"The Early Years" (1927-1933)      "Trying To Get Home" (1949)             "Last Session" (1956)
(Not pictured, but absolutely essential is "1940: The Legendary Library of Congress Session")

 

 

Blind Willie McTell was a street musician, guitar player, composer, recording artist, and all-around cool guy who lived primarily in Atlanta up until his death in the early 1960's or so. He performed and recorded blues, ragtime, and gospel tunes both solo and with other musicians including Atlanta area performers Fred McMullen, Buddy Moss, Piano Red, and Sylvester Weaver. Some of his more popular songs include "Statesboro Blues", "Ticket Agent Blues", "Dyin' Crapshooter Blues", "Kill It Kid", "Love Changin' Blues", and the "Atlanta Strut".

 

Willie played a 12-string Stella guitar, and on some recordings, particularly the classic "Pinetop's Boogie Woogie", would occasionally exclaim "Now kick it!" or "Kick it, six". Some folks believe he was giving the nod to his occasional sideman, 6-string guitar player Curley Weaver, to take a solo or stomp on the tempo, but Willie says it even when he's playing unaccompanied. He also recorded while playing a 6-string on a few occasions, so he may even be talking to his own guitar, like Reverend Gary Davis did when when he used to say to his J-200, "Now talk to me, Miss Gibson". Whatever it is that Blind Willie means, it's way cool to hear him say that.

 

So, we take "Kick it, Six!" to mean "Hey, let's do it", or "Let's get it goin', yeah", or just out and out "Let's rock!".   And that's how we approach our art and craft.
Now, Kick it, Six...