bahamian works I have heard; excellent work as always, Fred.
Wonderful film. Thanks from a big Joseph Spence fan!
Glad you enjoyed it!
Thank you for this. Profound influence on every generation of fingerstyle guitarists since. Every time I play a double stop melody I think of him.
OMG, I have searched for a picture of Spence's grave for like 5 years! Thank you!
Glad I could help!
I was at a funeral at Woodlawn Cemetery Nassau. The mourners broke into Glad Reunion day/Happy Meeting in Glory. I got chills then I looked down and was standing right next to Spence's grave marker...then the hairs stood up!!!!
At 21:40, notice the album copy of "Boomers' Story," by Ry Cooder, sitting on the couch between the two guitarists.
good eye!
I saw that!
Let his name resound. Kevin, I'm teaching music in Gregory Town (El). Come over and give a symposium. Thanks for this.
My grandma Lillian Spence-Seymour baby brother ❤
I don't think I would call Spence "a genius". What he was though was a musician with a unique and idiosyncratic style that radiated a kind of spontaneous joy.
My grand uncle was the best
Great - thank you 😎
Ralph McTell wrote a wonderful tribute song for him called "Hands of Joseph", which incorporates an instrumental version of Great Dreams of Heaven ( There Will be a Happy Meeting ) that shows examples of style of JS, including his growling 😉
Thanks for watching. We showcase the song we interview Ralph in the movie.
@@imkevintaylor Yes, thank you - I hadn't watched it all, when I wrote that 🙄😂
He btw. also wrote the song "From Clare to Here" ( County Clare in Ireland ), which a Jamaican band called Black Uhuru performs their great alternative cover version of called "From Jamaica to Here" 😎😉
m.ruclips.net/video/8X6v2ThuwbA/видео.html
So getting possessed is a good thing?
No, But the story is still history.
@@bereal9859 It’s interesting that we in the U.S. have similar stories like Robert Johnson, etc.
Nine-tenths of the law...