Posts by paul.gray

Big Mama’s Big Song There are times when an artist’s impact is best measured not by their commercial success, but by the influence they had on future artists. This is perhaps the best way to understand the legacy of blues icon Big Mama Thornton. There are a number of reasons to admire the early blues…

Who Birthed the Blues? The first known recording of St. James infirmary Blues came in 1927. Then known as “Gambler’s Blues,” the dirge-like tale was recorded by Fess Williams and his Royal Flush Orchestra. Recorded in a minor key, its melody featured eight bars as opposed to the standard twelve so common in the blues.…

The Flood’s beginning Although ‘Texas Flood’ is usually associated almost exclusively with Stevie Ray Vaughan – understandable given his masterful treatment – the song actually had a captivating history years before reaching Vaughan. As the song’s title would imply, the story begins in the American Southwest. Larry Davis was an Arkansas native bluesman who started…

Birth of the Chicago Blues Fewer individuals have played a bigger role in the development and popularity of the blues than Willie Dixon. Born in 1915, Dixon was a man of many talents. He was a songwriter, arranger, producer, lyricist, singer and player of the guitar and upright bass. The best way of summing up…