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 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.

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!!

5 stars isn't enough

I've been watching adams videos for a longtime. trying to learn the harp on and off over the years. listening to this novel makes it all real. the story is vivid. and he reads it all wonderfully. you can tell how much mr. Satan means what he says through adams narration. makes me realize how important they both are to music. not just blues.
but music.

Probably the best book I’ve read all year.

Adam Gussow’s memoir read in his own voice is easily one of my favorite books that I’ve read this year. His pain, joy and fear is palpable in every story as he tells of the years he spent playing on the streets of Harlem with Sterling Magee and his many adventures around the world.

Mr. Gussow does not hold back on any detail even when it doesn’t paint him in the best light or is potentially embarrassing to discuss all these years later; and although the book is now more than 20 years past its first edition, it could’ve been written last week. I strongly recommend this book to any fan of the blues or street music culture.