ROY MILTON

Sometimes known as ‘The Godfather of R&B’, Roy Milton’s big 1946 crossover hit ‘RM Blues’ was the first post-WWII success for the fledgeling Specialty label. It set the tone of good-time party music that was to dominate radio, juke-boxes and the charts for the next decade, and was the first of a long string of…

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TINY BRADSHAW

Tiny Bradshaw was a successful big-band leader in the 30s who re-invented himself as an R&B shouter after WWII, in the hey-day of Jump-Blues. He co-wrote many of his songs, including ‘Train Kept Rollin’ which was a much bigger hit for Johnny Burnette in 1956, and has become a rock standard, covered by many bands.…

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LUCKY MILLINDER

Lucky Millinder had a great stage presence, a good ear for a hot tune, and a knack of making chart topping records. He made those talents go a long way because he didn’t sing or play an instrument, and he couldn’t read music. As a band-leader, however, he put together The Lucky Millinder Orchestra that…

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