Shakey Jake moving on

Shakey (or Shakin') Jake Woods, a great storyteller and guitarist, a true legend of Ann Arbor, Michigan, passed away last Sunday, September 16, 2007, at the age of 82. Or maybe he was 106, you never really knew for sure with Jake. He didn't know how to tune a guitar, and sometimes his guitar had only one, two, or even no strings at all. But somehow this all didn't matter, he certainly had the spirit of the blues. Born in Little Rock, Arkansas, Jake moved to Saginaw, Michigan, and finally to Ann Arbor after playing a hugely successful 5-minute gig at the Ann Arbor Blues Festival in 1973. If you have ever spent more than a few hours in Ann Arbor in the last 34 years, you have probably met Jake or heard people talk about him. Shakey Jake will be missed, but his legend lives on. Here are a few links for you to check out:

An older blog post I wrote with three MP3s from his one and only CD On The Move. Several people who knew Jake left comments.

The Ann Arbor News looks back on Jake's life, and tons of people who knew Jake left comments.

Some University of Michigan students made this absolutely amazing video (YouTube video) about Jake. Here he says he was born on Halloween in the year 1900.

More videos: Ann Arbor residents remember Jake (YouTube), Coverage of today's memorial parade (Ann Arbor News story with video)

Saginaw residents still remember Jake fondly, and there is a Shakey Jake Blues Festival happening next week, September 29.

Fun facts (all according to Jake himself): He was born a midget, but when the doctor left the room, he grew six inches; he traveled around the world dozens of times, but never in an airplane; and he wrote "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot".

We will let Jake have the last word: "There's 88 notes on the guitar. I knows 'em all."

Comments

[365]

We brake for jake. 2 more mp3's,

http://www.wfmu.org/365/2003/171.shtml

[wolf]

Wow...I knew him for the 19 years spent growing up there, used to work making the tshirts he sold. Stopped to talk with him many late nights. Gosh he was always the same age, never thought he would pass away. Great guy.

[Krull]

Don't forget the "I Brake for Jake" t-shirt...at A3 Community Radio:

Shakey Jake Memorial Webpage

[Ed Special]

Shakin Jake Woods
born August 24, 1925 in Little Rock, Arkansas
died September 16, 2007 in Ann Arbor, Michigan

I met Jake around 1973 here in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Standing on the corner of State and William streets, playing his guitar.
I thought I heard him say "On the move"
Are you saying "on the moon" or "on the move" I asked.
He said "Gotta have both of 'em"

Fact vs Myth

He never owned a house.
He never learned to read.
He never owned nor drove a car.
He was not rich in any monetary sense.
Jake lived on Social Security and the kindness and generosity of others.

Some people have mistaken “Cadillac Joe” for Jake.
“Cadillac Joe” ownes a house several blocks from Michigan Stadium, has owned several Cadillacs in which he cruises (one at a time) slowly around Ann Arbor, with blues music blaring from the radio lookin for babes.

As for claims made by Jake himself, I have no doubts.

ON THE MOVE was recorded at WCBN-FM Ann Arbor by Charlie White and Dan Gunning in 1977 & 1978. Until moving to the west coast in 1984 Dan Gunning produced the first cassette release for Shakin Jake. He gave me the master tape and I continued producing the cassette until shifting into CD mode in 2003.

I am now posting the tracks and CD artwork for free to all.
Feel free to copy and give it away but PLEASE DO NOT SELL IT.

http://stupid.sensoryresearch.net/SHAKIN_JAKE_WOODS_-_ON_THE_MOVE_CD.zip

If you want a ready made hard copy, I’ll make them available for the cost of production and shipping (cheap) through:
Peaceable Kingdom
210 S. Main Street
Ann Arbor, MI 48104
or call Carol at 734 668-7886
or
[email protected]

Links http://arborwiki.org/city/Shaky_Jake

I can’t put into words yet the impact Jake has left on me, but I’ll bet that having joined the likes of Sun Ra, Frank Zappa and Shooby Taylor he’s in good company.

"The whole world's gonna miss me" - Jake Woods

Ed Special

[Keith Dugan]

His Name was (Guitar Jake) He came down weadock st every day and played a song for us. His Name was Guitar Jake not shaky jake. I still remeber him singing ( Naked woman put on you bathin suit)