It’s the centenary of the birth of Howard Finster, Man of vision, world’s minister of folk art, great southern eccentric – and that seems a pretty good excuse to pause and take a little look at some of his work, turn our backs on the hell of the past year and ponder the quieter more peaceful world he built in his Paradise Garden. You might not share the Reverend’s faith but he brought a message of hope and goodwill through his singular vision bringing beauty and joy to the world. Here’s an old video clip of a wander through the garden ( there’s a whole lot more that type thing on there if you wanna go looking. Damn it looks warm in that video, the Georgia heat sure feels a long way off today). Bearing in mind the season we also got a page from his book of The Night Before Christmas there and a old one of our shows that features a good deal of Howard down at the bottom.
Here’s an old mix from when we done the gospel an medicine show, including the title track from the album ‘The Night Howard Finster Got Saved’. It’s a pretty unique recording friends, a long free form tape collage type deal and it features Howard singin’ some gospel numbers and preachin’ some and generally exhorting us all to stay away from hell and such built up in layers with what sounds like crowd recordings and someone (maybe Howard) preachin’ through a bullhorn and so on. The full thing is about 25 mins long and filled with righteous fire!
If you somehow managed to avoid him on your journey so far we’re real pleased to introduce you.
Elvis Presley – In My Father’s House
Blind Boys Of Alabama – Our Fathers’ Praying Ground
The R.B Gospel Singers – Father, I Pray
Etta James – To My Father’s House
The Winstons – Color Him Father
Aubrey Ghent – Father In Jesus’ Name
Hubert Cunningham – In My Father’s House
Bishop Perry Tillis – Heavenly Father
Blind Boys Of Alabama – Father I Stretch Out My Hands To Thee
Howard Finster – The Night Howard Finster Got Saved
In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. John 14:2
paradise garden foundation
