Musically, I have been fortunate enough to see live shows by some of the legends of many genres of music, spanning several different eras. Although past their prime at the time, but nevertheless still very close to the top of their game, were Frank Sinatra and Tony Bennett. There were the extravaganzas of the Rolling Stones and ZZ TOP and even a SuperBowl Half-Time Show. And blues wise I've had the honor and pleasure of seeing Howlin' Wolf, Muddy Waters, John Lee Hooker, Willie Dixon, Albert King, and all of the living legends as well.

Each and every one of these shows, and the hundreds of others, have all had their memorable moments. However, nothing and I do mean NOTHING I have ever seen musically has ever moved me as much as the performance that WATERMELON SLIM put on at last years W C Handy Awards. Standing alone, away from an un-needed microphone, in a room big enough to have three large weddings going on at once, SLIM literally stunned the audience. To say that you could have heard a pin drop is a vast understatement. Had a fire broke out, I don't think anyone would have moved till SLIM was done.

Accompanied by nothing more than a small harmonica and a huge amount of talent, confidence and stamina, WATERMELON SLIM belted out some very moving and very spiritual lyrics in a way that just seemed like it was an out of body experience. When SLIM was done, the audience was literally shaking their heads and saying "PHEW!" Those who did not know his name were eagerly asking for it and by now, the deafening silence had turned into a thunderous roar. That is one of only a few of life's moments that I shall never forget.

If you consider getting wounded in Viet Nam, breaking your back tilling the land farming, spending a dozen or so years of your life driving hundreds of thousands of miles across America's lonely highways, and having a near fatal heart attack paying your dues, then WATERMELON SLIM has every right in the world to sing the blues - and boy can he sing them.

Counting "MERRY AIRBRAKES", the CD he put out in the early seventies that consisted of mostly protest songs, "WATERMELON SLIM & THE WORKERS" is SLIM'S fourth release and by far his very best. This one is real blues and nothin' but the blues. The disc consists of mostly original songs that are truly original to SLIM'S life. There's no singing about "having your head cut off by looking for a little piece of tail" on this one.

Accompanying SLIM, who sings all the Lead Vocals and plays the Harp, Dobro and Slide Guitar are the (very hard) WORKERS. They are MICHAEL NEWBERRY on Drums, Percussion and Background Vocals; IKE LAMB on Electric and Acoustic Guitars and Background Vocals; CLIFF BELCHER on Bass and Background Vocals. The workers helpers are DENNIS BORYCKI on Piano and CHRIS WICK on Bass on "FRISCO LINE".

The CD opens with these lyrics........"I'm too poor to pay attention, too hungry to eat, too sick to see my doctor and too tired to sleep"......with the metaphors progressively getting worse and adding up to a state of "HARD TIMES".

"DUMPSTER BLUES" is one of the many truck driving related tracks. It seems that SLIM'S haulin' an oversized load and needs to sneak around the back roads to avoid getting caught. What makes matters worse is it's a load of garbage that smells "just like a devil's bottom hole". The vocals and the harmonica highlight this one.

"DEVILS CADILLAC", is the vehicle that transports SLIM to the Crossroads to make the dreaded deal with the devil. SLIM, along with playing some great slide guitar, sings his heart out on this one.

"POSSUM HAND" is an instrumental that gives all of the WORKER'S a chance to shine. SLIM and IKE are highlighted on harp and guitar while the rhythm section is locked into a nice lazy groove.

"MACK TRUCK" is a very short, very clever and very fast moving song in which SLIM refers to truck parts and terms in relation to a relationship. There's some very hot and hard drumming done by MICHAEL on this one.

"BAD SINNER" is the kind of song SLIM was born to sing. The combination of his enthusiasm and his soul makes for such an awesome deliverance of this, as well as all of his songs. He is the consummate blues singer.

My particular favorite track on " WATERMELON SLIM & THE WORKERS" is "JUKE JOINT WOMAN". The lyrics are great and at one point in the song have SLIM talking to the TV. As one of those commercials comes on that asks "Do you know where your children are?", SLIM answers "Yes, Mr. Voice Over, I know right where my children are - sitting right here on the couch next to me, but their Mama is at the whiskey bar". The drum work by MICHAEL is absolutely awesome on this one. He plays at peak solo style - throughout the track. Great piano by DENNIS, as well.

Here's hoping that WILLIAM HOMANS, a.k.a. WATERMELON SLIM, has enough success singing the blues, so that he never has to discover that he can probably make more money truck driving. If that happens then the blues world is in for a treat.