Michael Addison Stewart (September 18, 1943 – October 11, 2007), who performed and recorded as Backwards Sam Firk, was an American country blues singer, fingerstyle guitarist, songwriter, and record collector.[2] Less well known than such contemporaries as Alan Wilson of Canned Heat and John Fahey, Backwards Sam Firk spent much of his music-based existence working with and supporting older blues artists.[3] According to his friend Stephan Michelson, "He was, simply put, masterful. More than technique, he had taste. And more than technique and taste, he had originality. From his mentors and from records he did not so much copy notes as learn sounds and how to make them. He played old-time blues as if he was living in the 1930s, as if this was the music of his day. For him, it was."[3]
Stewart was born in Asheville, North Carolina.[1][2] His alias Backwards Sam Firk was an homage to the musician John Fahey, who had used the pseudonym Blind Thomas for some of his recordings.[2] Stewart also explained that "My dad used to call me Backwards Sam because my initials are MAS."[2]
His first recordings, under his stage name, were made for Joe Bussard's Fonotone Records in the early 1960s. He later collaborated on recordings with Fahey, when they were jointly billed as the Mississippi Swampers.[2][3][4] His debut solo recording was the album The True Blues and Gospel, which was mainly a collection of cover versions of older blues numbers. It was released by Adelphi Records, an independent blues label based in Silver Spring, Maryland, partly owned by his then-wife.[2][3] Adelphi conducted field trips, usually attended by Firk, in search of largely forgotten blues musicians from an earlier generation. Firk thus met and befriended the guitarist Richard "Hacksaw" Harney, Johnny Shines, Sunnyland Slim, David "Honeyboy" Edwards, and Big Joe Williams. In St. Louis, he also met and played with the pianist Henry Brown and Henry Townsend.[2] Most notably, he backed Yank Rachell on a session for Blue Goose Records. His work with Townsend resulted in their joint album, Henry T. Music Man (1973).[5]
Stewart again used the pseudonym Backwards Sam Firk for a couple of duet albums he made with the guitarist Stephan Michelson, alias Delta X.[3] Firk gained an entry in the dirty blues category, by recording tracks such as "Cigarette" and "West Side Blues".[6]
By the mid-1970s, Firk stopped recording and started to earn a living dealing in rare blues, folk and country records. He assembled one of the most important collections of vintage recordings ever held by one individual.[2] He owned and operated his own record label, Green River Records, which issued compilation albums from his collection of old recordings.[3]
Following a divorce from his first wife, Carol Rosenthal, he returned to North Carolina in 1991 and settled in Mill Spring. He later remarried.[3]
He died of a heart attack at his home on October 11, 2007, aged 64.[2]
^ ab"Backwards Sam Firk Discography". Discogs.com. Retrieved 2016-05-22.
^ abcdefghijAnkeny, Jason. "Backwards Sam Firk: Biography". AllMusic.com. Retrieved 2016-05-22.
^ abcdefgRussell, Tony. "Mike Stewart [obituary]". The Guardian. Retrieved 2016-05-22.
^"Illustrated 'Backwards Sam Firk' (Michael Stewart) Discography". Wirz.de. Retrieved 2016-05-22.
^Congress, Richard (2001). Blues Mandolin Man: The Life and Music of Yank Rachell. Univ. Press of Mississippi. p. 153. ISBN9781604735970. Retrieved 2016-05-22.
^"Backwards Sam Firk: Discography". AllMusic.com. 2001-06-26. Retrieved 2016-05-22.
^"Henry Townsend and Backwards Sam Firk, Henry T. Music Man". Discogs.com. 1974. Retrieved 2016-05-22.
