Lester Williams, born 24th of June 1920. His biggest song was probably Wintertime Blues, but as summer has finally made an appearance I’ll go with this,
Blues Birthdays
Lee Conley Bradley, aka Big Bill Broonzy, born 26th of June 1903(?) - as is often the case his actual birthday is disputed.
He was one of seventeen children and became one of the major figures in 20th century Blues. I liked this story from wiki "On the understanding that he was born in 1898 rather than earlier or later, sources suggest that in 1915, 17-year-old Broonzy was married and working as a sharecropper. He had given up playing the fiddle and had become a preacher. There is a story that he was offered $50 and a new violin if he would play for four days at a local venue. Before he could respond to the offer, his wife took the money and spent it, so he had to play."
This is the good stuff
He was one of seventeen children and became one of the major figures in 20th century Blues. I liked this story from wiki "On the understanding that he was born in 1898 rather than earlier or later, sources suggest that in 1915, 17-year-old Broonzy was married and working as a sharecropper. He had given up playing the fiddle and had become a preacher. There is a story that he was offered $50 and a new violin if he would play for four days at a local venue. Before he could respond to the offer, his wife took the money and spent it, so he had to play."
This is the good stuff
St. Elmo Sylvester Hope (June 27, 1923 – May 19, 1967) was an American jazz pianist, composer, and arranger, chiefly in the bebop and hard bop genres. He grew up playing and listening to jazz and classical music with Bud Powell, and both were close friends of another influential pianist, Thelonious Monk.
Hope survived being shot by police as a youth to become a New York-based musician who recorded with several emerging stars in the early to mid-1950s, including trumpeter Clifford Brown, and saxophonists John Coltrane, Lou Donaldson, Jackie McLean, and Sonny Rollins.
Hope survived being shot by police as a youth to become a New York-based musician who recorded with several emerging stars in the early to mid-1950s, including trumpeter Clifford Brown, and saxophonists John Coltrane, Lou Donaldson, Jackie McLean, and Sonny Rollins.
David "Honeyboy" Edwards (June 28, 1915 – August 29, 2011) was an American delta blues guitarist and singer from Mississippi.
Edwards was born in Shaw, Mississippi. He learned to play music from his father, a guitarist and violinist. At the age of 14, he left home to travel with the bluesman Big Joe Williams, beginning life as an itinerant musician, which he maintained through the 1930s and 1940s. He performed with the famed blues musician Robert Johnson, with whom he developed a close friendship. Edwards was present on the night Johnson drank the poisoned whiskey that killed him, and his story has become the definitive version of Johnson's demise. Edwards also knew and played with other leading bluesmen in the Mississippi Delta, including Charley Patton, Tommy Johnson, and Johnny Shines. He described the itinerant bluesman's life:
On Saturday, somebody like me or Robert Johnson would go into one of these little towns, play for nickels and dimes. And sometimes, you know, you could be playin' and have such a big crowd that it would block the whole street. Then the police would come around, and then I'd go to another town and where I could play at. But most of the time, they would let you play. Then sometimes the man who owned a country store would give us something like a couple of dollars to play on a Saturday afternoon. We could hitchhike, transfer from truck to truck, or if we couldn't catch one of them, we'd go to the train yard, 'cause the railroad was all through that part of the country then...we might hop a freight, go to St. Louis or Chicago. Or we might hear about where a job was paying off – a highway crew, a railroad job, a levee camp there along the river, or some place in the country where a lot of people were workin' on a farm. You could go there and play and everybody would hand you some money. I didn't have a special place then. Anywhere was home. Where I do good, I stay. When it gets bad and dull, I'm gone.
Blues Birthdays may be offline for a week unless someone else wants to post. No problem if not, I'll catch up when I can.
Edwards was born in Shaw, Mississippi. He learned to play music from his father, a guitarist and violinist. At the age of 14, he left home to travel with the bluesman Big Joe Williams, beginning life as an itinerant musician, which he maintained through the 1930s and 1940s. He performed with the famed blues musician Robert Johnson, with whom he developed a close friendship. Edwards was present on the night Johnson drank the poisoned whiskey that killed him, and his story has become the definitive version of Johnson's demise. Edwards also knew and played with other leading bluesmen in the Mississippi Delta, including Charley Patton, Tommy Johnson, and Johnny Shines. He described the itinerant bluesman's life:
On Saturday, somebody like me or Robert Johnson would go into one of these little towns, play for nickels and dimes. And sometimes, you know, you could be playin' and have such a big crowd that it would block the whole street. Then the police would come around, and then I'd go to another town and where I could play at. But most of the time, they would let you play. Then sometimes the man who owned a country store would give us something like a couple of dollars to play on a Saturday afternoon. We could hitchhike, transfer from truck to truck, or if we couldn't catch one of them, we'd go to the train yard, 'cause the railroad was all through that part of the country then...we might hop a freight, go to St. Louis or Chicago. Or we might hear about where a job was paying off – a highway crew, a railroad job, a levee camp there along the river, or some place in the country where a lot of people were workin' on a farm. You could go there and play and everybody would hand you some money. I didn't have a special place then. Anywhere was home. Where I do good, I stay. When it gets bad and dull, I'm gone.
