And Now for The Particulars
Side A
1. Boozoo Chavis: Paper In My Shoe
(Boozoo Chavis / Shuler)
Louisiana Zydeco Music: Maison de Soul Records – LP-1017
Dog Hill, LA
Boozoo Chavis: accordion, vocal
Shelton Jackson: bass
Carlton Thomas Jr: guitar
Rellis Chavis: drums
JW Henderson: washboard
Wilson Chavis Jr: bg vocal, accordion
Anthony Chavis: washboard
Produced by JJ Caillier, 1986
Wilson Chavis b. Lake Charles LA Oct 23 / d. May 5, 2001 Austin, TX Heart attack
Boozoo Chavis and Clifton Chenier were the two pioneers of the
Zydeco sound. Boozoo recorded this song originally as a single in 1954, one
of the pioneer recordings of Zydeco. This song considered to be the first
‘Zydeco Hit’. Chavis received zero royalties so he boycotted the music industry
for over 30 yrs. This was from his first LP recorded in 1986.
2. Ahmad Jamal: Billy Boy
(Trad)
Poinciana: Argo Records – LP-719
Pittsburgh PA
Bass: Israel Crosby
Drums: Vernell Fournier
Piano: Ahmad Jamal
Produced by John Hammond Sr, 1963
Recorded by Malcolm Chisholm
Recorded live at the Pershing Lounge, Chicago, Illinois, January 16, 1958
Ahmad Jamal b. as Frederick Russell Jones, 2 July 1930 in Pittsburgh PA (currently 90)
Converted to Islam when in his 20s, and changed his name to Ahmad Jamal in 1950.
2003: American Jazz Hall of Fame, New Jersey Jazz Society
2007: Living Jazz Legend, Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
2007: Ordre des Arts et des Lettres, French government
2011: Down Beat Hall of Fame, 76th Readers Poll
2015: Honorary Doctorate of Music, The New England Conservatory
2017: Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, The Recording Academy
3. George W Johnson: The Laughing Song
(George W Johnson)
Edison Co. cylinder disk 4004
Wheatland, Virginia
George W Johnson: vocals, laughing
Re-Produced for Edison Co, 1905
Recorded for the New Jersey Phonograph Company, 1896
George Washington Johnson b. October 29, 1846 Virginia, US / d. January 23, 1914 (67) NYC
Quite possibly the first African-American to record, and certainly
the first to become widely successful as a recording artist in the 1890s.
Johnson has been virtually ignored in the history books. He was billed as
“The Whistling Coon”, a derogatory term for blacks but it helped sell his
records to the white record buying public. Sometime during the 1870s, probably
in either 1873 or 1876, Johnson “went North” to New York City to try to carve
out a new life. He had become an expert whistler, and also had a talent for
“laughing songs,” where he laughed in time with the music. With his broad
smile, hearty laugh and willingness to mock himself, white audiences found
him quite appealing.
Johnson first recorded in the spring of 1890 for the Metropolitan Phonograph
Company of New York, and slightly later that year for the New Jersey Phonograph
Company of Newark. He was paid twenty cents per two minute song. His
first recording, ‘The Whistling Coon’, on cylinder disk, is almost unlistenable
now but The Laughing song sounds fine. He was buried in an unmarked
grave in Maple Grove Cemetery in Kew Gardens, Queens, New York.
4. Walter Davis: Move Back To The Woods
(Walter Davis)
The Bullet Sides 1949-1952: Krazy Kat Records – KK 7441
Grenada MS
Walter Davis: piano, vocal
Henry Townsend: Electric Guitar
Compilation produced by Chris Smith, 1986
Remastered by Charlie Crump
Originally recorded for Bullet Records in 1949
Walter Davis b. Grenada, Mississippi March 1, 1912 / d. October 22, 1963 (53) St. Louis
Davis quit farming at 13 and went to St. Louis where he lived
out the rest of his life. was He started singing with pianist Roosevelt Sykes
and guitarist Henry Townsend. Davis made his first recordings, including
the successful "M&O Blues", in 1930. He was inducted into the Blues Hall
of Fame in 2005 in Memphis. In 1952, Davis had a stroke, which effectively
ended his recording career.
