Hermon Hitson plays the Drunken Unicorn on Sat., May 2
May 1st, 2009 by Chad Radford in Music newsHermon Hitson is an old-school Georgia soul, rock and R&B man who is perhaps one of the best kept secrets in town. He’s played songs with everyone from Jimi Hendrix to Santana and the Allman Bros. to the Mighty Hannibal. For this show, he will be playing with his band the Buckboard Express and focusing primarily on songs from his ’68 rock/soul LP You Are Too Much for the Human Heart.
Hermon paid a visit to my office a few months back and told me some pretty amazing stories about hanging out and feeling no pain in the ’60s while playing with the likes of everyone from too many rock and roll legends to name, including Jimi Hendrix, who played guitar on Hitson’s mid ’60s album, Free Spirit.
To get a little background on hermon I asked DJ/record addict and Georgiasoul.com blogger Brian Poust if he could weigh in with a bit of a history lesson on Hermon’s career. First he suggested that I read this.
Later, Poust write back later with the following words:
Born in Philly, moved to Jacksonville, FL as a toddler. [Hermon] started the Stereophonics, competed with Jacksonville’s rival band the Soul Chargers, a band featuring James Fountain as singer. Hermon moved to Atlanta and started the Rockin’ Tonics after playing some prior gigs here. The Soul Chargers followed to Atlanta a few years later, and Hermon now uses the Soul Chargers drummer in his band, the Buckboard Express.
Hermon became friends with Lee Moses and Freddie Terrell (who also plays with Hermon on occasion now) and the three of them – all guitarists – worked closely together through the rest of the ’60s and early ’70s. When Hannibal moved back to ATL from LA in the mid ’60s, Hermon also befriended him, which paid off pretty big when Hannibal paid for and produced the “Sweet Rose” 45.
Hermon recorded eight 45’s during the most substantial part of his career, and toured in Joe Tex’s band, as well as Major Lance’s band during the ’70s/’80s. A lot of people (Hermon included) like to play up the Jimi Hendrix connection, but I think his work stands up well enough on its own rather than having to play the Hendrix card on a regular basis.
To me, Hermon’s music is a perfect example of what sets Southern soul apart from everything else. The slick sounds of Philly, sweet Chicago and Motown influenced Detroit records are great, but the grit in Hermon’s voice, the style of his guitar playing and the feeling – especially in his ballads – is purely Southern. Also, while a lot of soul artists from Hermon’s era have gone almost entirely into the blues club circuit, Hermon has remained true to what he has done best all along.
Local space funk all-stars Noot d’ Noot also perform. $10. 9 p.m. Sat., May 2. The Drunken Unicorn.
Videos of Hermon Hitson after the jump.
May 1st, 2009 at 5:39 pm
1st Youtube clip is with Eli “Paperboy” Reed & the Trueloves in Chicago.
May 4th, 2009 at 11:55 am
No Jimi Hendrix involvement in the Hitson album “Free Spirit”
what so ever.
Just another fake trying to cash in on Jimi’s talent after his death. For more on Jimi’s career as a session guitarist BEFORE the Jimi Hendrix Experience go to: http://www.earlyhendrix.com
May 4th, 2009 at 12:10 pm
Actually, the only “cashing in” was the producer Johnny Brantley putting Hendrix’s name on Hitson’s work and trying to pass it off as Jimi, but that’s for another day. I don’t think anyone at Creative Loafing was implying otherwise.
Hendrix and Hitson DID know each other while Hendrix spent time in Atlanta pre-England, but to imply that Hitson is a fake only illustrates to me that you are not familiar with Hitson. It’s not really a good look to make comments on subjects when you’re not aware of the whole story. But thanks for trying, Keith Dion.