John Oates | The Story Behind Mississippi John Hurt's Guitar 

Thank you for this. MJH's music deserves to live forever and it's good to see people like you passing it on

Only 744 views? A lot of people out there evidently don't know what they are missing!!! Wonderful interpretation of an iconic blues and made to look so easy.

I saw John Oates on the H&O Big Boom Bam tour in 1984. But I had no idea he could play and sing country blues like this. And great story about John Hurt's guitar. I'm glad it's in good hands.

You had a helluva guitar teacher, Mr. Oates! I'm glad the guitar is in good hands.

I knew and had the privilege of playing FOR Mississippi John in 1963,-- i played "candyman," which I had dutifully and painstakenly taken from his first Lp-- thankfully I was rewarded by John's nod and beatific smile... this memory was a bond between Jerry Ricks and myself. Jerry was a great friend of mine during his tenure in Baltimore, after his return from Europe and before his last trip .. to Croatia. He spoke of Mr. Oates as a former student, but Jerry had done so many fantastical things in his life, that he was at first listen, hard to believe, yet always truthful! Great to hear that teaching the Oates of "Hall and Oates" was also true.

Went to the MIM in Phoenix and saw that amazing guitar, thank you Mr.Oates for sharing that treasure.

Sept 1,2022 Brought my ticket to your tour .In my area.John Oates and all musicians playing on this day

MJH is an often overlooked guitar style pioneer and roots vocalist, and this homage is as fine as it gets.

Thank you John!! We both love MJH and both graduated from North Penn High School!!!

Very nicely played and SUNG! I knew Jerry back in the day, so I know you had a great teacher.

I’m about John’s age and I’m also a big John Hurt fan. I play a more traditional version of this song but Mr Oats sings this song with a vocal flourish than most people don’t realise Mississippi John had. So I think this is the best version of this song I’ve heard other than MJH.

Thank you very much John for your music,you are a great artist ,i love you .i am a France fan 💝💝💝💝👋👋👋👋😘😘😘

That's an amazingly gorgeous peace of blues history

John Hurt!!!! ❤

Love the sounds and story! Must be a wonderful feeling to have your fingers follow in the same “fingersteps” of a great historical figure you admire and respect! 😊

Great playing and singing on a great guitar owned by one of the greatest. I'd love to hold and play MJH's guitar. In much better shape than I'd have expected. Cool how it came full circle.

What a treasure that guitar is… so glad it is someone’s hands who truly understands it’s real value,(not in $$$’s)….

Thank you. That was excellent 😎

Excellent thank you. Not a plectrum seen and how a guitar should be played. Thank you to John Hurt and the inspiration he gave.

Awesome! Greetings from WEST VIRGINIA! As the C&O Railway stretched westward along the Greenbrier River, The Legend of John Henry was born at Big Bend Mountain near Talcott, West Virginia

What a voice,what a nice video ! You’re a true legend

Wow,so cool.Mississippi JohnHurt guitar.Awesome sound.

Thank you

Really loved your interpretation of Spike Driver Blues. Can't believe you got your hands on that iconic guitar at that time and then somehow relocated it! Great story.

Great story.

Beautiful John I love That guitar it sounds like it is in the right hands and Jerry Ricks as a guitar teacher I LOVE Jerry Ricks That must Have Been So Cool .I flat picked most of my life in rock and roll bands Put down the Flat pick A few years ago and Have been relearning guitar playing using open tunings and learning lots of pre war blues roots and spirituals from all the greats John Hurt is how I learn to strengthen my thumb picking From his Music and speaking voice and his Songs What a Sweet black Angle he was,😇 I wish I could Have met him Did you meet him ? His guitar is in the right hands Thank you for the inspiration.

I love Mississipi john hurts

Wow that guitar sounds great!

Really well-played. Just terrific.

Amazing song and amazing backstory

Incredible tribute! Great job snagging those b3’s brother! You’ve def studied the master :)

Love it

I had no idea that you play the blues John, and actually had Mississippi John Hurt's Guitar, I am sure it has some mojo in it

Amazing John!

Denver CO. Was it at Ferretta's Music for a while? BTW, I worked at the Main Point for several years, late 60s. Great sounding guitar, nice version. Thanks.

My Guitar is a left handed Guild. Beautiful sound. Bought it many years ago.

Wow, great story, great guitar, great going!

Nice! I'm glad John's guitar is in good hands! And a nice interpretation of Spike Driver!

Beautiful

Great picking mate. I love finger style guitar playing as much as any other being a muso myself and those old blues dudes are an on going source of inspiration. I recently reconnected with the work of Doc and Merle Watson (thanks to streaming services). Have you recorded anything of your own in this style? (Mississipi John Oates✌️😉)

Excellent job- I'm surprised I've never heard of Jerry Ricks- Joe Sgro and Dennis Sandole were the backbone of the Phila. jazz guitar scene- Jerry must have taught different music. Thanks for this video-

Thank god he got it back and its not just sitting somewhere in some rich fuck boys house NOT being played. You have to also appreciate the full circle here of an Icon playing a fellow icons instrument, and playing it in a manner with which you can hear Mississippi coming back out through Oates. Holy shit man. Whether youre a guitar player or not if this doesnt just send chills to the core of your being, they may need to check your pulse. Things of this nature are why I love being alive right now in this existence. Just wow. Wow. Many thanks. Oates. Killing that shit. Please spread this wild fire to those who need it the most.

WOW

Bravo!

This blows Private Eyes out of the water

Great!

Great

That actually doesnt look like Johns guitar. The fade from one color to the next is more gradual in the one you have than the one seen in photos of Johns. If you do have Johns guitar, you should consider giving it back to Frances Hurt Wright. Look what John gave to the world. Perhaps you could give something of Johns back to his relatives.

Dang. talk about some good vibes in that guitar. I'm surprised the thing doesn't have a golden glowing halo around it.

Is this the one where he was brought into a NY store and told to choose a guitar...and he humbly chose the cheapest one?

thats not john hurts guitar, sorry the burst color isnt matching you can argue that the tuners were changed etc, but theres no explanation for the burst border of the guitar being much thinner sorry

is that the same guitar his mom bought for him? I dont think he kept that one. Did he?

Didn’t MJH actually do most of his songs in an open G tuning?

Does anyone know what guitar John Hurt used to record in 1960's (especially vanguard recordings?)

I honestly don't think this is actually Mississippi John Hurt's Guitar. If you look at pictures and videos of him playing this guitar the fading from the sunburst looks very different. It originally was very yellow/orange this looks just red. Could be the aging but who knows.

Tuned down half step?

Just stop everything and give me that guitar

I wonder who has the Arch Of The Covenant? Whose living room is THAT sitting in.