Delta Bluesman "Honeyboy" Edwards Announces Retirement at Age 96

By Damian Fanelli
published

David "Honeyboy" Edwards, the 96-year-old blues singer and guitarist, has officially announced his retirement, as reported by AmericanBluesScene.com.

Michael Frank of Earwig Music, Edwards' label, released this statement: “Honeyboy Edwards has retired due to ongoing health issues. Send him a get-well note to mfrank@earwigmusic.com.”

Edwards has missed most of this year's scheduled performances.

Edwards is one of the last remaining great Delta bluesmen who recorded before WWII. His career started in 1942 when folklorist Alan Lomax recorded him in Clarksdale, Mississippi, for the Library Of Congress. Since then, Edwards has recorded regularly, including several tracks for Sun Records, Chess, ARC, Folkways, Trix, Roots, Testament, Evidence and other labels, including Earwig.

He has received two Grammy Awards and two Blues Music Awards and was inducted into the Blues Hall Of Fame.

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Damian Fanelli
Damian Fanelli
Editor-in-Chief, Guitar World

Damian is Editor-in-Chief of Guitar World magazine. In past lives, he was GW’s managing editor and online managing editor. He's written liner notes for major-label releases, including Stevie Ray Vaughan's 'The Complete Epic Recordings Collection' (Sony Legacy) and has interviewed everyone from Yngwie Malmsteen to Kevin Bacon (with a few memorable Eric Clapton chats thrown into the mix). Damian, a former member of Brooklyn's The Gas House Gorillas, was the sole guitarist in Mister Neutron, a trio that toured the U.S. and released three albums. He now plays in two NYC-area bands.