Goebel Reeves

Goebel Reeves ( born October 9, 1899 in Sherman, Texas; † January 26, 1959 in Long Beach, California ) was an American country and folk singer. He was a leading representative of the early Blue Yodeling, but was not very productive: Reeves took a total of only 26 songs.

Life

Reeves grew up as the son of a Texas government officials in Austin on, that came from the American middle class, which he but even more afraid: He lived most of his life as a hobo - and also appeared frequently at a corresponding stage name to: The Texas Drifter. The way of life of the underprivileged fascinated him early, he was drawn to the world of men attracted to the subject, especially on freight trains across the country. So the only two years older than Jimmie Rodgers was his role model. Reeves claimed to have Rodgers taught to yodel - and actually could Reeves especially the sadness of yodeling like no other transport.

He had the musical talent of his mother, who taught him to play the piano and singing. 1917 Reeves joined the army and was wounded in the First World War in Europe. In 1921 he was retired and decided to henceforth as a vagrant to earn his livelihood by singing. After a short stay in the Merchant Navy in 1929 he made the first recordings. Now he became a Texas Drifter on as George Riley, the Yodeling Rustler or as The Broadway Wrangler. His hobo life took him to all parts of the States and to Canada; Occasionally he recorded a few songs or dived into radio stations on. In 1938 he made ​​his last recordings for a studio in Hollywood - there were, however, primarily recitations and poems. Shortly thereafter, ie at the end of the thirties, Reeves went back to the merchant navy. For a time he spent in Japan. During the Second World War was on the road in terms of troop entertainment; his now acquired Japanese language skills eventually earned him a job with the U.S. government: He helped out in resettlement camps where Japanese Americans were interned. 1959 Goebel Reeves died in a veterans hospital in California.

Music

Goebel Reeves was under the influence of Jimmie Rodgers and also sounded very strongly of the Singing Brakeman: Reeves yodelled almost always singing about vagabond, roads and freight trains. From his own songs was known primarily Hobo's Lullyby in the version of Woody Guthrie; also his son Arlo, Danny Kyle, Emmylou Harris, Joan Baez and many others recorded the song. Other well-known songs were The Wayward Son, The Drifter and The Tramp 's Mother. Published in 1994, the German label Bear Family CD Hobo's Lullaby - and thus all 26 songs that Goebel Reeves has taken in his life, on a single CD.