Fun_People Archive
17 Sep
This just in... trouble in Bluesville

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From: Peter Langston <psl>
Date: Thu, 17 Sep 98 01:31:03 -0700
To: Fun_People
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Subject: This just in... trouble in Bluesville

X-Lib-of-Cong-ISSN: 1098-7649
Forwarded-by: Cal Herrmann <calani@netcom.com>
Forwarded-by: Michael Cooney <mcooney@MIDCOAST.COM>

      CLARKSDALE, MS--Ida Mae Dobbs, longtime woman of Willie "Skipbone"
Jackson, called a press conference Tuesday to respond to charges levied
against her by the legendary Delta blues singer.

      "Despite what Mr. Jackson would have you believe, I am not an evil-
hearted woman who will not let him be," Dobbs told reporters. "I repeat: I
am not an evil-hearted woman who will not let him be. To the contrary, my
lovin' is so sweet, it tastes just like the apple off the tree."

      Dobbs, accused of causing Jackson pain and breaking his heart by
calling out another man's name, categorically denied treating him in a
low-down manner.

      "He says he sends for his baby, but I don't come around," Dobbs, a
brownskin woman, said. "He says he sends for his baby, but I don't come
around. Well, the truth is, I do come, but he is out messing with every gal
in town."

      During the press conference, Dobbs also disputed an Aug. 27 statement
made by Jackson, who compared her to a dresser because someone is always
going through her drawers.

      "My drawers have not been gone through by any man but Willie
"Skipbone" Jackson," Dobbs said. "Neither Slim McGee nor Melvin Brown has
ever been in my drawers. Nor has Sonny 'Spoonthumb' Perkins, nor any of
those other no-good jokers down by the railroad tracks. My policy has always
been to keep my drawers closed to everyone but Mr. Jackson, as I am his
woman and would never treat him so unkind."

      In addition to denying Jackson's drawer-opening allegations, Dobbs
disputed charges of unrestricted sweet-potato-pie distribution, insisting
that her pie is available only to Jackson.

      "I do not give out my sweet potato pie arbitrarily, as I am not the
sort of no-good doney who engages in such objectionable behavior," Dobbs
told reporters. "Only one man can taste my sweet potato pie, and I believe
I have made it perfectly clear who that man is." Dobbs noted that the same
policy applies to her biscuits, which may be buttered only by Jackson.

      While most of the accusations levied against Dobbs relate to her
running around town with other men, she does face one far more serious
charge, attempted homicide. On May 5, 1998, Jackson was rushed to the
hospital and narrowly escaped death after ingesting nearly five ounces of
gasoline. Jackson claimed that Dobbs tried to murder him, serving him a
glass of the toxic fuel when he requested water. Dobbs dismissed the episode
as "an accident."

      Dobbs, a short-dress, big-legged woman from Coahoma County, said it
is not she but Jackson who should be forced to defend himself.  According
to Dobbs, Jackson frequently has devilment on his mind, staying up until
all hours of the night rolling dice and drinking smokestack lightning.

      "Six nights out of seven, he goes off and gets his swerve on while I
sit at home by myself. Then he comes knocking on my door at 4 a.m.,
expecting me to rock him until his back no longer has any bone," Dobbs said.
"Is that any way for a man to treat his woman? I don't want to, but if he
keeps doing me wrong like this, I am going to take my lovin' and give it to
another man."

      Added Dobbs: "Skipbone Jackson is going to be the death of me."

Dobbs said that until she receives an apology from Jackson and a full
retraction of all accusations, he will not be given any grinding.

      "Mr. Jackson says that I stay out all night and that I'm not talking
right. He says he has rambling on his mind as a result of my treating him
so unkind. He says I want every downtown man I meet and says they shouldn't
even let me on the street," Dobbs said. "Well, I refuse to allow my name to
be dragged through the mud like this any longer. Unless my man puts an end
to these unfair attacks on my character, I will neither rock nor roll him
to the break of dawn. I am through with his low-down ways."
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