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Title: [2 Songs, Performers Unknown] Unlabeled [Side A], [2 Songs, Performers Unknown] Unlabeled [Side A]
Identifier: e_top_0050
Topic: Blues (Music), Demo Recordings, Music--Performance
Dates: undated
Resource: Tary Owens papers
Description: One song by an unidentified band with male vocals and a second song with no vocals, also unidentified song title.

Title: Blue Monday KUT with Grey Ghost, Johnny Holmes, T.D. Bell [Side A], Blue Monday KUT with Grey Ghost, Johnny Holmes, T.D. Bell [Side A]
Identifier: e_top_0028
Creator: Monroe, Larry, (interviewer)
Contributor: Williams, Roosevelt T., (interviewee), Holmes, Johnny, (interviewee) , Bell, T. D., (interviewee)
Topic: Blues musicians, Music-halls, Blues (Music)
Dates: 1987-06-15
Resource: Tary Owens papers
Description: A recording of KUT's Blue Monday program with Larry Monroe featuring Grey Ghost, Johnny Holmes and T.D. Bell in the promotion of the Texas Blues Reunion event to be held at Victory Grill. Topics covered are wide ranging from Ghost's earliest recording, train hopping, and repertoire to T.D. Bell's start at the Victory Grill and touring with Johnny Ace and Big Momma Thronton. Several songs are played off the upcoming release of Catfish Records Grey Ghost album.

Title: Blue Monday KUT with Grey Ghost, Johnny Holmes, T.D. [Side B], Blue Monday KUT with Grey Ghost, Johnny Holmes, T.D. [Side B]
Identifier: e_top_0029
Creator: Monroe, Larry, (interviewer)
Contributor: Williams, Roosevelt T., (interviewee), Holmes, Johnny, (interviewee) , Bell, T. D., (interviewee)
Topic: Blues musicians, Music-halls, Blues (Music)
Dates: 1987-06-15
Resource: Tary Owens papers
Description: Continued recording of the KUT's Blue Monday program with Larry Monroe featuring Grey Ghost, Johnny Holmes and T.D. Bell in the promotion of the Texas Blues Reunion event to be held at Victory Grill. T.D. Bell speaks about some of the many players he worked with over the years including WC Clark,Major Burkes and Blues Boy Hubbard. He also mentions working with Lavada Durst. Several more Grey Ghost songs are played near the end of the show.

Title: Blues Specialists [Side A], Blues Specialists [Side A]
Identifier: e_top_0033
Creator: Owens, Tary, (producer)
Contributor: Bell, T.D. (performer) , Bowser, Erbie (performer) , Williams, Roosevelt T., (performer)
Topic: Blues (Music), Blues (Music), Music--Performance
Dates: circa 1991
Resource: Tary Owens papers
Description: Recording of the Blues Specialists. There are indications that this is a studio test tape, for the album, It's About Time, released on Spindletop Records. These songs are in the same order as the final release on Spindletop records but this tape omits the track ""T-Bone Shuffle"". Song order: ""Soon As The Weather Breaks"", ""24 Hours A Day"", ""Gee Baby Ain't I Good To You"", ""Cut You A-Loose"", ""Cold Cold Feeling"", ""Home At Last"", and ""Pledging My Love"".

Title: Blues Specialists [Side B], Blues Specialists [Side B]
Identifier: e_top_0034
Creator: Owens, Tary, (producer)
Contributor: Bell, T.D. (performer) , Bowser, Erbie (performer) , Williams, Roosevelt T., (performer)
Topic: Blues (Music), Blues (Music), Music--Performance
Dates: circa 1991
Resource: Tary Owens papers
Description: Recording of the Blues Specialists. There are indications that this is a studio test tape, for the album, It's About Time, released on Spindletop Records. These songs are in the same order as the final release on Spindletop records but this tape omits the track ""T-Bone Shuffle"". Song order: Song begins, ""Erbie's Bounce"", ""Bobby Sox Blues"", ""I've Got Bad News Baby"", ""Black Night"", ""Don't Lie To Me"", ""Feelin' For You"", ""After Hours"".

