Nobody Knows You When You're Down and Out.

Saskatoon is a blues town people. We spawned Wide Mouth Mason and Jordan Cook to drop some names. Big Dave Mclean recorded his album "Muddy Waters for President" at Bud's on Broadway, out of all the blues clubs he could have chosen in Canada. The blues are ingrained as heavily in our streets as the callouses in Buddy Guy's fingertips.
And when I have wandered I have taken the blues with me, and in so doing have always carried a little piece of home with me.
Naturally when I play guitar, I work on blues tunes. One of my all time favorites has always been Eric Clapton, in particular his work from the Unplugged album.
Today I was checking out some online lessons for the song "Nobody Knows You When You're Down and Out" when I discovered the talent of Bessie Smith. Bessie Smith was known as the Empress of the Blues, and was the original artist of Nobody Knows You. She was a hugely popular blues and jazz singer in the 20s and 30s.
On Sep 26 1937 the Empress of the Blues, Bessie Smith, sustained grave injuries in a traffic accident on US Highway 61. She was taken to a colored hospital in Clarksdale, Mississippi and her arm amputated. Smith died later that day from blood loss. According to legend, Bessie had been refused treatment by a closer, whites-only hospital.
Now folks, for your listening pleasure, I present both versions of Nobody Knows You...