Mister Satan's Apprentice

A Blues Memoir

By: Adam Gussow

Narrated by: Adam Gussow

How does a white kid from the New York suburbs, harmonica in hand, end up earning himself a busker's spot on the Harlem sidewalks next to Mr. Satan, a Mississippi-born legend? How did an interracial blues duo fare on the streets of New York during a turbulent, fractious time marked by racially-motivated murders in Howard Beach, Bensonhurst, and Crown Heights? And how did that unlikely pair, as "Satan and Adam", conquer the American blues world, beginning with a cameo appearance in U2's Rattle and Hum (1988) and continuing through their W. C. Handy Award-nominated 1991 debut, Harlem Blues?

©1998 Adam Gussow (P)2014 Adam Gussow

Awesome book about awesome people.

Adam Gussow is a legend. His duo with Mr Satan is historical. Worth every minute and every penny spent.

So sad I finished it!!

Would you consider the audio edition of Mister Satan's Apprentice to be better than the print version?

LOVED the audio version. Loved knowing that Adam Gussow was reading his own work. (That's always preferable IMO.) And his voice is so pleasant and easy to listen to! But he made the book even more interesting by using voices for the other people, especially for Mr. Satan. His voice for him wasn't a caricature or overdone but instead well done which allowed us listeners to understand Mr. Satan's enthusiasm, irritation, passion, etc.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Mister Satan's Apprentice?

The scene where Adam was in Harlem, playing with Mr. Satan, aware of his whiteness and the recent racial tensions as a result of recent killings of African-Americans by the New York police. A couple of very very angry black men approached him. Adam was very sensitive to their complaints and carefully de-escalated the tension. It might have turned out so differently if he hadn't been so sensitive and intelligent and well respected by Mr. Satan and the others who regularly came to watch them play.

Have you listened to any of Adam Gussow’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No. I wish he had others. I've looked!

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The end did. I teared up because I was so sad that I'd come to the end. Luckily I can listen to it again.

Any additional comments?

Fascinating and enlightening discussion of the blues!!

Awesome Listening to Adam read this Memoir.

This is my second go around at this book; the first time I read it on paper. Definitely worth listening too if you've already read the book. Cool to hear the book the way the author wants you to hear it!

Great Audiobook

Great story, interspersed with some harmonica riffs and song clips. An especially worthwhile follow-up if you’ve already seen the Netflix special/movie about the life of Satan and Adam.

Excellent story... a must-read for blues fans

I've been following Adam Gussow on YouTube for years. I've purchased a few of his lessons, and I feel like I've learned a ton of nuances on playing the harmonica from him. This book documents his roots in playing blues harmonica in the streets of Harlem with Mr. Satan, but also bounces throughout his lifetime from his early years in school to his time on the road. Narrated by the author, it chronicles the grit it takes to make it as a musician and the dues he and others paid with love, loss, and hard work to be specifically bona fide blues musicians. That's great stuff, Mr. Gussow... really great stuff! Thank you.

Amazing and down right bluesy.

A real life story that tugs at your heart strings. Happy and sad, this is one of the best books I’ve every listened to.

satan and adam....

what else can I say. I'm an aspiring blues man myself and this was an amazing memoir. always liked adams stuff. i watch his you tube channel to this day. best harmonica teacher out there in my mind. couldn't be more satisfied with this book

Dissappointed

Too bad music autobiographiws have to be full if fiktív! Tge story would otherwise be great. Sending it back!