Title: Clyde Langford 10/10/93, Clyde Langford 10/10/93
Identifier: e_top_0061
Creator: Owens, Tary, (interviewer)
Contributor: Langford, Clyde
Topic: Blues (Music), Blues musicians, Guitar music (Blues)
Dates: 1993-10-10
Resource: Tary Owens papers
Description: The first four and a half minutes of this recording concludes Frank Robinson's interview with Tary Owens on October 10th, 1993. Frank plays ""Mojo Hand"" and tells Tary how to meet up with several other musicians in town. At 04:54 Clyde Langford begins speaking with Tary Owens. Mr. Langford was born in 1934 and began playing guitar at the age of 13, learning from the brother of the famous, Lightning Hopkins. After being discharged from the Air Force, he switched his guitar style to one that more closely resembles Sam Lightning Hopkins. Langford went on to win several contests but never played professionally. He tells several stories about his first and second wives. Tary and Clyde discuss many other players from around Crockett as well as some local gossip.

Title: Clyde Langford 10/10/93 [Continued], Clyde Langford 10/10/93 [Continued]
Identifier: e_top_0062
Creator: Owens, Tary, (interviewer)
Contributor: Langford, Clyde
Topic: Blues (Music), Blues musicians, Guitar music (Blues)
Dates: 1993-10-10
Resource: Tary Owens papers
Description: Clyde Langford plays a song about a girl called ""Boney Maroni"" for Tary Owens on October 10th, 1993. The recording ends about two and a half minutes in and the remaining 29 minutes completely verified as blank by the digitization technician.

Title: Ervin Charles Tary's Porch [Side A], Ervin Charles Tary's Porch [Side A]
Identifier: e_top_0006
Creator: Owens, Tary, (interviewer)
Contributor: Thibodeau, Charles (interviewer), Charles, Joseph Ervin (interviewee)
Topic: Music-halls, Mourning etiquette, Accordion
Dates: undated
Resource: Tary Owens papers
Description: A conversation which is mostly between Ervin Charles and Charles Thibodeau with Charles Prichard, Tary Owens and a few other unintroduced individuals playing and joining in on occasion. A party atmosphere as they hang out on Tary Owens' porch for the duration of this conversation. The recording begins with them playing the song Hollywood Bear Cat. Ervin talks about growing up and learning to play in Beaumont, Tx, his early gigs and stories about different clubs he played around Texas. Ervin talks about his first time playing an electric guitar and compares his learning the guitar to his son learning to play drums. Ervin and Thibodeau talk about how every crowd responds differently and how to gauge their reactions. The two men then discuss the difference between playing by ear and reading music.

Title: Ervin Charles Tary's Porch [Side B], Ervin Charles Tary's Porch [Side B]
Identifier: e_top_0007
Creator: Owens, Tary, (interviewer)
Contributor: Thibodeau, Charles (interviewer), Charles, Joseph Ervin (interviewee)
Topic: Methods (Blues), Blues musicians, Guitar music (Blues)
Dates: undated
Resource: Tary Owens papers
Description: A conversation mostly between Ervin Charles and Charles Thibodeau with Charles Prichard, Tary Owens and a few other unidentified individuals playing and joining in on occasion. A party atmosphere as they hang out on Tary Owens' porch. Includes performances of songs like, ""She Didn't Know I Was Married Waltz,"" ""Sugar Bee,"" ""La Porte d'en Arrière,"" "" Born in Louisiana,"" ""The Love Bridge Waltz,"" ""The Hathaway 2-Step"" and ""Matilda.""

Title: Frank Robinson 10/10/93, Frank Robinson 10/10/93
Identifier: e_top_0060
Creator: Owens, Tary, (interviewer)
Contributor: Robinson, Frank
Topic: Blues (Music), Blues musicians, Guitar music (Blues)
Dates: 1993-10-10
Resource: Tary Owens papers
Description: This recording begins mid-conversation with blues guitarist Frank Robinson speaking with Tary Owens on October 10th, 1993 in Crockett, Texas. The men are discussing other players that Frank helped learn to play guitar. Frank plays several songs throughout the conversation while the two men discuss fiddle players, playing with a knife, and Muddy Waters. Mr. Robinson tells Tary how to locate a local pastor that plays with a knife before talking about (Nathaniel) Bill Barnes, Jimmy Hamilton, and Lightning Hopkins.

