There are many stories about Pat Auburn Hare. I’m going to focus on his music. He played with Howlin’ Wolf, Muddy Waters, Junior Parker, Bobby Bland and others. He’s known for being among the first guitarists to play with a heavily distorted tone; “Cotton Crop Blues” and “Bonus Pay” are probably the two best examples of that.

Couldn’t find the personnel and dates on several of these at the time I posted, but you can see the Sun labels, which in his case means Memphis, mid-to-late ’50s. Please see the REFERENCES link at the very end if you want to find more Pat Hare recordings.

Howlin’ Wolf “Everybody’s In the Mood” with Pat Hare on guitar
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ymVdGhFBros

Howlin’ Wolf , “Well That’s Alright” with Pat Hare on guitar

Walter Bradford, “Love for My Baby” with Pat Hare on guitar (June 14, 1952)

Junior Parker, “Love My Baby” backed with “Mystery Train” with Pat Hare on guitar (1953). This record is what Elvis Presley and Scotty Moore used to create their “Mystery Train.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CEbkntivvSQ

Little Junior Parker with Bill Johnson’s Blue Flames, “Can’t Understand” with Pat Hare (guitar), Bill Johnson (piano), other musicians unknown (1953)

James Cotton (vocal), “Cotton Crop Blues” with Pat Hare (guitar), Mose Vinson (piano), John Bowers drums), Memphis, (recorded May 14, 1954). Some people refer to this as the first heavy metal song.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YAqTrbuxCRI

James Cotton (vocal), “Hold Me In Your Arms”; this is the flip of “Cotton Crop Blues,” all same personnel, recorded the same day.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XuQIKOXffk4

Pat Hare (vocal, guitar), “I’m Gonna Murder My Baby” with Billy “Red” Love (piano), Israel Franklin (drums), recorded May 14, 1954, in Memphis, TN

Pat Hare, “Bonus Pay,” with Billy “Red” Love (piano), Israel Franklin (drums), recorded May 14, 1954, in Memphis, TN

Rosco Gordon “Just Love Me Baby,” with Pat Hare on guitar (recorded June 9, 1955)

Little Junior Parker, “Next Time You See Me,” with Pat Hare on guitar (recorded November 1956, released January 1957).

Bobby Blue Bland, “Farther On Up the Road” with Pat Hare (guitar), 1957—my favorite of them all.

Muddy Waters (vocal, guitar), “Evil” with Pat Hare (guitar), Chicago (recorded June 1957)

Muddy Waters (vocal, guitar) “Walking Thru the Park” with James Cotton (harp), Pat Hare, Luther Tucker (guitars), Otis Spann (piano), Andrew Stephenson (bass), Francis Clay (drums), Chicago (1958).

Muddy Waters (vocal), “Blues Before Sunrise” with Little Walter (harp), Pat Hare (guitar), Otis Spann (piano) Andrew Stephenson (bass), Francis Clay (drums) (1959)

Muddy Waters (vocal), “Got My Mojo Workin’” with James Cotton (harp), Pat Hare (guitar), Otis Spann (piano) Andrew Stephenson (bass), Francis Clay (drums) live at the Newport Jazz Festival (July 3, 1960)

Two Pat Hare playlists

This one is a little barren, but it has a couple interesting songs I didn’t include, and the thing with playlists is if the proprietor takes an interest in them, they can rebound.

* M O R E, D I F F E R E N T * * * * * * * * * *

Here’s a clip from the film below, with James Son Thomas and Joe Cooper singing “Catfish Blues” from the Bill Ferris film I Ain’t Lyin’—Folk Tales of Mississippi (1975).

I Ain’t Lyin’—Folk Tales of Mississippi (1975)

* * E V E N M O R E, D I F F E R E N T * * * * * * * * * *

Big Maceo Merriweather and Tampa Red, “Big Road Blues” (1945)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iBX_ba90W8Q

Big Maceo Merriweather and Tampa Red, “Come On Home” (1945)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_cOzyqahyx8

* * * S T I L L M O R E, D I F F E R E N T * * * * * * * * * *

Here’s a kind of informal half-hour concert and interview film featuring Roosevelt Sykes aka the Honeydripper, he explains why in the video of that name below (1972)

Roosevelt Sykes, “The Honeydripper” (1970). There’s an interesting comment on this video about his relationship with Fats Domino.

Roosevelt Sykes, “Tall Heavy Mama” (1966)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yw013XtE_e4

* * * * R E F E R E N C E S * * * * * * * * * * *

Many recording details from the Pat Hare discography in my favorite resource, Stefan Wirz’s invaluable American Music.