Hi Colm:

Your interesting theory has certainly given us something to ponder. Unfortunately there is no known paper trail to neatly tie your theory into one neat package. It is a little like the story of the Welsh being the first Europeans to arrive in and explore North America. Stories still exist of later explorers who came across an Indian tribe in what later became Mississippi Territory (Present day Alabama and Mississippi) who spoke fluent Welsh. Perhaps the ancestors of Tom Jones taught those Native Americans to sing the "Blues." (LOL!) As an aside, they even say that Columbus' navigator was a Welsh-Irishman named Rice of Galway. (Rhys de Galway) He supposedly learned to navigate to the Americas from a Welsh Prince who had explored here earlier.

The truth in this case will probably never be known but I appreciate your taking the time and effort to explore the possibility. The Native Americans (on a broad front) in both, North and South America were dealt very unfair hands by their European neighbors. But they, too had been dealing misery to each other long before the arrival of the Europeans.

As you explore this theory, I hope you won't ignore the Cherokees as possible candidates. The only tribe with a recorded alphabet and they spent massive amounts of time trying to assimilate themselves into the "white world" before Andrew Jackson ignored all previous treaties and sent them west by force on the "Trail of Tears." They had every reason to sing the blues.

Please keep us posted as time permits. It is an interesting theory and I'd love to hear more as you make progress, hit blind alleys and discover new facets of musical and actual history.

Best of luck.

Dave Rice