Blues Birthdays may be offline for a week unless someone else wants to post. No problem if not, I'll catch up when I can.
Intereting to hear how the likes of Honeyboy etc lived with their nomadic lifestyle isn't it Tich? Have read a couple of books over the years ,that have had me real intrigued on how they could at times just drift from town to town gigging and freely changing names if they got a recording deal with different record labels.
Dan54 wrote: ↑Mon Jul 01, 2024 4:05 am Intereting to hear how the likes of Honeyboy etc lived with their nomadic lifestyle isn't it Tich? Have read a couple of books over the years ,that have had me real intrigued on how they could at times just drift from town to town gigging and freely changing names if they got a recording deal with different record labels.
Hi Dan, have you read "Chasin that Devil's music: Searching for the Blues"?
It's been, oh a dozen years at least since I read it but at the time I thought it was one of the most authoritative things I'd read on the subject.
No Tich haven't read it, but will look out for it. A couple of really interesting ones I enjoyed were Land Where The Blues Began by Alan Lomax and Bill Wyman's Blues Odessy. Enjoyed both books, and actually think I ready to read another as I read them probably 15-20 years ago.
Posting is a bit sporadic at the moment due to events here, but I'll catch up when I can
Joe Willie "Pinetop" Perkins (July 7, 1913 – March 21, 2011) was an American blues pianist. He played with some of the most influential blues and rock-and-roll performers of his time and received numerous honors, including a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award and induction into the Blues Hall of Fame.
Joe Willie "Pinetop" Perkins (July 7, 1913 – March 21, 2011) was an American blues pianist. He played with some of the most influential blues and rock-and-roll performers of his time and received numerous honors, including a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award and induction into the Blues Hall of Fame.
Another catch up birthday
Ahmad Jamal (born Frederick Russell Jones; July 2, 1930 – April 16, 2023) was an American jazz pianist, composer, bandleader, and educator. For six decades, he was one of the most successful small-group leaders in jazz. He was a National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) Jazz Master and won a Lifetime Achievement Grammy for his contributions to music history
He preferred the term, "American Classical Music" to "Jazz"
Ahmad Jamal (born Frederick Russell Jones; July 2, 1930 – April 16, 2023) was an American jazz pianist, composer, bandleader, and educator. For six decades, he was one of the most successful small-group leaders in jazz. He was a National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) Jazz Master and won a Lifetime Achievement Grammy for his contributions to music history
He preferred the term, "American Classical Music" to "Jazz"
Lemon Henry "Blind Lemon" Jefferson, born 11th of July 1897, well, he might have been, some sources have September 1893, others have October 1894. I'm going with today as it gives me the reason to post this. He's been called the originator of the Texas Blues, I just love his guitar playing and high pitched voice
I've been busy but back with an early one due to there being a couple coming up on the same day
Lonnie McIntosh (July 18, 1941 – April 21, 2016), known as Lonnie Mack, was an American singer-songwriter and guitarist. He was influential in the development of blues rock music and rock guitar soloing.
SRV was a big fan of Lonnie Mack, performing with him several times and covering this belter.
Lonnie McIntosh (July 18, 1941 – April 21, 2016), known as Lonnie Mack, was an American singer-songwriter and guitarist. He was influential in the development of blues rock music and rock guitar soloing.
SRV was a big fan of Lonnie Mack, performing with him several times and covering this belter.
Jalacy "Screamin' Jay" Hawkins, born 18th of July 1929. I guess this is his most famous song, there have been many versions - check out the one for Haiti Nick Cave did with Shane McGowan, Chrissie Hynde, Paloma Faith etc, it's really good. Anyway, back to Screamin Jay Hawkins
We're not quite finished with the 18th of July yet.
