Billy Bizor Screwdriver (1969)

I do not own the copyright to this recording. This video is for historical and educational purposes Billy Bizor was born in Centerville, Leon County, Texas in 1917, a cousin of Lightnin’ Hopkins. He worked as a farm hand in his youth and took up music as a way to escape the farming life. He moved to Houston with his parents and later found work in the local clubs and dives. In July,1961 Arhoolie recorded an album’s worth of material by Bizor (Backed by Lightnin’ Hopkins & Cleveland Chenier), but the recordings were shelved. Despite the setback, by 1966 he was building up quite a following with the local college kids that dug the blues. In 1968 one of Bizor’s recordings (from the same session as this track) “Tell Me Where You Stayed Last Night“ appeared on an Avco/Embassy compiliation “Soul In The Beginning“ It may have been the only recording that Bizor may have heard himself appear on. In addition to playing music, Bizor and his wife Alberta operated a barbecue