Bluesman | All About Blues Music

ALBERT AMMONS

Chicago pianist Albert performed at New York’s Carnegie Hall in the 1938 ‘From Spirituals to Swing’ Concert. This event led directly to the ‘Boogie-Woogie Craze’ that lasted beyond WWII and spread this up-tempo piano Blues all over the world. Along with Meade ‘Lux’ Lewis and Pete Johnson, both of whom also played at that show,…

BOBBY RADCLIFF

When Bobby was 17 he made a pilgrimage from Washington to the hospital bedside of Magic Sam in Chicago. The two became friends and Bobby determined to play Blues guitar in the style of his hero. He certainly rips out those ferocious West-side riffs on the four albums he recorded in the 90s. Bobby had…

CURLEY WEAVER

Atlanta in the 20s had a thriving Blues scene and Curley and his boyhood friend Barbecue Bob Hicks, playing their country Blues guitars, were at the forefront. With Eddie Mapp on harmonica, they played many parties and bar gigs, as well as playing on streetcorners. The loose collective known as The Georgia Cotton Pickers included…

FAYE ADAMS

Faye Adams started young as a singer when she performed in her father’s Gospel choir on the radio in their hometown of Newark NJ at the age of five. By the late 40s she was a regular on the New York club circuit, and Atlantic recording artist Ruth Brown recomended Faye to Joe Morris, trumpeter…

WYNONIE HARRIS

Wynonie’s Blues-belting, hip-swivelling, suggestive stage act in the late 40s made him a role model for many Rockers who followed him. He scored big hits with ‘Good Rockin’ Tonight’, ‘Lollipop Mama’, and ‘All She Wants to Do is Rock’ all making the top of the R&B charts, but he could not ride the wave of…

SNOOKY PRYOR

Mississippi born James Pryor learned to play Blues harp from listening to records, despite the objections of his devout father. During Military service, Snooky played bugle, and after blowing his ‘calls’ through the PA at his camp, he would blow his harp too, making him an early exponent of ‘electric harp’. Snooky was discharged from…

CHARLES BROWN

Charles Brown is another Texan who made it on the West Coast, this silky voiced pianist with The Three Blazers took ‘Drifting Blues’ to the top of the R&B charts in 1946. Going solo two years later, he had a series of Number 1 hits, with ‘Trouble Blues’ and ‘Black Night’ both staying at the…

GUS CANNON

Banjo supremo Gus lived near Clarksdale, a hot-bed of country Blues, and he is said to have made his own banjo from an old frying pan and a raccoon skin. He often held his banjo across his knees, using a knife on the strings like those early Bluesmen as he played on the streets of…

BARBECUE BOB

The extrovert Bob Hicks was one of Atlanta’s most popular Bluesmen in the 20s. His gruff voice and 12-string bottleneck style got him a recording contract when a Columbia scout went to a Barbecue where Bob would cook, serve and sing! His ‘Barbecue Blues’ and ‘Going Up the Country’ were among his hit records and…

CLARENCE ‘GATEMOUTH’ BROWN

With its wide range of influences, from French cajun to Irish folk, and Scandinavian ‘shilling songs’ to polkas, as well as the obvious African, Caribbean and country roots, Texas Blues comes up with some colourful and innovative artists, but guitar and fiddle player Clarence was one of the finest. Playing harp and drums, as well…