Martha Rose Reeves (born July 18, 1941) is an American R&B and pop singer. She is best known for being the lead singer of the Motown girl group Martha and the Vandellas, which scored over a dozen hit singles, including "Come and Get These Memories", "Nowhere to Run", "Heat Wave", "Jimmy Mack", and their signature "Dancing in the Street". From 2005 until 2009, Reeves served as an elected councilwoman in her hometown of Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
Martha Rose Reeves (born July 18, 1941) is an American R&B and pop singer. She is best known for being the lead singer of the Motown girl group Martha and the Vandellas, which scored over a dozen hit singles, including "Come and Get These Memories", "Nowhere to Run", "Heat Wave", "Jimmy Mack", and their signature "Dancing in the Street". From 2005 until 2009, Reeves served as an elected councilwoman in her hometown of Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
I know you're under pressure to catch up at the moment but Screamin' Jay Hawkins deserves a few more lines I think. He pretty-much single handedly invented shock-rock - so novel were his theatrics that people ran screaming from his shows when he started adding shock elements in the 1950s, like having a coffin wheeled onto the stage from which he would emerge. I saw him live back in the 1990s and still remember the dramatic introduction - as his huge frame emerged from a cloud of smoke accompanied by "Henry" - a cigarette smoking skull supported on a staff. At least Alice Cooper and Marlyn Manson give him credit - most heavy metal bands don't even know that "horror rock" had been invented decades earlier.Tichtheid wrote: ↑Thu Jul 18, 2024 10:55 am Jalacy "Screamin' Jay" Hawkins, born 18th of July 1929. I guess this is his most famous song, there have been many versions - check out the one for Haiti Nick Cave did with Shane McGowan, Chrissie Hynde, Paloma Faith etc, it's really good. Anyway, back to Screamin Jay Hawkins
He claimed various to have fathered between 57 and 75 children out of wedlock, a bit of an exaggeration - as I believe only 35 or 40 have actually been confirmed.
His career took a huge dive after becoming somewhat of an outcast in the music industry for recording a song he claimed was "about REAL pain" - the Constipation Blues:
The huge success of I Put a Spell on You sort of cast a shadow over everything else he did but he's also done a few of my favourite Tom Waits covers.
One for yesterday,
Floyd Jones (July 21, 1917 – December 19, 1989) was an American blues singer, guitarist and songwriter. He was one of the first of the new generation of electric blues artists to record in Chicago after World War II, and a number of his recordings are regarded as classics of the Chicago blues idiom.
I'm on a fly-by, but he is really worth checking out if you have the inclination. This is a great song, sadly still relevant, and includes rare footage of him speaking too.
Floyd Jones (July 21, 1917 – December 19, 1989) was an American blues singer, guitarist and songwriter. He was one of the first of the new generation of electric blues artists to record in Chicago after World War II, and a number of his recordings are regarded as classics of the Chicago blues idiom.
I'm on a fly-by, but he is really worth checking out if you have the inclination. This is a great song, sadly still relevant, and includes rare footage of him speaking too.
I'm going to break with tradition here because it just had to be done. I read on another thread that John Mayall has gone, an event like that cannot go unmarked.
I don't care that this is the obvious choice, it was the first sound that led many to go and seek out the roots stuff from the Delta, from Texas and from Chicago and beyond.
RIP John Mayall.
I don't care that this is the obvious choice, it was the first sound that led many to go and seek out the roots stuff from the Delta, from Texas and from Chicago and beyond.
RIP John Mayall.
RIP - ripe old age of 90 so he did well compared to a lot of his contemporaries.
The "beano album" is an absolute must-listen for anyone interest in rock and heavy rock - not just electric blues. I think it would be hard to overstate its importance in laying the groundwork for all nearly all subsequent British heavy rock and not just Zeppelin and the like but even Sabbath and heavy metal.
The "beano album" is an absolute must-listen for anyone interest in rock and heavy rock - not just electric blues. I think it would be hard to overstate its importance in laying the groundwork for all nearly all subsequent British heavy rock and not just Zeppelin and the like but even Sabbath and heavy metal.
I've actually read back twice because I can't believe I left this guy out - sackcloth and ashes for me then.
Fulton Allen (July 10, 1904 – February 13, 1941), known as Blind Boy Fuller, was an American blues guitarist and singer. Fuller was one of the most popular of the recorded Piedmont blues artists, along with Blind Blake, Josh White, and Buddy Moss.
Fulton Allen (July 10, 1904 – February 13, 1941), known as Blind Boy Fuller, was an American blues guitarist and singer. Fuller was one of the most popular of the recorded Piedmont blues artists, along with Blind Blake, Josh White, and Buddy Moss.
