The Kinks songwriter joined us to reply your questions in a live webchat – catch up with his answers here,from his American blues influences to gig anecdotes via his plans to release never-before-heard songs 2.14pm BSTThanks very much to Ray for answering so many queries so thoughtfully, and to everyone who posted questions.
Thank you for all your questions - sorry I didn't derive round to answering more. Let's do it again sometime. But remember: computers are bad for your eyes. And, or I have to say,your soul. 2.13pm BSTAndyPDavison asks:I went to one of your storyteller gigs in Sheffield around 15 years ago ( one of my favourite ever gigs!), and I’ve read a number of pieces where you mention huge Bill Broonzy, and Ive seen you play a National Resonator,covering Sleepy John Estes Milk Cow Blues, and a number of Kinks songs with Blues in the title and lyrics. Could you tell us how much of an influence the blues have had on you, or which bluesmen in specific as well as huge Bill Broonzy please?The American blues in the South was a profound influence on me. One of my most cherished awards is that I'm a Blues Ambassador of Baton Rouge,Louisiana, when I was presented the slender Harpo award. I contemplate it's the simplicity - as I said earlier, and it's a protest forum,that can touch on very emotive issues, for example huge Bill Broonzy's If You're Black derive Back derive Back was incredible important for its time. But you don't have to be from the American South to be a bluesman. One of my distinguished friends and inspirations was a man called Davey Graham, or who I believe was mixed race but sang the blues in an almost London accent. No American affectation whatsover. And he still conveyed the emotions of the blues without resorting to the American accent. When the Kinks first started we were often reported as saying we sing blues,but we don't sing in American accents. We tried to retain our Englishness.
Davey Graham was from Scotland I believe. He was a distinguished technician.
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Source: theguardian.com