Luke Bell Joins Martha Spencer For One of His Last Recordings
To a select few, Luke Bell was one of their favorite underground country artists, despite how elusive he had been over the last few years. To many more now after his tragic passing at age 32 this week, he’s their new favorite discovery in country music, especially as his story has surprisingly gripped the nation. But to a small scene of artists, Luke Bell was a close friend. Bell’s confidant and handler over the last few years was primitive country/ old-time artist artist Matt Kinman. Also part of Luke’s musical family was Appalachian singer, songwriter, flatfoot/clog dancer, and multi-instrumentalist Martha Spencer.
This week has been very bittersweet for Martha. It happened to be that Luke Bell picked the same week to grab everyone’s attention that she was releasing her new album called Wonderland, which also happens to feature Luke Bell appearing on one of the album’s tracks—a rendition of the old traditional “Hesitation Blues.” This was supposed to be Luke Bell’s re-appearance in the recorded space to support his good friend, and it doesn’t deserve to be overshadowed.
“I’m so thankful to everyone that played on the album or helped put it out,” says Martha Spencer. “I feel like recordings can sometimes offer a glimpse of time into some of the people you really love and musical friendships you cherish. My heart is very heavy with the loss of Luke this week, but I’ll always be thankful for his friendship and his voice on this album and videos.”
It was in October of last year that Luke Bell re-emerged after one of his many extended periods of disappearance to perform the Guy Clark song “Dublin Blues” in a live video in the important country music town of Galax, Virginia. Along with the Guy Clark cover, Bell also joined Martha, Matt Kinman, and Billy Hurt for a live version of “Hesitation Blues” down by the water hole. It was one of the last times Luke Bell would be captured in a professionally-made video (see below).
“Forever love to all the wonderful friends who have been willing to share music with me through the years and I’ll miss you forever Luke,” says Martha Spencer, who grew up playing mountain music in the legendary Whitetop Mountain Band. Along with classic compositions such as “Hesitation Blues,” Wonderland by Martha Spencer also features original songs sung by Martha’s distinctly bygone singing style.
Some have been wondering after the passing of Luke Bell if there may be more music from him out there sitting on a shelf somewhere. That is yet to be determined. But it at the moment, his collaboration with Martha Spencer is the last professionally recorded song we have of Luke out there, and we have Martha Spencer to thank for it.
– – – – – – – –
Those who wish to donate in Luke’s memory can donate to the Luke Bell Memorial Fund via the Christ Episcopal Church, or they are being asked to donate to Music Health Alliance.
September 3, 2022 @ 8:53 am
So glad you included the Hesitation Blues video, and highlighted the Martha Spencer album, again.
???? ♥️ to all of Luke’s friends, who are hurting.
September 3, 2022 @ 9:42 am
He reminds me of Rory feek here. With the way he’s singing and dressed in the background. She’s similar looking to Joey also. What a shame his passing was.
September 3, 2022 @ 10:17 am
It’s tragic. If he could’ve stuck around a few years longer I bet there would have been a comeback for him. 32 is way too young.
September 3, 2022 @ 11:25 am
It’s not called ‘primitive country’. It’s been called old-time music (or old familiar songs or some similar variation on ‘old time’ ) since before electrified country music existed. It’s literally the name of the genre.
September 3, 2022 @ 2:29 pm
Stellar,
I appreciate your passion on this issue. I spoke to Matt Kinman earlier this week, and what he said to me was, “I play traditional country. Old, traditional country. I’ve never played the new stuff, and I probably never will.”
I definitely know there is an old-time genre. I’m not sure Matt fits into it well because al lot of what he plays is very early country and folk standards as opposed to straight up “old-time,” though he will play some of that too. I did not create the “primitive country” term out of whole cloth. I read it in history books and articles, and I would say Matt Kinman perhaps embodies it as good as anyone.
September 4, 2022 @ 6:37 am
These people play TRADITIONAL music, not the yuppie pop genre known as “old-time.”
September 4, 2022 @ 8:57 am
I recommend you go tell the Whitetop Mountain Band, or any of the long -running multi generational family band dynasties from their area, that their traditional music is yuppie pop because they call it old time music. I dare you.
September 6, 2022 @ 6:32 am
Hah that’d go real well.
September 3, 2022 @ 11:38 am
also, groups like Music Health Alliance are really important and we should be putting info about them on blast right now (and donating to them). There is help for mental health issues, grief, and addiction issues, including help that’s geared specifically at musicians who face some special challenges due to the challenging bar environment they work in and who often don’t have a lot of money to spend on getting help for mental health and addiction/alcoholism problems. Please if you know someone suffering, do some research for them if they don’t know about these organizations- there are several in the US.