Isaac L. "Banjo Ikey" Robinson (July 28, 1904 – October 25, 1990) was an American banjoist and vocalist.
Born in Dublin, Virginia, United States,[2] Robinson moved to Chicago, Illinois, in 1926, playing and recording with Jelly Roll Morton, Clarence Williams, and Jabbo Smith during 1928 and 1929.[1] In 1929, Robinson recorded in Chicago with Georgia Tom, billed as The Hokum Boys. Their track, written by Dorsey, "I Had to Give Up Gym" was an early dirty blues song, sometimes described as hokum
and from the wiki link;
Hokum is a particular song type of American blues music—a song which uses extended analogies or euphemistic terms to make humorous,[1] sexual innuendos. This trope goes back to early dirty blues recordings, enjoyed huge commercial success in the 1920s and 1930s,[1] and is used from time to time in modern American blues and blues rock.
Born in Dublin, Virginia, United States,[2] Robinson moved to Chicago, Illinois, in 1926, playing and recording with Jelly Roll Morton, Clarence Williams, and Jabbo Smith during 1928 and 1929.[1] In 1929, Robinson recorded in Chicago with Georgia Tom, billed as The Hokum Boys. Their track, written by Dorsey, "I Had to Give Up Gym" was an early dirty blues song, sometimes described as hokum
and from the wiki link;
Hokum is a particular song type of American blues music—a song which uses extended analogies or euphemistic terms to make humorous,[1] sexual innuendos. This trope goes back to early dirty blues recordings, enjoyed huge commercial success in the 1920s and 1930s,[1] and is used from time to time in modern American blues and blues rock.
We can't let July go without this
There are great guitar players and there are real game changers, Charlie Christian was both. He was born 29th of July 1916. He was a very early adopter of the electric guitar, he took it out of the rhythm section and in making it a lead instrument he is considered a major influence in the creation of what became Bebop.
There are great guitar players and there are real game changers, Charlie Christian was both. He was born 29th of July 1916. He was a very early adopter of the electric guitar, he took it out of the rhythm section and in making it a lead instrument he is considered a major influence in the creation of what became Bebop.
... and whilst I'm at it,
Buddy Guy, born 30th of July 1936, he was the house guitarist at Chess Records and did a lot of work with Muddy Waters. He's been a big influence on many guitarists, Hendrix, Clapton, SRV, Page etc, they all cite Buddy Guy as one of their sources. This is a great guitar sound -
Buddy Guy, born 30th of July 1936, he was the house guitarist at Chess Records and did a lot of work with Muddy Waters. He's been a big influence on many guitarists, Hendrix, Clapton, SRV, Page etc, they all cite Buddy Guy as one of their sources. This is a great guitar sound -
This is one of the great mysteries of this music. Willie Brown was mentioned in Robert Johnson's Cross Road Blues - "You can run, you can run tell my friend Willie Brown"
Is this the same Willie Brown that was born on the 6th of August 1900? It may have been, Brown was a friend of Charlie Patton, trouble is there were two Willie Browns and a William Brown around the same time and records of birthdates etc are scarce. I perviously mentioned a book called Chasin' That Devil Music by Gayle Dean Wardlow, in which it is stated that waters are muddied further (no pun intended) by Lomax himself forgetting a session he'd recorded and mixing up some of the guys. Anyway, to the best of my knowledge, and unless anyone can tell me otherwise, this is the Willie Brown who was born on August the 6th 1900
Is this the same Willie Brown that was born on the 6th of August 1900? It may have been, Brown was a friend of Charlie Patton, trouble is there were two Willie Browns and a William Brown around the same time and records of birthdates etc are scarce. I perviously mentioned a book called Chasin' That Devil Music by Gayle Dean Wardlow, in which it is stated that waters are muddied further (no pun intended) by Lomax himself forgetting a session he'd recorded and mixing up some of the guys. Anyway, to the best of my knowledge, and unless anyone can tell me otherwise, this is the Willie Brown who was born on August the 6th 1900
Apologies, I have a lot going on at the moment so posting is sporadic to say the least. If I get time I'll catch up on a few in due course, but there is one that we can't let pass.
A day late, but it’s worth the wait, in terms of knowing your way around your instrument it doesn’t get much better than Oscar Peterson, born 15th of August 1925.
A day late, but it’s worth the wait, in terms of knowing your way around your instrument it doesn’t get much better than Oscar Peterson, born 15th of August 1925.
