

I don’t want nothin’ to do with any of that. And there was paparazzi following me around, it was just crazy. Behind the theaters and during the sound checks during the day, people were behind the fences yelling my name and wanting my autograph. I just got back from Europe, and they actually treated me sort of that way. I am a style maybe, in the public’s eye, but I ain’t no star and I don’t want to be. Peoples say sometimes that I’m some sort of star, no, no, no, I never wanted to be a star. Uh, well, you know, day to day, yes, day to day.

Thanks Gramps, you’re very welcome….so tell us, what is your creative mission? You are an artist who has stayed focused on your creative mission, even when that means not pushing for the fame or notoriety… So is that part of your contribution to Myth America? I never heard any of those things about me but those are part of “Myth America,” ( breaks into song to the tune of Miss America anthem) “Myth America…” ( Suddenly channeling Elmer Fudd) You know the silly rabbit? You know Elmer Fudd? Maybe Elmer fudd said that…( pause) Yeah that sounds like stuff I would do. Well, you know I don’t lie but my whole thing is that I do exaggerate for my living. I’ve heard that you napped alongside Rip Van Winkle, you were a signing witness on the contract at the crossroads with old Robbie J and the Devil, you did a little time with Huddie Ledbetter, you’ve collected more songs than any Rounder on record or not on record and you’ve broken enough guitar strings to lace the boots of every hobo that ever rode the line going anywhere, are these rumors true? Ya Ya Ya ( bleating gravelly while yanking on his scraggly wizard’s mane which tails into a 12 inch braid.) Gramps, thank you for taking the time to talk with me. I caught up with Gramps at his monthly gig at the Laurelthirst Pub in Portland, Oregon. Gramps has recently enjoyed national media exposure for his contributions to Rogue’s Gallery -Pirate Ballads, Sea Songs and Chanteys, a compilation of sea chanteys that spun out of the Pirates of the Caribbean film franchise. The Rogues Gallery CD, produced by Johnny Depp and Hal Willner in connection with The Pirates of the Caribbean film, landed Baby Gramps on the David Letterman Show accompanied by Tony Garnier, Bob Dylan’s band leader and bass player.Part musical wizard, part hobo and part pirate, Seattle based artist Baby Gramps is known for his Popeye-like rubbled throat singing, as a charismatic entertainer and as a collector of old songs.

#BABY GRAMPS UPDATE#
One is a documentary about the history of jugband music, another is an update of the academy award nominated film Streetwise that he performed some music for 30 years ago, and the third is 50 Feet of Film that includes a new original song about the homeless.īaby Gramps toured Australia, England, and Ireland as part of the Rogues Gallery CD Concert Tour with Tim Robbins (actor), Marianne Faithful, Lou Reed, Martin Carthy, Suzanne Vega, Ralph Steadman, and many other internationally known performers. In recent years, Baby Gramps was asked to be part of three films. He plays a National Steel guitar, and sings his own unique arrangements of rags, jazz, & blues from the 20's & 30's, and many originals with wordplay, humor, and throat singing.Īccording to an article in Seattle Metropolitan Magazine, Baby Gramps is acknowledged as one of the top 50 most influential musicians in the last 100 years. Baby Gramps is an energetic humorously entertaining performer with an endless repertoire.