5. Jodie Drake: Blues
(trad arr by Jodie Drake)
The Rotary Club of Minden Presents: Canadian Blues And Jazz Festival: Rotary International – KE 500
Toronto / Detroit
Jodie Drake: vocals
Milt Buckner: organ
Illinois Jacquet: tenor sax
Joe Jones: drums
Produced by James P Booth, 1974
Recorded by Ike Kelneck live at the
Canadian Blues and Jazz Festival, Minden ON
Jodie Drake b. Detroit MI 1919 - died Hawaii, January 25 2000
Jodie had been a warmup act for Billy Holiday before moving to
Canada in the early 1960s. Other than appearances on compilation albums,
she only released one LP for the Marathon Record label called “I Am A Woman”
in 1972. In 1974 she had a CBC TV series with Gene DiNovi featuring performances
by top jazz artists of the time called "Gene and Jodie". She is the only
Canadian to be inducted into the New Orleans Jazz Hall of Fame. Developed
a severe case of diabetes and moved to Hawaii to live with her daughter after
1993
6. Eddie Boyd: Five Long Years
(Eddie Boyd)
45 single: Job Records 45-1007
Chicago IL
Eddie Boyd: piano
Unknown Session Players
Produced 1952
Recorded at Modern Recording Studio, Chicago
Edward Riley Boyd b. Shelby Miss, November 25, 1914 / d. July 13, 1994 Helsinki, Finland
Boyd was born, as was Muddy Waters, on a Stovall Plantation,
near Clarksdale, Mississippi. He moved to the Beale Street in Memphis, in
1936 where he played with his group, the Dixie Rhythm Boys. He made his first
recordings under his own name, in 1947. However, unhappy with the racial
discrimination he faced in the United States, he moved to Belgium, where
he recorded with Peter Green, Mick Fleetwood and John McVie on the album
“7936 South Rhodes” in 1968 for Mike Vernon’s Blue Horizon Records.
7. Joan Armatrading: Down To Zero
(Joan Armatrading)
Joan Armatrading: A&M Records ¬ SP 4588
London UK
Joan Armatrading: vocal, guitar
Dave Markee: bass
Dave Mattacks: drums
Peter Wood: keys
Kenny Jones: drums
Jerry Donahue: electric guitar
Produced by Glyn Johns, 1976
Recorded at Olympic Studios, London by Glyn Johns
Joan Armatrading b. 9 December 1950 Basseterre, Saint Kitts
1958 her family moved to Birmingham, UK. She began performing
in 1968 & was on the John Peel Show for BBC Radio 1972 upon release of
her first LP “Whatever’s For Us” She has since released 17 albums of mostly
original material.
8. Miles Davis: The Meaning of the Blues
(L Worth / B Troup / JJ Johnson)
Miles Davis at Carnegie Hall: Columbia Records Monaural CL-1812
Alton Illinois
Miles Davis: Trumpet
Hank Mobley: Tenor saxophone
Wynton Kelly: Piano
Paul Chambers: Bass
Jimmy Cobb: Drums
Produced by Teo Macero, 1961
Recorded at Carnegie Hall, NY
Released July 16, 1962
Miles Davis b. May 26, 1926, Alton, Illinois / d. September 28, 1991 (65) Santa Monica CA
This performance captured Miles Davis at the intersection of
time. What he did before this and what he would do after it would be miles
different. After this gig Davis changed his band to get ready for what was
coming over the horizon.
9. Shawn Jackson: Women of the World
(Domenic Troiano)
Shawn Jackson: RCA APL1-1320
Toronto ON
Domenic Troiano, guitar
No other musicians listed
Produced by Domenic Troiano, 1975
Recorded by Keith Olsen, Terry Brown, George Semkiw, Brian Christian
at Sound City, Toronto Sound, Sound Stage and Phase I, Toronto
Mastered by Rick Collins at Kendun Recorders
Started her music career when she was only 15, fronting a Toronto
band called The Silhouettes before joining her brother, Jay, in The Majestics.
