num_pages: 416
description: " Mister Satan's Apprentice is a rare musical history because, not only can Gussow play, but he can also write. The writing is good enough to bring the music to life." -- The Philadelphia InquirerMister Satan's Apprentice is a lyrical and heartfelt account of a remarkable friendship born out of  blues music.  For Adam Gussow playing blues harmonica is an escape.  And one evening while still reeling from a recent breakup, he meets Nat Riddles, a self-described "harmonica-man for all occasions" who recognizes in Adam a kindred musical spirit, offering him an entrée into the blues scene. When Nat flees the city after surviving a near-fatal shooting, Adam turns to a philosophical Mississippi native known as Mister Satan, a brilliant Harlem street musician who plays guitar and percussion simultaneously.What begins as an apprenticeship evolves into a unique collaboration, one that not only wins the performing duo critical acclaim, but also demonstrates their ability to transcend generational and cultural divides.  At once a remarkable coming of age story and a fascinating tale of the redemptive nature of the blues, Mister Satan's Apprentice is also the story of how two muscians form a unique friendship based on a shared love of the blues.
language: English
title: Mister Satan's Apprentice: A Blues Memoir
titlecomplete: Mister Satan's Apprentice: A Blues Memoir
genres: Memoir, Nonfiction, Music, Biography
ratings_count: 102
awards: awardedAt: 946713600000
name: Keeping the Blues Alive Award
category: Literature
publisher: Vintage