Bluesman | All About Blues Music

HUBERT SUMLIN

For more than 20 years Hubert Sumlin’s guitar was right behind Howlin’ Wolf on stage and on record. ‘Killin’ Floor’, ‘Smokestack Lightnin’, ‘Spoonful’ and ‘Ain’t Superstitious’ all had Hubert’s razor-sharp guitar lines behind Wolf’s rumbling vocals. Hubert played the diddley-bow back in Greenwood MS when he was a kid and he teamed up with local…

‘COW COW’ DAVENPORT

‘Cow Cow’ Davenport was a little known Alabama ragtime pianist who made a lasting impression on piano Blues when he incorporated walking bass figures into his left-hand style and played them with a verve and pace that became known as boogie-woogie. A self taught player, Charles Davenport left home as a teenager to accompany singers…

MERCY DEE WALTON

Born in Waco Texas, Mercy Dee took the Sunset Route to play his piano in California just before WWII. His first disc was ‘Lonesome cabin Blues’ for the Spire label, but he soon had a national hit for Specialty with his song ‘One Room Country Shack’, later made even more famous by Mose Allison. Equally…

PAPA GEORGE LIGHTFOOT

When producer Steve LaVere discovered that Papa George was still blowing his harp in his native Natchez MS in 1969, he whisked him into Malaco’s new Jackson studios to record some real down-home country Blues harp. Papa George’s habit of singing through his harp-mic gave his already rough voice a ragged edge, but his instrumental…

PEG-LEG SAM

This Carolina harp virtuoso spent most of his life travelling the South with carnivals and medicine shows. As a teenager, Arthur Jackson lived the life of a hobo, ‘riding the blinds’ on the railroads between South-Eastern towns where he would play his harp for tips. On his one journey North to Buffalo NY, he almost…

EDDIE BOYD

Born in Clarksdale MS, Eddie was a self-taught pianist who learned his trade around the Delta juke-joints before moving to Memphis when he was 22 years old. Eddie formed The Dixie Rhythm Boys to play in the Beale Street clubs and in 1941, he caught the train to Chicago where he played with John Lee…

ANGELA STREHLI

Singer and songwriter Angela has been an important part of the modern Texas Blues scene although, like so many of those old-timers who took the Sunset Route, she now lives on the West coast. Angela took an early interest in the Blues, learning to play bass and harp, and travelling to Chicago so she could…

DUANE ALLMAN

Nashville born slide-guitar maestro Duane formed the Allman Brothers band, with his kid brother Gregg on keyboards and vocals, in 1969. They had played together in various Blues and soul bands, and Duane had been getting work as a session guitarist for Aretha Franklin and Wilson Pickett when they formed the band, which included Butch…

LITTLE JOHNNY JONES

Mississippi born Johnny was a stalwart of the post-War Blues scene in Chicago, as a session pianist and side-man for Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf, Jimmy Reed and Magic Sam. He was a pretty good barrelhouse pianist when he arrived in Chicago from Jackson MS, at the age of 22, and was soon taking the stage…

JUNIOR PARKER

A voice as sweet as honey and a clean, clipped harp sound made Junior Parker a Blues star in the 50s with many hit records. From busking on streetcorners, he was recruited by a Blues legend, was signed by major labels and fronted a renowned touring show. He managed to keep one foot in the…