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Willie Eason Interviews

As a teenager, Willie Eason learned to play the steel guitar by watching his older brother, Troman, who took lessons in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania from a Hawaiian musician he heard on a radio broadcast circa 1937.  In 1939, Willie’s mother withdrew him from high school to join Bishop Lockley’s “Gospel Feast Party,” a group of preachers and musicians that toured the Eastern Seaboard from New York to Miami to perform for revivals, worship services and street corner music ministries.  A skilled musician and a powerful singer with an engaging personality, young Willie Eason soon struck out on his own to busk for tips on street corners throughout the East and in Chicago.

A deejay in Macon, Georgia dubbed him “Little Willie and His Talking Guitar,” and the moniker stuck.  Recordings for gospel record labels increased his popularity on the national level.  His second wife, Jeannette, whom he met in Ocala, Florida, worked with him tirelessly as he plied his trade from south Florida farm labor camps to the bustling streets of Chicago.   Together, they raised more than thirty-two children, most of whom they informally adopted to assist family members.  Willie and Jeannette Eason also produced concerts featuring top gospel groups of the day in venues that included the Metropolitan Opera House in Philadelphia.  Willie Eason’s engaging personality and animated manner of speaking give us priceless stories of his colorful life. 

– Robert L. Stone

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  • RS 001-003 Willie and Jeannette Eason, 8/30/01 00:00
  • RS 004-006 Willie and Jeannette Eason, 8/30/01 00:00
Interviewees: Willie and Jeannette Eason
Interviewer: Robert Stone
Date: 8/30/01
Location: 
Language: English
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  • RS 094-099 Willie Eason pt 1, 1/16/94 00:00
  • RS 094-099 Willie Eason pt 2, 1/16/94 00:00
Interviewee: Willie Eason
Interviewers: Robert Stone and Mike Stapleton
Date: 1/16/1994
Location: St. Petersburg, FL
Language: English
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  • RS 106-107 Willie Eason, 1/23/96 00:00
  • RS 108 Willie Eason, 4/18/96 00:00
  • RS 110-112 Willie Eason, 4/19/96 00:00
  • RS 113-114 Willie Eason, 4/21/96 00:00
Interviewee: Willie Eason
Interviewer: Robert Stone
Date: 1/23/96, 4/18/96, 4/19/96, 4/21/96
Location: 
Language: English

For the archive overview:
The Robert Stone Sacred Steel Archive

To learn more about Willie and Jeannette Eason, visit the Jeannette Eason interview page

These interviews were originally recorded for research purposes. They are presented here in their raw state, unedited except to remove some irrelevant sections and blank spaces. All rights to the interviews are reserved by the Arhoolie Foundation. Please do not use anything from this website without permission. info@arhoolie.org

Willie and Jeannette Eason Interview Transcripts:

Dear friends,

On Giving Tuesday, we announced the capital campaign to purchase our building at 10341 San Pablo Ave in El Cerrito — home to the Arhoolie Foundation (and before that Arhoolie Records), Les Blank Films, and Down Home Music Store since 1976. We’ve been heartened by the community’s response to our fundraising announcement. To all who have donated so far: thank you. We couldn’t do this without you.

Now, while there is a contract in place to buy the building in partnership with Les Blank Films, we need to raise $1.2 million — our half of the purchase price — by April 15. Donations to the campaign can be made via the link below, by check, or by bank transfer. (To make a bank transfer, please email us at info@arhoolie.org).

In the new year, we look forward to collaborating with Les Blank Films and Down Home Music to bring more public programming to our community. We plan to revive Les Blank and Chris Strachwitz’s tradition of in-store film screenings and will host more informal, free performances and gatherings in the store as part of our outreach work. We believe this collaboration will result in a vibrant community gathering place dedicated to music, film, and deep roots culture.

If you’re interested in donating and would like to discuss our plans for the building, please don’t hesitate to email director Adam Machado at adam@arhoolie.org.

Thank you for your support as we begin this exciting new chapter!

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