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Description: | This is one of a number of songs written in remembrance of 'Blind Willie'. 'Blind Willy' was in fact one William Purvis, or as he was more commonly known, Billy Purvis. Purvis, an inhabitant of the poor-house at All Saints, was a multi-skilled musician and showman as well as a revered dance teacher and is remembered in a number of Tyneside songs. Blind Willy died on 20th July, 1832.This song forms part of a small songbook written by local confectioner, T.W. Adams and dated '1883' in manuscript on the title-page. Little is known of the author other than his profession, but the nature of the compositions would suggest that Adams was not a professional music hall performer or composer. It is more likely that the confectioner was a small-time entertainer who composed small 'throw away' pieces for enjoyment which he was able to have printed, probably for sale in his shop. ; Late nineteenth century songbook | Publisher: | unknown local characters and strange events | Rights holder: | rights holder : Gateshead Council | Subjects: | characters & entertainment | Temporal: | start=1861;end=1900; | Source: | Folk Archive Resource North East | Identifier: | farne:G0700602 | Go to resource |
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