Fred McDowell with Travis Pomposello, 1971, Commack, New York. Photo by Tom Pomposello

During the first week of July 1972, my partner Tom Pomposello phoned into WKCR (at Columbia University, New York) with this eulogy for his great mentor and teacher, Fred McDowell:

It’s with the deepest regret that I inform you tonight of the death of Mississippi Fred McDowell on July 3rd. Fred died late Monday evening at Baptist Hospital in Memphis.  

Fred really meant a great deal to me. Those of you who know me know that for the past two years I studied with Fred and worked as his bass player here in New York. Consequently, it’s kind of hard to put it exactly into words just what I want to say. It’s hard not to sound cliche when I tell you Fred was the most remarkable man I ever met.

He was born in Rossville, Tennessee in January of 1904 or thereabouts. They didn’t keep birth certificates if you were black and born on the plantation back then. He moved to Como, Mississippi to be with his sister when he was still a young man, and it was there he spent the better part of his life until 1959, when he was, quote, discovered by Alan Lomax who proceeded to record him that same year. 

Fred’s earliest recordings met with the highest critical acclaim by the blues world. Fred was best known as one of the greatest, if not the greatest, exponents of the bottleneck guitar. If you’re interested he has albums on Arhoolie, Capitol, Testament, and Biograph, which all really attest to his remarkable musicianship. His most recent called “Live in New York” on which I played with him. 

He was also known as as a distinguished composer and lyricist, and many people know him only from the Rolling Stones rendition of his classic “You Got To Move” and only then because it was recorded by the Stones which makes me kinda sad. Because Fred was the kind of man  who would take time out of his life to show his music to anyone who asked. Those of you who were lucky enough to get to meet him know what I mean when I tell you that his sense of humor and his sense of understanding and the way he could put you at ease just by rapping with you. 

I didn’t find out about Fred’s death until early this morning when i received a call from Dick Waterman his manager. The last time I spoke to Fred was less than a week ago when he was in the same hospital in memphis and i could tell that he was slipping fast and yet whenever i asked him about himself he just wouldn’t give me a direct answer, he would always change the subject and asked me how my wife was and how my child was. He meant it sincerely.  

The last time he was in new york was this November where he played the Gaslight, and his last major appearance was at the Notre Dame Blues Festival, also this last November. He went home for the holidays and it was there he became pretty ill. He tried to put us at ease when he had to go into the hospital in the early part of this year, when he told us he had to go in for an ulcer operation. But, it was about time that we learned from his physician that it was really terminal stomach cancer. I was with Fred Mississippi in late april, early may of this year, and he was in good spirits. And I’ll never forget the time he showed me.  I’ll really miss very much. 

I just a few minutes ago spoke to his wife over the telephone and funeral services will be held in Como, Mississippi this sunday and should you wish and i hope you do decide to drop his wife a letter or send a sympathy card. Address it to Esther Mae McDowell, General Delivery, Como, Mississippi and if you want, the zip code is 38619.  

That’s about all I can say right now. 

I’ll miss you Fred.