Guitar Slim rocked till the end– a street name desired

By CELESTE M. HART

Nathaniel ‘Guitar Slim’ Savage, rocked stages with his guitar, Down Home Blues songs and fancy leg work, for over 65 years , primarily at Cleveland’s Cascade Lounge, located at 8012 St. Clair Avenue and other venues across the country. Slim rocked to the end of his life, died, October 7, 2017, from a heart condition, at age 82, while performing on stage with Earl the Pearl and the Blues Posse Band, at the VIP Lounge, 3029 Woodhill Road. Fox8 TV news investigation revealed some 911 callers provided the wrong address as Woodland Avenue, thus delayed medical attention.

“He (Slim) was riding his guitar and he just dropped to the floor,” said Chip Fitzgerald, his band partner of over 40 years.

Slim, on a Fender guitar, sang his last song, Howlin’ Wolf’s Smokestack Lightening; with lyrics, Whoa-h, fare-you-well, Never see a you no more, why don’t you hear me cryin?

“If I fall and I can’t get back on my feet, it is time for me to go. Take my ashes and sprinkle on the garden for fertilizer,” said Patrice Savage Marshall, as one of her father’s last messages. “He was resuscitated but didn’t stay up.”

Slim rode with his guitar since the age of 12, born in Fuman, Alabama, March 2, 1935, a sharecropper, when an uncle from Cleveland brought one back home. Before then, he created one, used a stick, rubber bands and a nail, according to Savage-Marshall. She said he was self-taught and could not read music. In 1956, Slim relocated to Cleveland and performed in venues including, Smitty’s, Skeet’s, Lancer’s and voluntarily for seniors at Ru-Clare’s Adult Day Center. He transformed from farmer’s overalls, in the daytime, to the sharpest suits that matched his guitars and cowboy hats,at night.

Slim produced eight daughters and one son who followed in his dad’s guitar playing footprints. The family and dedicated friends petitioned,with over 300 signatures, for the street, 82^nd and Hough Avenue in Ward 7, to be renamed in Slim’s honor. Marshall plans to produce a documentary about Slim’s life.

“My dad has contributed to the Cleveland community for many years, over 60 years, in many ways, through his music, his gardens and fishing. He played all through the South and the North. He taught others how to play and survive,” said Marshall.

Daughters, Marshall and Rhonda Savage, who also sings the blues and granddaughter, Diamond Brown, maintain his legacy through the seven gardens that produce vegetables and fruit, including, greens, watermelons and peaches, located in Ward 7, called, Nate’s Corner, 4 Seasons of Freshness, Slim left behind.

Slim, honored by several establishments and organizations including the Cleveland Blues Society, Skeet’s Lounge in 2022, and inducted into Cleveland Blues Hall of Fame, in 2010, left a strong legacy. His Proclamations include recognition from former mayors, Jane Campbell and Frank Jackson, Cleveland and David Smith, North Randall Village. The Blues Society hosted a Slim memorial tribute concert, at Beachland Ballroom, the first birthday after his death, March 5, 2018. Musicians included, Crazy Marvin Braxton, Travis ‘Moonchild’ Haddix, Ms. Butterscotch, Bob Frank and Wallace Coleman.

Online tributes from musicians and fans across the country:

“We vow to help keep his memory alive by playing his original music on Music FoUrEars AM 1490 radio”–Kent N. Angelica

“I would like to thank you, Guitar Slim for giving me a song to sing and a chance to be on stage with you, in 1975, that’s when I knew I was going to be the BEST entertainer I could be—Angelo Solowkei

“He was a great and timeless spirit passing through this world..the greatness of his talent, his joy and love and constant contribution to this world—David ‘Ozy’ Ozenbaugh.

“Guitar Slim could play anything with strings, any guitar, a Gibson or whatever. And he was left-handed, but, he learned to play with his right. When he played with that copper pipe, that slide, nobody in Cleveland could play that slide like Slim. I am toally supportive of any endeavors to keep is legacy alive,” said Victor Smiley who played with Slim, 60 years.

Slim always said, as his intro before performing,

“Ain’t nothing but sometin to do. Look out.”

 Guitar Slide, involves playing a guitar while holding a hard object (a slide) against the strings, that reflect characteristics of the human singing voice. Most players of blues slide guitar were from the southern US particularly the Mississippi Delta, and their music was likely from an African origin handed down to African-American sharecroppers who sang as they toiled in the fields) Wkipedia