This Week In The Blues: April 06 - April 12, 2025

HEY BLUES FANS - Here's the latest episode of "This Week In The Blues" for the week of April 06 - April 12, 2025.

Some of the highlights include blues harmonica virtuoso Big Walter Horton, Chicago blues guitarist “Little Ed” Williams, and the original table rocker himself, Chicago blues guitarist "Hound Dog" Taylor. 

Keep in mind that there's so much more that happened this week in the blues. 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:

Big Walter Horton - "All Star Boogie" - https://youtu.be/L0L0tjldPKI?si=dg-GFaGrnuNN9a6a

Lil Ed Williams Blues Band - "Live at Rosa's Lounge" - https://www.youtube.com/live/TMqL_83Ab7I?si=yNGK4hBHU773uZBh

Join me every weekday from 12:15pm-12:45pm CT to watch a live stream on Facebook of the longest running blues radio show program. https://www.facebook.com/DeltaCulturalCenter

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

ARE YOU A FAN OF BLUES HISTORY? US TOO!

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 Apr 06 – Apr 12 2025

Blues guitarist Beverly "Guitar" Watkins was born April 6, 1939. One critic wrote that "Beverly Watkins is a pyrotechnic guitar maven whose searing, ballistic attacks on the guitar have become allegorical tales within the blues community." Watkins had a long and continuous musical career, and worked with artists including James Brown, B.B. King, and Ray Charles. In 1998 she was included in a package show with Koko Taylor and Rory Block, that was part of the all-star Women of the Blues "Hot Mamas" tour.

blues harmonica virtuoso Big Walter Horton was born April 6, 1921. He was renowned for his innovative contributions to the music of Memphis and Chicago. He began his career as a child working for tips on the streets of Memphis. Horton began recording for legendary Memphis producer Sam Phillips in 1951. Horton joined the Muddy Waters band in Chicago in 1953. Chicago’s foremost blues producer/songwriter, Willie Dixon, who called Horton “the greatest harmonica player in the world.”

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.

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 who 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 Luther Johnson who 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 where we’ll talk about The "Empress of the Blues", Bessie Smith and blues master Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown. Its’ going to be a great show, so we’ll see you then!