John Blues Boyd - What My Eyes Have Seen

Born in Greendale, Mississippi in 1945 John Blues Boyd was picking cotton in the fields at the age of eight. At fifteen he was run out of town by the Klan and he joined Dr Kings Freedom March at 16. It was obvious that this record had to be about his life. A life which has witnessed the struggle and oppression of Afro Americans through the dark days of Jim Crow. The songs written for this record are snapshots from a life camera. Pivotal moments in a long life, well lived and John has inhabited them with his body and soul. 

This record is not just John Blues Boyd's story but stands as a testament to the struggle and contribution of the Afro American people who have contributed so much to make this country great. It also gives warning of what happens when racism and inequality can have voice in society. Modern politics are indeed divided and dark. In Johns songs and memories is a warning that we should all heed about what can happen when we allow evil to prosper. 

This is a great record by a man who should be regarded as a National Treasure and hopefully this record will go some way to addressing this, but the magic could only happen with the musical brilliance of Kid Andersen. You send him lyrics and he sends you back musical gold. The sweep of his imagination knows no bounds. He hears things that no other producer I have worked with hears and he makes them come alive. He is the conduit that pulled this record together and helped John Blues Boyd make one of the seminal Blues records of this or any century.