Historic Society searches for Daniels' relatives

The Historic Society of Bamberg County is looking for possible relatives of Julius Daniels, or anyone that may have known him. He may have been born either in 1901, 1902, or 1903 in Denmark, SC, on November 20 and died October 18, 1947.

Daniels was an American blues musician. His song “99 Year Blues” appeared on the box set Anthology of American Folk Music and has been covered by Jim Kweskin, Chris Smither, Johnny Winter, Charlie Parr and Hot Tuna on their album Burgers. It has been often credited as a possible source for the tune “Viola Lee Blues”, recorded by Cannon’s Jug Stompers in the 1920s and the Grateful Dead in 1966.

Although he only recorded a few tunes, Daniels plays an important role in the history of Piedmont blues. One of the first black artists to record in the Southeast, Daniels inspired future bluesmen with his mix of finger-picked blues, sacred and country music.

Recording for the first time in 1927, Julius Daniels was accompanied by guitarist, Bubba Lee Torrence, with whom he shared top billing. During his second recording session, Daniels was joined by guitarist, Wilbert Andrews.

A native of the small Bamberg County Town of Denmark, South Carolina, Daniels lived in Pineville, in Berkley County, between 1912 and 1930. He relocated to Charlotte, North Carolina in 1930 and lived the rest of his life there, working in a variety of jobs, including a firefighter.

The Historic Society of Bamberg County will be starting the first annual Julius Daniels Memorial Blues Festival October 23, 2010 in Denmark.

If you are a family member, or remember, or have any information on Julius Daniels, please contact Nancy Foster, 803-245-1000.

“We have done a great deal of research and have found that Mr. Julius Daniels, born in Denmark, paved the way for future “bluesmen”, said Nancy Foster, President of the Bamberg County Historic Society.

Threatt City Municipal Judge

Jerry E. Halmon, Staff Reporter

At a special meeting of Bamberg City Council on Monday, July 19, and council members unanimously selected Bamberg County Chief Magistrate Craig Threatt to serve as the city’s municipal judge replacing retiring Judge Franklin Gibson effective August 1.

Judge Threatt, who will also retain his job as Chief Magistrate of Bamberg County said that the transition to the City of Bamberg’s Municipal Judge will be a “seamless” one with “no loss of services.”

Make A Difference

Jerry Durgan, Contributing Writer

Members of Bamberg’s 301 Express Motorcycle Club are making a difference in the lives of Cub Scouts in Pack 441.

In the 90’s plus heat and high humidity Saturday they worked on renovating a badly damaged house on Bridge Street across the street from Thankful Baptist Church who owns the building. Cub Scout Pack 441 has held its meetings at Thankful Church for several years but now will soon have a Scout hut of their own thanks to the motorcycle club.

Halmon Wins

Jerry E. Halmon, Staff Reporter

The Advertizer Herald captured third place for the Best Sports Page at Trib Publication’s Annual News Conference held this weekend in Warms Springs, Georgia.

Jerry E. Halmon, Sports Editor for The Advertizer- Herald said, “Winning this award is a team effort. I thank the Publisher of The Advertizer Herald, Joyce Searson, for allowing me to use my own discretion and latitude in doing the sports page each week and Kyle Jones, the production manager at the paper for laying out the sports page and all the other employees of The Advertizer Herald.”

“And finally I would like to thank the many readers of The Advertizer Herald, the players, the coaches who take the time to send stats each week, parents and my wife Pamela, who is my biggest critic and fan for putting up with all the late hours. If not for all of these folks this award would not be possible.”