Blind Dog Radio

Lonesome Sundown

Cornelious Green, b. December 12, 1928 in Donaldsville, LA, d. April 23, 1995 in Gonzales, LA. Green taught himself piano while growing up, then took guitar lessons in his early 20s. He joined Clifton Chenier’s band in 1955, and can be heard on several of that artist’s recordings on the Specialty Records label. The following year he recorded for the first time in his own right and 16 singles were issued over the next nine years under the name given to him by producer J.D. ‘Jay’ Miller - Lonesome Sundown. Many of these, such as ‘My Home Is A Prison’ and ‘Lonesome Lonely Blues’, were classic examples of the unique Louisiana sound - swamp blues - with a resonant production, featuring a strong, booming rhythm section, rippling piano and support from Lazy Lester or John Gradnigo on harmonica and Lionel Prevost on tenor saxophone. Green’s vocals and biting lead guitar invariably provided just the right gritty edge. A religious conversion towards the end of this period led to his withdrawal from the music scene, but he returned, if only briefly, to record an excellent album for the Joliet label in the late 70s. He was severely debilitated in later years following two strokes, and died in 1995.