Alonzo Townsend with Henry's induction plaque.
Henry is now in the Blues Hall Of Fame!
FROM ALONZO
“The Legacy is Alive and THRIVING.
Congratulations Dad a.k.a 2025 The Blues Foundation Hall of Fame Inductee: The Late Great Patriarch of St. Louis Blues, Henry J. Townsend 👑
The greatest honor next to being your son was the privilege and honor to deliver in your honor, from my heart’s core and from deep within my soul…tonight’s induction speech cementing you officially into the Blues Hall of Fame. 💛🤞🏿
Forever The ☝🏿s, Never ever the ✌🏿s. 🏁
– The Head of the Table. ✍🏿☝🏿
Memphis was even more Amazing because my Beautiful Best Friend/Daughter was my road partner and was able to experience the love for my Dad and also be a part of the induction of her Grandfather into The Blues Foundation Blues Hall of Fame! 🤞🏿💛
I’ve also heard “Where’s Kalia” a few times lol… well here’s my AMAZING 17 year old Better Half for the timeline on this Beautiful Saturday!” 😌
Cornerstone of St. Louis Blues Henry 'Mule' Townsend inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame
Almost 19 years after his death, St. Louis blues legend Henry “Mule” Townsend will be inducted on Wednesday into the Blues Foundation Hall of Fame in Memphis.
Townsend holds the distinction as the only bluesman to record music every decade from the 1920s to the 2000s. The musician toured up until his death in 2006 at the age of 96.
Documentary filmmaker Kathy Corley recognized Townsend’s relevance in 1984. Upon meeting Townsend through their mutual friend, blues musician Ron Edwards, she produced a documentary about his life and career called “That’s the Way I Do It.” She told St. Louis on the Air that Townsend’s induction into the Blues Foundation Hall of Fame is important to his legacy and St. Louis’ place in music history.
FROM MICHAEL HIGGINS
“Tonight in Memphis,TN Alonzo J Townsend will accept his father’s induction into The Blues Foundation’s Blues Hall Of Fame ❤️
Henry Townsend was THE patriarch of St Louis blues, and the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. Here’s a great story on the celebration and some projects Alonzo has rolling forward –
Congratulations Alonzo!💯
And congratulations to your dad!”
Excerpts of an interview –
by Steve Pick
“I started fooling with the guitar when I was around 14 or 15 years of age. In 1929 I made records with Columbia. A lot of people had records. Lonnie Johnson was out there. He was one of the people that I admired very much. Blind Blake was out there. Blind Lemon was out there.”….continued here.
