Letters for September 6-12, 2007

The blues are hard to do: I agree with almost all of your article ("Blacks and the Blues," Jonathan Cunningham, July 5). I take great exception to the part where you state that it doesn't take a great deal of skill or vocal talent to perform the blues. Are you a musician? I perform the works of Robert Johnson, verbatim, as acknowledged by the late great Robert Lockwood Jr. There isn't a white man alive who can sing or play the blues like Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, Charley Patton, or Lonnie Johnson. If you are a musician, I'd like to see you try. If you are not, you should consult James Cotton (my friend), Hubert Sumlin (my daddy), BB King, KoKo Taylor, Keith Richards, and even Eric Clapton. They can all tell you about the skill involved in singin' and playin' the blues.

New Haven, Connecticut