The Houston Chronicle reported the September 21, 2003, death of blues musician Tary Owens. A student of UT folklorest Americo Paredes, Owens recorded slave songs of Texas African American prison inmates. Casey Monahan, director of the Texas Music Office, noted that among Owens’ most important contributions was his work with the Grey Ghost, Roosevelt Thomas Williams.
While this is a wonderful contribution, I think my own work with the Grey Ghost is often overlooked.
The famous “toilet” interview with the Grey Ghost immediately comes to mind. During a concert by the “Ghost” at Austin’s Continental Club, Dave Bedrich, Dan Pacious, Shawn Fonville, Chuck Waite and myself were enjoying ourselves indulging in the fabulous showmanship and ivory-tickling talents of the Ghost, when I felt the need to excuse myself and find the men’s room.
As I made my way to the Continental Club’s gentlemen’s room I found the door unlocked. I entered only to find that the room wasn’t the roomy expanse I expected to find in a club of such high renown. Indeed, the term men’s room was doubtfully applied. For although it was a room, about 8x8, there was no indication it was restricted to men, other than the small urinal, and an open toilet.
Lo and behold, there--comfortably seated on the toilet, in front of God and man was Mr. Roosevelt Williams--the Grey Ghost himself!!!! It was one of my cherished brushes with history. Living history! We talked briefly, and I told him it was an honor to meet him. He complained about getting old. I flushed the urinal and left him alone on the throne.
Roosevelt T. Williams was born in Bastrop on December 7, 1903, and named in honor of President Teddy Roosevelt. He toured the Southwest in the 1920s, following the “Big Swing” cotton-picking route, playing when and where he could, and supporting himself in the cotton fields and gins. He earned the moniker “Grey Ghost” because he hopped trains from gig to gig. When people wondered how he seemed to get around without being seen, he reportedly said, “I'm just like a ghost. I come up out of the ground and then I go back in it.”
His song, “Hitler Blues,” became internationally famous, but the Ghost was a drifter and he didn’t settle down until when in 1965 he became an Austin school bus driver. Yet, he still played gigs. Only in his final years did the Ghost receive the fame and notoriety he deserved. The Grey Ghost gave his last public performance at the Continental Club on his 92nd birthday. He thanked the crowd saying, “You make me feel like I'm somebody.” Owens told the crowd, “You’ll never hear that kind of music again.”
The Grey Ghost died July 17, 1996. Tary Owens was right, an era passed. Now Owens is gone, too. Fortunately, thanks to Tary Owens, both men will be remembered for their contribution to Texas music, and Texas history.
If you'd like more information, click here for a story from the Austin Chronicle on the life of Roosevelt T. Williams, aka The Grey Ghost.
For the obit on Tary Owens from the Houston Chronicle, click here.
