This Week In The Blues: April 7 - April 13, 2024

HEY BLUES FANS - Here's the latest episode of "This Week In The Blues" for the week of April 7 - April 13, 2024, 2024.

Some of the highlights include singing legend Billie Holiday, Chicago blues guitarist Louis 'Mr Bo' Collins, the original table rocker himself, Chicago blues guitarist "Hound Dog" Taylor, and blues singer Shemekia Copeland. 

We just covered some of the highlights here. If you want to know more about these artists or other things that happened this week in the blues, be sure to visit our website or follow our Facebook page:
https://bigtrainblues.com
https://www.facebook.com/BigTrainBlues

Photo credits (if known) and past episodes are posted on our YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/@BigTrainBlues

Here are links to a few of the artists or songs we've referenced in this week's episode:

Billie Holiday - "Strange Fruit" Live 1959 - https://youtu.be/-DGY9HvChXk?si=Bdilt-6Qfvfiohw1

Louis "Mr. Bo" Collins - "Born In The Country" - https://youtu.be/eIo2BZ-wMqE?si=dBaXO_VVLLKhgYwQ

Hound Dog Taylor - "Shake Your Money Maker" live 1967 - https://youtu.be/WT5vkGyNvCk?si=1aD30Igni2Rh4yjI

Shemekia Copeland - "Married To The Blues" - https://youtu.be/_QeNxdCGUwo?si=l7avskLCvPlf72p8

We’ll have a new episode next week – we’ll see you then!

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 If you want to know more about these artists or other things that happened this week in the blues, be sure to visit our website or follow our Facebook page:

     https://bigtrainblues.com

     https://www.facebook.com/BigTrainBlues

Transcript

This Week In The Blues April 7 – April 13 2024

 Billie Holiday was born April 7, 1915! Her vocal style pioneered a new way of manipulating phrasing and tempo. Often bored by the tired old Tin Pan Alley songs she was forced to record early in her career, Holiday fooled around with the beat and the melody, phrasing behind the beat and often rejuvenating the standard melody with harmonies borrowed from her favorite horn players, Armstrong and Lester Young. She often said she tried to sing like a horn. ⠀After a short prison sentence, she performed at a sold-out concert at Carnegie Hall. 

 Blues guitarist Louis 'Mr Bo' Collins was born April 7th, 1932 in Indianola MS. Collins moved to Chicago in 1946 and by the early 50s had settled in Detroit. His musical apprenticeship began in the time-honored tradition with appearances at blues house parties, where he was often to be found in the company of Washboard Willie, John Lee Hooker, ‘Boogie Woogie Red’, Little Sonny and others. By the late 50s he had adopted the stage name Mr. Bo and used it on his first recordings. His fluent guitar playing and steady, understated vocals are most noticeable on the original version of ‘If Trouble Was Money’, a song he co-wrote with his brother. 

 Chicago blues guitarist “Little Ed” Williams born April 8 in 1955. In childhood, Williams and his half-brother James "Pookie" Young learned the blues from their uncle, blues guitarist J. B. Hutto. In his 20’s Williams formed the band the Blues Imperials. Lil' Ed and the Blues Imperials have been nominated for eight Blues Music Awards as Band of the Year and have won that award twice. On a personal note, I’ve been lucky enough to see them twice and they are NOT to be missed if you have the opportunity. His slide guitar work is outstanding.

 On April 8, 2000 In a Saturday Night Live skit where Blue Öyster Cult is recording "(Don't Fear) The Reaper," Christopher Walken demands more cowbell from Will Ferrell, who complies. A catch phrase is born.

 Texas blues man Mance Lipscomb was born on April 9, 1895 near Navasota, Texas. As a youth he took the name Mance (short for emancipation). His father had been born into slavery in Alabama. For most of his life, Lipscomb supported himself as a tenant farmer in Texas. His mother bought him a guitar and he taught himself to play by watching and listening. He began playing the guitar at an early age and played regularly for years at local gatherings, mostly what he called "Saturday night suppers".