September 3, 2022 @ 1:54 pm
I talked to someone who’s used these kinds of services to look for mental health and addiction services for my former bandmate. Here are some other services to know about and spread the word about :
music cares, the entertainment fund, rock to recovery, 2nd chance to play, Right Turn
I know they found addiction help services via Music Cares, I’m not sure exactly what the others do yet. Im planning to do some kind of project to put these organizations ‘on blast’ on social media- more people need to know that there is help for musicians in crisis.
September 3, 2022 @ 2:31 pm
I am planning to do a much deeper dive into the mental health aspect of all of this soon. Thanks for bringing awareness to it. Luke Bell specifically utilized some of these services, and I know of other artists that have as well … when they can get access to them.
September 3, 2022 @ 12:54 pm
Thank you for sharing the video – that’s a really wonderful rendition.
September 3, 2022 @ 2:10 pm
“…he’s their new favorite discovery in country music…” Count me among them.
Don’t understand how I could have overlook him. It’s a shame really…
Both his voice and songs are outstanding. If any modern country artist could be compared to Hank Williams then it’s was him. Rest. In. Peace
Likes the video too But I miss 2 verses:
“Standing in corner with a dollar in my hand looking for a woman who’s looking for a man…”
“The eagle on a dollar says, “in God we trust”
A woman says she wants a man, but wants to see the dollar first…
September 3, 2022 @ 3:48 pm
Yup. My first exposure to Luke Bell was right here when Trigger announced he had passed. I was brand new to this website and was pulled into Luke Bell’s music right away.
September 3, 2022 @ 4:12 pm
He sounds good but her voice is super annoying.
September 3, 2022 @ 4:30 pm
I admit I didn’t like it either, but I like her falsetto at the end of her verses. I am going to listen to more of her to get a better feel of it because I think I’ll end up liking it. Time shall tell.
September 3, 2022 @ 4:50 pm
Martha Spencer grew up singing in a very specific style of mountain music that I understand some modern ears could find fey or even perhaps “annoying” in certain compositions. I appreciate it though, and it’s not like she’s singing out-of-tune or something.
September 3, 2022 @ 5:08 pm
Yeah, as a newcomer to many of these genres (Thanks to this website for expanding my tastes, Trigger!), I kinda thought that may be the case. I didn’t find it ”annoying” like Kim stated, but rather surprising and odd. After thinking about it more, I found that I am really wanting to hear more of her voice because it strikes me as something unique. I am wanting more.
September 4, 2022 @ 10:55 am
Yep, Martha Spencer is about as authentic as it gets and multi-talented as Trigger mentions in the article. Her life has been immersed in the real old-time mountain music culture, unlike someone like a Gillian Welch who is certainly talented, but she grew up in like New York City or Hollywood or something. Martha is carrying on an important tradition. I sometimes stream her gigs at the Floyd Country Store when they broadcast. Good stuff!
September 4, 2022 @ 2:32 pm
Thank you for that. I am planning to delve into her music today as a matter of fact.
September 5, 2022 @ 6:39 am
Ok, as I promised, I’ve listened to Martha Spencer and I’ll tell you… she is WONDERFUL! Her voice is something special and to be celebrated. It fills me with joy. She is a beautiful person and I can call myself her newest fan.
Having had no previous experience with her style of music, I just needed to adjust my brains to hear her correctly. Now I want more more more!
September 3, 2022 @ 4:40 pm
I like Martha Spencer’s voice & style, & also like the style of all the musician’s in the Hesitation Blues, video.
Would be great to hear this on Willie’s Roadhouse.
September 3, 2022 @ 7:14 pm
Hey Trig,
Not sure if you will want to post this comment …
Met Christen Morrell on a schooner in Annapolis, on Wednesday. Absolutely fell in love with she & her boyfriend, Jack, who was crewing the ship. Jack is working on his Ph.D. in Oceanography.
Christen is an up & coming musician. Electronic pop.
She shared her music/video, Love To Love You. Loved it.
Hope both of the links will populate if you click on them.
One of the links is of Christen playing a ukulele, she bought on, i think, ebay.
????
https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=945134256032062
https://twitter.com/ChristenMorrell/status/1399086502097924098?s=20&t=oCoARe9PKZN7ameCHpx1uQ