Title: Frank Robinson Crockett, Tx 10/9/93, Frank Robinson Crockett, Tx 10/9/93
Identifier: e_top_0059
Creator: Owens, Tary, (interviewer)
Contributor: Robinson, Frank
Topic: Blues (Music), Blues musicians, Guitar music (Blues)
Dates: 1993-10-09
Resource: Tary Owens papers
Description: Blues guitarist Frank Robinson speaks with Tary Owens on October 10th, 1993 in Crockett, Texas. Frank discusses his early interest in music, his father's musicianship and other players he played with both at dances and at home. Mr. Robinson plays several songs during this interview including ""Baby, Please Don't Go,"" and ""West Texas Blues.""

Title: Grey Ghost + A Few Songs [Side B], Grey Ghost + A Few Songs [Side B]
Identifier: e_top_0026
Creator: Owens, Tary (interviewer)
Contributor: Williams, Roosevelt T., (interviewee)
Topic: Piano music (Blues), Methods (Blues), Blues musicians
Dates: 1991
Resource: Tary Owens papers
Description: Continued interview with Grey Ghost, AKA: Roosevelt T. Williams where he plays several songs and speaks briefly about his nickname. This recording is said to be a repeat of an original recording made March 14th, 1991 with Olive Graham. This airing of the show occurs on the Blue Monday show with Larry Monroe, two weeks after Grey Ghost died on July 17, 1996, estimated air date is July 29th, 1996

Title: Grey Ghost 1991 Interview KUT [ Side A], Grey Ghost 1991 Interview KUT [ Side A]
Identifier: e_top_0025
Creator: Graham, Olive (interviewer)
Contributor: Williams, Roosevelt T., (interviewee)
Topic: Piano music (Blues), Methods (Blues), Family
Dates: 1991
Resource: Tary Owens papers
Description: Roosevelt T. Williams, also known as Grey Ghost, discusses the importance of a diverse repertoire for a musician, playing in a traveling medicine show, his wife, and even his mother. He plays several songs throughout the interview.

Title: Grey Ghost Interview Tape 5 [Side A], Grey Ghost Interview Tape 5 [Side A]
Identifier: e_top_0022
Creator: Owens, Tary, (interviewer)
Contributor: Williams, Roosevelt T., (interviewee)
Topic: Pimps, Healers--United States, Sex
Dates: 1990-07-25
Resource: Tary Owens papers
Description: Grey Ghost, also known as Roosevelt T. Williams, tells interviewer and friend Tary Owens about a time in his life when he earned money gambling, making whiskey and pandering women. Ghost also tells several stories about some intimate encounters he had with various ladies. He spent time on the road with a traveling tonic salesman/medicine man playing in the side shows and parades. Ghost recounts the experience and some of the many things he learned about healing various kinds of ailments and the female anatomy.

Title: Grey Ghost Interview Tape 5 [Side B], Grey Ghost Interview Tape 5 [Side B]
Identifier: e_top_0023
Creator: Owens, Tary, (interviewer)
Contributor: Williams, Roosevelt T., (interviewee)
Topic: Blues musicians, Piano music (Blues), Concert tours
Dates: 1990-07-25
Resource: Tary Owens papers
Description: Roosevelt T. Williams discusses various aspect of traveling with a medicine man / tonic salesman and also with carnivals. Ghost discusses his songwriting process and his song ""Hitler Blues."" Owens inquires about William Owens the first man to record Grey Ghost and the types of songs that Roosevelt enjoys the most.

