GROSS: If you don't mind my asking, I know you had a mini stroke - a TIA - a couple of years ago. And then sometimes we have dreams or visions, you know, that cause us to think these things. It's just a thing that is fantasy, partly, you know, or things that could happen. Were you especially experiencing restless spirits haunting you (laughter) when you wrote the song?īLAKE: Oh, not exactly. GROSS: That's Norman Blake from his new album, "Wood, Wire & Words." Norman Blake, welcome to FRESH AIR. Faltering voices ask us why, why, oh, why? Now, you can believe what you want to as the winds blow cold in the night, when restless spirits haunt us between midnight and morning's light. But there's no reason to fear them, drifting in space, floating by. Humors of time, space and places rise in the barren, dark sky.
NORMAN BLAKE: (Singing) Flickering shadows and darkness tell all the years gone by. (SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "THE NEW DAWNING DAY") Now at the age of 77, Blake has released an album of original songs called "Wood, Wire & Words" that includes this track called "The New Dawning Day." Blake toured for decades with his wife, Nancy Blake. He should be an absolutely revered musician," unquote. He's learned hundreds of country songs, including rags, instrumental tunes and fiddle numbers, knowing the influences and nuances of every one. T Bone Burnett, who produced the soundtrack album, described Blake as, quote, "one of a handful of the best acoustic guitar players in the world. In addition to his own recordings and performances, he played in Johnny Cash's band, played on Dylan's "Nashville Skyline" album and the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band's "Will The Circle Be Unbroken." He played progressive bluegrass with Vassar Clements and Tut Taylor on John Hartford's album "Aereo-Plain." On the soundtrack of "O Brother, Where Art Thou?" he sang "You Are My Sunshine" and played a solo guitar version of "I Am A Man Of Constant Sorrow." My guest Norman Blake has performed bluegrass music for about 60 years.
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