"Early Folk Singing" with Powell St John

Powell St. John (September 18, 1940 – August 22, 2021) Episode recorded in 2020

Wednesday night hootenannies, Peyote, and Janis Joplin, brim the surface of Powell's contributions to folk music and Texas songwriting.

This episode explores the vibrant Austin folk music scene of the 1960s through the eyes of two key figures: Powell St. John and Eddie Wilson. Powell St. John was a harmonica player and songwriter who performed with Janis Joplin in the Waller Creek Boys, wrote songs for the 13th Floor Elevators, and later pioneered country rock with Tracy Nelson and Mother Earth. Eddie Wilson became the impresario who brought folk legends to the Armadillo World Headquarters stage. Together with host Dr. Jason Mellard, they paint a vivid picture of Kenneth Threadgill's legendary venue - Threadgill's Place, the University of Texas folk scene, integration of blues artists like Mance Lipscomb and Lightnin' Hopkins, and the meteoric rise of Janis Joplin from local folkie to rock icon.

Content Warning: adult themes, references to violence and drug use, offensive language

Content created during the global pandemic, in the room, and on computers zoom.

Chapters:

02:00 - Growing up in Laredo - farm life on the Mexican border

04:00 - Learning harmonica after doctor prohibited flute playing

05:00 - Meeting Lanny Wiggins and forming Waller Creek Boys

06:00 - Janis Joplin joins the group

07:00 - Kenneth Threadgill's background

08:00 - The bootleg operation and whiskey stash house

10:00 - Eddie Wilson's initial visits to Threadgill's in 1959

12:00 - UT Sings and the student union scene

15:00 - Jack Jackson's comics documenting the scene

17:00 - The Hootenanny Hoots band formation

21:00 - Threadgill's Place, physical space and atmosphere

22:00 - Mance Lipscomb's broad repertoire and gentle nature

26:00 - Lightnin' Hopkins performance at Armadillo World Headquarters

28:00 - First impressions of Janis Joplin

33:00 - Janis' friendship with Powell and migration to California

34:00 - The Psychedelic Transition and the formation of the 13th Floor Elevators

35:00 - Rocky Erickson's spectacular performances

36:00 - Powell's songwriting contributions

37:00 - Charles Whitman tower shooting impact

38:00 - Travis Rivers as manager for Mother Earth

40:00 - Reconnecting with Janis in California

41:00 - "Bye Bye Baby" recording and credit issues

42:00 - Importance of preserving history

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Guest List: Powell St. John - Harmonica player, songwriter, founding member of Waller Creek Boys with Janis Joplin, songwriter for 13th Floor Elevators, pioneer of country rock with Mother Earth.

Production Team:

Host, Eddie Wilson - Armadillo World Headquarters founder @Threadgills

Host, Dr. Jason Mellard - Cultural historian @jasondeanmellard

Editor, Renee O'Connor

Music Mixing, Matt Carlson @axemanguitar

Producer, Renee O'Connor @realreneeoconnor

Producer, Sandra Wilson @sandrawilson709

Executive Producer, TSSI

Music by Jake Andrews Music @jakeandrewsmusic

Production assistant, Miles Muir @miles_muir

Production consultant, Katey Psencik