SKIP JAMES LETTER W/ SIGNATURE PARAMOUNT BLUES 78 RPM

Jefferson St Phila Pa Oct 14 - 1966

Miss Maggie Calt -

Dearest amoung Dearest. Just A word to let you hear from me - wife. We are very well so far in health and are getting along very well so far. Trusting that you are getting along fine and still a sweet girl and are studying hard. It was so very nice to get such a lovely sweet letter from you, as a dear friend in whom I am so very much confied in and admire so much. I hope you will soon get a chance to hear one of my last records every body say the are a great hit. and I do hope that you will like it too. The peoples say that the piano music is really great. I received a letter from Stephen Calt yesterday. He is well and doing fine. Now Maggie will study hard and do not forget to pray and the Lord will help you. So Lorenza (illegible) in sending best wishes and the very best regards and good luck to you and your friends.

So by now for this time Yours Truely

Nehemiah Skip James 

HERE IS WHAT MAGGIE HAS TO ADD:

  I MET SKIP JAMES SOMETIME IN LATE 1964, WHEN HE VISITED OUR HOUSE FOR THE FIRST TIME WITH MY BROTHER, STEPHEN CALT. I REMEBER STEVE GOT REALLY ANNOYED WITH ME BECAUSE I REFUSED TO PLAW COW COW BLUES FOR SKIP ON THE PIANO. I DON'T KNOW WHICH MEMORY EMBARRASSES ME MORE: THE INCREDIBLY LAME, PALTRY VERSION I'D WORKED OUT OF JAME'S TUNE, OR THE STERN SCOLDING I GOT FROM BOTH SKIP AND MY BROTHER FOR REFUSING TO PLAY. 

  STEVE AND SKIP SUBSEQUENTLY DEVELOPED A CLOSE RELATIONSHIP. THIS WAS JUST A FEW YEARS AFTER OUR DAD HAD DIED. I BELIEVE SKIP WAS GENUIELY FOND OF MY BROTHER, STEVE KEPT IN CLOSE CONTACT WITH HIM DURING THOSE YEARS AND LOOKED UP TO HIM AS SOMEWHAT OF A FATHER FIGURE AT THAT TIME. HE ALSO ENCOURAGED ME TO KEEP UP A CORRESPONDENCE WITH SKIP AND LORENZO(HIS WIFE). 

  SOMETIMES I WOULD ACCOMPANY MY BROTHER ON HIS VISITS TO THE JAME'S HOME ON JEFFERSON STREET IN PHILADELPHIA. THESE WERE MOSTLY SOCIAL OCCASIONS -- WE WOULD "HANG OUT" ON THE PORCH, VISIT WITH LORENZO'S RELATIVES, PLAY MUSIC FROM TIME TO TIME... I GUESS I SPENT MUCH OF THE TIME IN THE KITCHEN COOKING WITH LORENZO, WHILE STEVE AND SKIP CARRIED ON THEIR DISCUSSIONS UPSTAIRS.  

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