External linksedit
Discogs entry
YouTube footage of "Cigarette" by Backwards Sam Firk
Illustrated discography @ Wirz.de
December 02, 2023
backwards, firk, michael, addison, stewart, september, 1943, october, 2007, performed, recorded, american, country, blues, singer, fingerstyle, guitarist, songwriter, record, collector, less, well, known, than, such, contemporaries, alan, wilson, canned, heat,. Michael Addison Stewart September 18 1943 October 11 2007 who performed and recorded as Backwards Sam Firk was an American country blues singer fingerstyle guitarist songwriter and record collector 2 Less well known than such contemporaries as Alan Wilson of Canned Heat and John Fahey Backwards Sam Firk spent much of his music based existence working with and supporting older blues artists 3 According to his friend Stephan Michelson He was simply put masterful More than technique he had taste And more than technique and taste he had originality From his mentors and from records he did not so much copy notes as learn sounds and how to make them He played old time blues as if he was living in the 1930s as if this was the music of his day For him it was 3 Backwards Sam FirkBirth nameMichael Addison Stewart 1 Born 1943 09 18 September 18 1943Asheville North Carolina United StatesDiedOctober 11 2007 2007 10 11 aged 64 Mill Spring North Carolina United StatesGenresCountry blues 2 Occupation s Singer guitarist songwriter record collector and dealerInstrument s Guitar vocalsYears active1960s 1970sLabelsVarious including Adelphi Records Contents 1 Life and career 2 Discography 2 1 Albums 3 See also 4 References 5 External linksLife and career editStewart was born in Asheville North Carolina 1 2 His alias Backwards Sam Firk was an homage to the musician John Fahey who had used the pseudonym Blind Thomas for some of his recordings 2 Stewart also explained that My dad used to call me Backwards Sam because my initials are MAS 2 His first recordings under his stage name were made for Joe Bussard s Fonotone Records in the early 1960s He later collaborated on recordings with Fahey when they were jointly billed as the Mississippi Swampers 2 3 4 His debut solo recording was the album The True Blues and Gospel which was mainly a collection of cover versions of older blues numbers It was released by Adelphi Records an independent blues label based in Silver Spring Maryland partly owned by his then wife 2 3 Adelphi conducted field trips usually attended by Firk in search of largely forgotten blues musicians from an earlier generation Firk thus met and befriended the guitarist Richard Hacksaw Harney Johnny Shines Sunnyland Slim David Honeyboy Edwards and Big Joe Williams In St Louis he also met and played with the pianist Henry Brown and Henry Townsend 2 Most notably he backed Yank Rachell on a session for Blue Goose Records His work with Townsend resulted in their joint album Henry T Music Man 1973 5 Stewart again used the pseudonym Backwards Sam Firk for a couple of duet albums he made with the guitarist Stephan Michelson alias Delta X 3 Firk gained an entry in the dirty blues category by recording tracks such as Cigarette and West Side Blues 6 By the mid 1970s Firk stopped recording and started to earn a living dealing in rare blues folk and country records He assembled one of the most important collections of vintage recordings ever held by one individual 2 He owned and operated his own record label Green River Records which issued compilation albums from his collection of old recordings 3 Following a divorce from his first wife Carol Rosenthal he returned to North Carolina in 1991 and settled in Mill Spring He later remarried 3 He died of a heart attack at his home on October 11 2007 aged 64 2 Discography editAlbums edit Year Title Record label Credited to1968 The True Blues and Gospel Adelphi Records Prospect Records Backwards Sam Firk1969 Deadly Duo Adelphi Records Backwards Sam Firk and Delta X1973 Henry T Music Man Adelphi Records Henry Townsend and Backwards Sam Firk2001 What You Think This Is The Physical World Backwards Sam Firk and Delta X 7 8 See also editList of country blues musicians List of blues musiciansReferences edit a b Backwards Sam Firk Discography Discogs com Retrieved 2016 05 22 a b c d e f g h i j Ankeny Jason Backwards Sam Firk Biography AllMusic com Retrieved 2016 05 22 a b c d e f g Russell Tony Mike Stewart obituary The Guardian Retrieved 2016 05 22 Illustrated Backwards Sam Firk Michael Stewart Discography Wirz de Retrieved 2016 05 22 Congress Richard 2001 Blues Mandolin Man The Life and Music of Yank Rachell Univ Press of Mississippi p 153 ISBN 9781604735970 Retrieved 2016 05 22 Dirty Blues AllMusic com Retrieved 2016 05 22 Backwards Sam Firk Discography AllMusic com 2001 06 26 Retrieved 2016 05 22 Henry Townsend and Backwards Sam Firk Henry T Music Man Discogs com 1974 Retrieved 2016 05 22 External links editDiscogs entry YouTube footage of Cigarette by Backwards Sam Firk Illustrated discography Wirz de Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Backwards Sam Firk amp oldid 1186280941, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