Isaac Hayes, born 20th of August 1942, he was a driving force behind the brilliant Stax Records label, being a writer, producer and session musician. This is one of my favourite tracks from one of my favourite albums, you can just luxuriate in this
William James "Count" Basie (August 21, 1904 – April 26, 1984)
I love this Neil Hefti tune, which he wrote for Basie's orchestra. It tickled me when it appeared in the soundtrack of Tar, the film about the tyrannical classical conductor living the Uber-chic life in Berlin, but when she gets home she puts on this laid back piece of music for relaxation.
Many years ago I spent a fair amount of time twisting my fingers in knots learning Martin Taylor's guitar arrangement of this tune
I love this Neil Hefti tune, which he wrote for Basie's orchestra. It tickled me when it appeared in the soundtrack of Tar, the film about the tyrannical classical conductor living the Uber-chic life in Berlin, but when she gets home she puts on this laid back piece of music for relaxation.
Many years ago I spent a fair amount of time twisting my fingers in knots learning Martin Taylor's guitar arrangement of this tune
Cheers for continuing this Tichtheid, don't comment much but enjoying dipping in.
I was at a Fringe show last night with an Edinburgh comedian, Connor Burns (very good). Much of his show was based around what was No1 in the UK music charts at various points in his, and his parents life. Of course got home and googled mine. Fucking Gary Glitter
I was at a Fringe show last night with an Edinburgh comedian, Connor Burns (very good). Much of his show was based around what was No1 in the UK music charts at various points in his, and his parents life. Of course got home and googled mine. Fucking Gary Glitter
All the money you made will never buy back your soul
@Slick 
Arthur William "Big Boy" Crudup (August 24, 1905 – March 28, 1974)[1] was an American Delta blues singer, songwriter and guitarist. He is best known, outside blues circles, for his songs "That's All Right" (1946),[2] "My Baby Left Me" and "So Glad You're Mine", later recorded by Elvis Presley and other artists.
Arthur William "Big Boy" Crudup (August 24, 1905 – March 28, 1974)[1] was an American Delta blues singer, songwriter and guitarist. He is best known, outside blues circles, for his songs "That's All Right" (1946),[2] "My Baby Left Me" and "So Glad You're Mine", later recorded by Elvis Presley and other artists.
Apologies for the delay, this week I've mainly been moving back to Scotland - I let Blues Birthdays slip off the front page and missed a major artist in the process
Charles Parker Jr. (August 29, 1920 – March 12, 1955), nicknamed "Bird" or "Yardbird", was an American jazz saxophonist, bandleader, and composer. Parker was a highly influential soloist and leading figure in the development of bebop, a form of jazz characterized by fast tempos, virtuosic technique, and advanced harmonies. He was a virtuoso and introduced revolutionary rhythmic and harmonic ideas into jazz, including rapid passing chords, new variants of altered chords, and chord substitutions. Parker was primarily a player of the alto saxophone.
Parker was an icon for the hipster subculture and later the Beat Generation, personifying the jazz musician as an uncompromising artist and intellectual rather than just an entertainer.
Charles Parker Jr. (August 29, 1920 – March 12, 1955), nicknamed "Bird" or "Yardbird", was an American jazz saxophonist, bandleader, and composer. Parker was a highly influential soloist and leading figure in the development of bebop, a form of jazz characterized by fast tempos, virtuosic technique, and advanced harmonies. He was a virtuoso and introduced revolutionary rhythmic and harmonic ideas into jazz, including rapid passing chords, new variants of altered chords, and chord substitutions. Parker was primarily a player of the alto saxophone.
Parker was an icon for the hipster subculture and later the Beat Generation, personifying the jazz musician as an uncompromising artist and intellectual rather than just an entertainer.
Yep, he was already addicted to opiates in his teens, and heroin and alcohol killed him at the ripe old age of 34.
Aye, the drugs were a big part of the scene back then, it was almost de rigueur to be a smack head.
Normal Blues Birthdays service will be resumed this coming week, I'm firmly back in Bonnie Bonnie Scotland so I can get on with it.
This would be a huge miss if I didn't post this asap, I'll catch up with others in due course.
Freddie King (September 3, 1934 – December 28, 1976), one of the Three Kings, along with Albert and BB. This guy was a big influence on so many, including SRV
Normal Blues Birthdays service will be resumed this coming week, I'm firmly back in Bonnie Bonnie Scotland so I can get on with it.
This would be a huge miss if I didn't post this asap, I'll catch up with others in due course.
Freddie King (September 3, 1934 – December 28, 1976), one of the Three Kings, along with Albert and BB. This guy was a big influence on so many, including SRV