June 1999

Cootie Stark
Sugar Man
Cello

By Bill Milkowski

Cootie Stark is the Piedmont specialist of the bunch. A direct link to Piedmont pioneers like Pink Anderson and Peg Leg Sam, the 72-year-old Stark cuts loose with downhome authority on Sugar Man (Cello 91002-2; 67:00). He strums hard and sings with a barrel chested delivery on originals like "Metal Bottoms," "Jigroo," and "Send You Back to Georgia." He demonstrates a more facile though no less affecting fingerstyle approach on his own "Lonely Blues" and on the traditional number "Blue Smokey Mountain." And a decided gospel influence comes out on "Were You There When They Crucified My Lord?"