cktimes.ca Archives for Classic Vinyl
Classic Vinyl
BEST OF THE BLUES BOYS
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
John Lee Hooker
Brownie McGhee
Sonny Terry
Sam Lightning Hopkins
Memphis Slim
Jimmy Reed
John Lee Hooker born 1917 near Clarksdale, Mississippi--he began playing guitar as a young child---at the age of 14, he left his family and tried several trades before going back to his musical roots---He settled in Detroit and began his career which took off very quickly because of his sound and his recordings became a huge success---his singing and playing have a very personal style and the feeling and depth of expression, give him a permanent place in the world of music
Brownie McGhee born in 1915, Knoxville, Tennessee---his father also a guitarist, singer and dancer taught him to play guitar. He travelled all over the United States, hitch-hicking until 1938 when he was discovered by one of the executives of Okeh Records. He made records in Chicago and then left for the south. He met up with Sonny Terry and began to work with him in 1939---they had a long playing relationship playing all over the USA and played in several European Tours.
Sonny Terry was born Saunders Tedell in 1911, Durham North Carolina---blind since 1924, he was first associated with Blind boy Fuller and recorded with him in 1937. He settled in New York and in 1939 started his career with Brownie McGhee
Sam Lightning Hopkins was born in 1912 Centerville Texas---he learn ed to sing by listening to his cousin Texas Alexander and Blind Lemon Jefferson. He farm laboured for many years, content with playing and singing as an amateur. He settled in Houston in 1946 and went professional. During the 1950s he worked as a strolling singer, roaming the streets of Houston--though he rarely left Texas, he did travel to Los Angeles, Chicago and New York and recorded about 200 songs along the way--his records, have had great commercial success.
Memphis Slim born Peter Chatman 1915 in Memphis, Tennessee. He grew up in a musical atmosphere around his father (an excellent guitarist and pianist) He started to play piano at a very early age under the influence of pianist Roosevelt Sykes and became very popular in all the black neighbourhoods. His success increased with each year and he recorded more than 150 records in the USA. The tune Everyday I Have The Blues was popularized by Count Basie---Memphis Slim lived in Paris and gained popularity among blues and jazz lovers.
Jimmy Reed born in 1926 in Leland Mississippi. He had a very difficult and unhappy childhood which led him to begin work at a very early age in the mines of Leland. In 1950 he decided to try his luck in Chicago, where he met his oldest friend, Eddie Taylor, who had him join the orchestra in which he himself played. The orchestra made records for Vivian Carter, among others the famous "Boogie In The Dark". Jimmy Reed had a very special style, bass dominates and a vocal murmur that enriches the principal tonality--a style started at the beginning of his career taking from Mushmouth Robinson. Check out Jimmy Reeds recordings at Carnegie Hall on Vee-Jay Records---hear the man at his best.
Well for all you NEW BLUES ENTHUSIASTS, GOOGLE these Bluesmen, and learn more about them in depth, and go out and purchase some of their music legacy's
Check out this weeks OLD Blues clips John Lee Hooker "Hobo Blues" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zYrVwGxlc...FA Brownie McGhee "Born and Livin With the Blues" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_d1SpEf...RBr0 Sonny Terry "Hooray Hooray, These Women Is Killin Me" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4SyBrOyOY..._E Memphis Slim "Everyday I Have The Blues" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qy_H-1J...4xWs Jimmy Reed "You Don't Have To Go" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BhRZha7ULWg&feat...ure=related
The Official Chatham Kent Music Archive
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Hope you enjoyed this weeks column and see you in 2 weeks---contact me at bluesslider88@yahoo.ca or at cktimes with any comments you would like to make about classic vinyl.
Allan Day----long time acquaintance of John Gardiner----I presently live in Goderich Ontario, retired (oh yeah) and live for the sound of music, especially from the 60's music explosion---I hope you enjoy some of my articles and they bring back some lost memories of bands gone by. Now I have to let you know that I am a HUGE Rolling Stones fan, collector, historian and I hope to hear any stories you might have on this GREAT Band from the 60's----email me at CK Times and let me know what you have or memories you have of this group. I will include stories and short stories on The Stones each week.