Title: Grey Ghost Oral History Tape 1 7/29/90 Tary Owens [Side A], Grey Ghost Oral History Tape 1 7/29/90 Tary Owens [Side A]
Identifier: e_top_0053
Creator: Owens, Tary, (interviewer)
Contributor: Williams, Roosevelt T., (interviewee)
Topic: Historic farms--Texas, Racism--United States, Railroad trains
Dates: 1990-07-29
Resource: Tary Owens papers
Description: Tary Owens speaking with Roosevelt T. Williams, (Grey Ghost) as they drive from Atlanta, Ga. to Austin, Tx. Williams talks about working as a field hand, riding trains, earning money as a gambler, bootlegger, and panderer. He also speaks about his sense of morality and racism in Texas. Grey Ghost tells several specific stories about altercations that either he was involved in or witnessed and a few other he heard about spurred by racial tension and discrimination. Grey Ghost discusses what he knows about Tom Moore's Farm and the song that made the Moore brothers infamous. He begins a discussion about singing in the fields and how inaccurate that would be considering the physicality of the actual labor.

Title: Grey Ghost Oral History Tape 1 7/29/90 Tary Owens [Side B], Grey Ghost Oral History Tape 1 7/29/90 Tary Owens [Side B]
Identifier: e_top_0054
Creator: Owens, Tary, (interviewer)
Contributor: Williams, Roosevelt T., (interviewee)
Topic: Agricultural laborers, Racism--United States, Texas, East
Dates: 1990-07-29
Resource: Tary Owens papers
Description: Rosevelt T. Williams (Grey Ghost) speaks with Tary Owens while they travel by car from Atlanta, Ga to Austin, Tx. Williams talks about racism in Texas and violence against African Americans. He also discusses personal stories about his marriage to his former wife, his mother, sister and grandfather. His education, dancing and the song ""Black Gal Boogie"" are also included in the range of topics.

Title: Grey Ghost Oral History Tape 3 [Side A], Grey Ghost Oral History Tape 3 [Side A]
Identifier: e_top_0020
Creator: Owens, Tary, (interviewer)
Contributor: Williams, Roosevelt T., (interviewee)
Topic: Music-halls, Strippers (Burlesque), Piano music (Blues)
Dates: 1990-07-29
Resource: Tary Owens papers
Description: Mr. Roosevelt T. Williams (Grey Ghost) talks about playing music at a strip club/ burlesque club many years ago. He briefly discusses other musicians there at the time and the types of songs that they played. Williams spent much of his life earning a living by being a chauffeur or a driver, for 20 years he drove a school bus in Texas. Throughout his many jobs he never completely gave up playing music out at parties. He talks about being challenged by younger players back in the day and various trio's he played with throughout the years.

Title: Grey Ghost Oral History Tape 3 [Side B], Grey Ghost Oral History Tape 3 [Side B]
Identifier: e_top_0021
Creator: Owens, Tary, (interviewer)
Contributor: Williams, Roosevelt T., (interviewee)
Topic: Concert tours, Family, Bus driving
Dates: 1990-07-29
Resource: Tary Owens papers
Description: This section of Roosevelt Williams' oral history consists largely of discussions about the long drive they have been on driving from Georgia to Texas and the sights they see along the way. Williams talks about his health on several occasions, his faith, human nature and his relationships with friends and family.

Title: Grey Ghost Possibly On " Blue Monday" KUT Prior to the Victory Reunion [Side B], Grey Ghost Possibly On "" Blue Monday"" KUT Prior to the Victory Reunion [Side B]
Identifier: e_top_0036
Creator: Monroe, Larry (interviewer)
Contributor: Williams, Roosevelt T., (interviewee), Holmes, Johnny, n.d.-2001 (interviewee) , Bell, T. D., (interviewee)
Topic: Blues musicians, Music-halls, Blues (Music)
Dates: circa 1987
Resource: Tary Owens papers
Description: Blue Monday radio show on KUT recorded on the Monday (June 15, 1987) before the Texas Blues Reunion (June 19, 1987) event at the Victory Grill, features interviews with Grey Ghost, Johnny Holmes and T.D. Bell. The music in the program is from Grey Ghost's self titled album released on Catfish Records, and Muddy Waters Folk Singer Album.

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