In The Silhouettes she got national TV exposure after landing a vocal gig
with CBC’s Music Hop program. Although her solo music career took a backseat
to her acting, she’s backed up artists, such as her husband, Domenic Troiano,
Luba, Bruce Cockburn, Sass Jordan, Colin James, Long John Baldry, Alice Cooper
and The McKenzie Brothers.
10. Sweet Daddy Siki: Snowflake
(Ned Miller)
Squares Off With Country Music: Arc Records 5006
Toronto ON
Sweet Daddy Siki: guitar, vocal
Produced by Ben Weatherby, 1972
Reginald Siki aka Mr. Irresistible b. June 16, 1940 Kingston Jamaica
Moved to LA when he was 7 where he began wrestling. He wrestled
on the Canadian circuit in early 1960s and liked it so much that he moved
to Toronto, permanently. He was a huge celebrity about town, rivaling Eddie
Shack. He’d be seen about town with his hair dyed blonde and tucked into
a French bun at the back while driving a Cadillac convertible down Yonge
St.
11. Tracy Chapman: Crossroads
(Tracy Chapman)
Crossroads: Elektra – CD 60888
Cleveland OH
Frank Marocco: Accordion
G.E. Smith: Acoustic Guitar
Bob Marlette: Keyboards
Ms. Bobbye Hall: Percussion
Charlie Bisharat: Violin
Produced by Tracy Chapman & David Kershenbaum, 1989
Mastered By Bob Ludwig
Recorded at Powertrax Studio, Hollywood, California by Kevin W. Smith
Tracy Chapman b. March 30, 1964 Cleveland, Ohio
This was from Chapman’s second album which featured a guest appearance
by Neil Young (but not on this song). The album also featured a song called
Freedom Now, about Nelson Mandela. In 1990 the album was nominated for Best
Contemporary Folk Album at the Grammy Awards. She’s been very protective
of her works, not allowing sampling. She released her last studio album in
2008.
12. Jimi Hendrix Experience: Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band
(Lennon / McCartney)
Hendrix In The West: Polydor – 2302 018
Seattle WA / London UK
Jimi Hendrix: guitar, vocal
Billy Cox: bass
Mitch Mitchell: drums
Produced by Eddie Kramer, John Jansen, 1972
Recorded live at Isle of White, 1970
One of the few official releases after his death. The album is
composed of good performances from different concerts between 1968 and 1970.
This 1 minute Beatles cover was recorded by Pye Recording at Isle of Wight
Festival, August 30, 1970.
13. Salome Bey: You’re Gonna Fall
(Russ Little)
Salome Bey: Pickwick Records – PC 60001
Toronto ON
Salome Bey: vocals
Unknown band
Produced by Roy Smith 1980
Recorded by Roy Smith at Eastern Sound Studios, Toronto
Salome Bey b. October 10, 1933 Newark, NJ / d. August 8, 2020 (86) Toronto
Bey began performing with her brother and sister in a group called Andy and the Bey Sisters.
Coming to Canada from New Jersey, Bey lived in Toronto since 1964. She wrote
and starred in "Indigo," a cabaret about the history of Black music. The
show, which won two Dora Mavor Moore Awards, was broadcast on CBC TV in 1984.
She also earned a Grammy nomination for her work on the cast album of the Broadway show, "Your Arms Too Short to Box with God."
She was known as "Canada's First Lady of Blues". In 2005, she was made an
honorary Member of the Order of Canada. Beginning in her early sixties, Bey
began showing signs of dementia. As of 2011 her illness had progressed to
the point that she could no longer perform.
14. Count Basie Orchestra: I Wanna Be Your Man
(Lennon / McCartney)
Basie’s Beatle Bag: Verve Records V6-8659
Hollywood CA
Count Basie: piano
Count Basie’s Orchestra
Produced by Peter Spargo and Teddy Reig, 1966
Recorded by Val Valentin and Ami Hadim at TTG Sunset Recorders, Hollywood
Arranged by Chico O’Farrill
William James Basie b Red Bank NJ Aug 21, 1904 / d. Apr 26, 1984 Hollywood (79)
15. Leo Simpson: Sometimes It’s Good
(Leo Simpson)
45 Single bw Cool Fool: Zone Records Z 102
Jamaica, Canada, UK
Leo Simpson: vocals
Produced by Leo Simpson 1974
Also released Black Oppressor 45 on Zone earlier in 1974 (Zone
Rec Z 101). Recorded Red River Valley for Ska Beat Records in Jamaica, 1965.