Delta blues guitarist and harmonica player Woodrow Adams was born April 9, 1917 in Tchula, Mississippi, the son of plantation workers. His most accomplished song was "How Long". From an early age, he was taught the rudiments of playing the harmonica and the guitar. He did not begin his recording career until the age of 35, when he was making a living as a tractor driver. On May 24, 1952, Adams, backed by the supporting group the 3 B's, recorded "Pretty Baby Blues" at Sun Studios, in Memphis.

Rosco Gordon, the pioneer of the Memphis blues style was born in Memphis, Tennessee on April 10, 1928. Gordon became friends with Johnny Ace, Bobby Bland and B.B. King. he and won first place at an amateur show at the Palace Theatre on Beale Street in 1950. Emcee of the show Rufus Thomas invited Gordon to play on his radio show at WDIA. Soon after, Gordon had his own show as well. He played piano in a style known as the "Rosco rhythm," with the emphasis on the off-beat. This rhythmic technique influenced the sound of early ska and reggae.

Chicago blues guitarist John Brim was born April 10, 1922. He's best remembered as the man who wrote and recorded the song "Ice Cream Man". Brim began playing guitar by studying the recordings of Big Bill Broonzy and Tampa Red and moved to Chicago in 1947. His wife, Grace, was also a talented musician, playing drums and harmonica. Brim recorded for several labels, including Chess Records. "Ice Cream Man" was recorded in 1953 but not released until 1969. 

 blues singer Shemekia Copeland was born April 10, 1979.  She is the daughter of Texas blues guitarist and singer Johnny Copeland. She began singing at an early age and her first public performance was at the Cotton Club when she was about 10. She began to pursue a singing career in earnest at age 16. When her father's health began to decline, he took Shemekia on tour as his opening act, which helped establish her name on the blues circuit. Copeland graduated in 1997 from Teaneck High School in Teaneck, New Jersey.

 Chicago blues guitarist John Lee Granderson born April 11, 1913 in Ellendale, Tennessee. Granderson left home when he was in his teens, moving to Chicago, Illinois, in 1928 and did some work John Lee ‘Sonny Boy’ Williamson, among others. He turned to music full-time in the 60s and could often be found on Chicago’s Maxwell Street in the company of Big John Wrencher, in the clubs with Robert Nighthawk, and also a member of the Chicago String Band.

 Chicago blues guitarist Luther Johnson was born April 11, 1939 in the Mississippi town of Itta Bena. Johnson performed under the name Luther "Guitar Junior" Johnson. And for a point of clarification, he is not to be confused with Luther "Georgia Boy" Johnson, Luther "Houserocker" Johnson, or Lonnie "Guitar Junior" Brooks. I think that just demonstrates that maybe, JUST maybe, people with the name Luther Johnson or Guitar Junior are a little too popular in blues circles. I’m just saying. Now the Johnson that WE’RE talking about moved to Chicago with his family in 1955. During the 1960s, he performed with Magic Sam. He also performed in Muddy Waters' band from 1972 to 1980.

The original table rocker himself, Chicago blues guitarist "Hound Dog" Taylor was born April 12, 1915. Some sources say 1917. We do know he was born in Natchez, Mississippi. He first played the piano and began playing the guitar when he was 20. He moved to Chicago in 1942. Taylor had a condition known as poly-dact-tyl-ism, which resulted in him having six fingers on both hands. As is usual with the condition, the extra digits were rudimentary nubbins and could not be moved. One night, while drunk, he cut off the extra digit on his right hand using a straight razor. Yup – he sure did. He’s the Van Gogh of the blues.

Chicago blues harmonica player James "Shakey Jake" Harris born April 12, 1921 in Earle, Arkansas. His family relocated to Chicago when he was 7. He played in several Chicago blues ensembles in the late 1940s. He also worked as a mechanic and as a professional gambler. His nickname came from a dice players' expression, "shake 'em". His debut recording was the single "Call Me if You Need Me", backed with "Roll Your Moneymaker", released in 1958. They featured his nephew Magic Sam and Syl Johnson on guitars, and was produced by Willie Dixon. Throughout the 1960s Harris and Magic Sam appeared regularly in concert together around Chicago. 

Well blues fans, we just covered some of the highlights here. If you want to know more about these artists or other things that happened this week in the blues, be sure to follow our social media pages or visit our website at Big Train Blues.com. We’ll have a new episode next week – we’ll see you then!