BUSTER BENTON
Even when The Blues is going through one of its slow spells, some performers still come to the fore who have something powerful and urgent to communicate. Buster Benton was one of those guys who put his body and soul into his music: his emotive vocals and heartfelt guitar lines gave his slow Blues an authentic pain, and his up-tempo music rang with joy. Although he remains a footnote in the bigger picture in the History of the Blues, Buster was the real deal.
Buster’s biggest hit, ‘Spider in My Stew’;
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[stextbox id=”custom” caption=”Buster Benton Discography” float=”true” align=”left” width=”300″]The original Spider in My Stew is ruinously expensive now, but it is the lead track on this excellent 14 cut compilation of Buster’s best work.
BEST OF BUSTER BENTON
[/stextbox]In the early 80s, Buster toured Europe several times, recording albums in France for Black & Blue in 1983 and ’86, but by then his diabetes was becoming a major problem. Part of his leg was amputated in 1983, and the other was removed ten years later. Undeterred, Buster continued to perform, making three more albums for the Ichiban label and several memorable Festival appearances, and hooking up many times with harp player Carey Bell. Dialysis failed to halt the onset of Buster’s diabetic condition, and he passed away in Chicago in 1996.