He was eventually signed to CAPAC, (now SOCAN) so he must have lived and
worked in Canada as the record was made in here. Most likely one of the first
reggae records ever produced on Canadian soil! Prove me wrong (please).
16. The Sattalites: Perfect Day
(Fergus Hambleton)
45 single: Axe Records 103
Toronto ON
Fergus Hambleton: lead vocals, guitar, sax
Jo Jo Bennett: flugelhorn, percussion
David Fowler: Keys
Bruce McGillivray: bass
Junior McPherson: drums
Rick Morrison: sax
Bruce Robinson: piano
Produced by Fergus Hambleton & Jo Jo Bennett, 1988
Jamaican composer, arranger, musician, Jo Jo Bennett began playing
the drums, then was lead trumpeter with the Jamaica Military Band after graduation
from the Alpha Boys' School in Kingston. He went on to join Byron Lee And
The Dragonaires, recording several albums with them before staying in Canada
after the group’s appearance at Expo 67. In 1970 he returned to Jamaica,
released his first and only album "Groovey Joe" while performing live and
doing studio work for numerous record companies. He then returned to Canada
in the late seventies co-founded the Toronto based pop-reggae band The Sattalites
with Fergus Hambleton.
17. Messenjah: Rock On Jah
(Eric Walch)
Rock You High: Phonyx Records WRC1-2430
Kitchener ON
Errol Blackwood: vocal, bass
Rupert Harvey: vocal, guitar, vax
Eric Walsh: guitar
Raymond Ruddock: drums
Hal Duggan: keys
Tony King: percussion
Produced by Rupert Harvey, 1982
Recorded by Richard Bowen at Circle Sound Studio, San Diego CA
Kitchener ON based band. This is their first LP. Toured
internationally for 16 yrs. Won Juno for Best Reggae LP in 1989. Appeared
at Skydome, Toronto, 1998 with Nelson Mandela.
One of Canada's first reggae bands, Messenjah formed in Ontario in 1980 when
Jamaican-American Errol Blackwood (vocals, bass) and Rupert Harvey (vocals,
guitar) began playing together. WEA signed the group in 1982 and released
their earlier independent album, Rock You High. Messenjah had toured all
over North America as well as in Jamaica for over sixteen years and in 1989
won the Juno Award for Best Reggae Recording.
18. Buckwheat Zydeco: Zydeco Boogaloo
(Stanley Dural Jr)
Turning Point: Rounder Records 2045
Lafayette, LA
Stanley Dural: accordion, organ, piano, vocals
Selwyn Cooper: guitar
Calvin Landry: trumpet
Lee Allen Zeno: bass
Elijah Cudges: frottoir
Nathaniel Jolivette: drums
Produced by Scott Billington, 1984
Recorded by Blenn Berger and Ed Goodreau at Blue Jay Studio, Carlisle, Mass. April 1983
Mastered by Tom Coyne at Frankford / Wayne, New York City
Stanley Dural, Jr. b. Nov 14, 1947 Lafayette, Louisiana / d. Sept 24, 2016 (68) Lafayette
Dural was born in Lafayette, Louisiana. He acquired his nickname
as a youth, because, with his braided hair, he looked like the character
Buckwheat from Our Gang/The Little Rascals movies.
Buckwheat accepted an invitation in 1976 to join Clifton Chenier’s Red Hot
Louisiana Band as organist. He quickly discovered the popularity of zydeco
music, and marveled at the effect the music had on the audience. “Everywhere,
people young and old just loved zydeco music,” Dural says. “I had so much
fun playing that first night with Clifton. Dural's relationship with the
legendary Chenier led him to take up the accordion in 1978. After practicing
for a year, he felt ready to start his own band under the name Buckwheat
Zydeco. In 1988, Eric Clapton invited the band to open his North American
tour Dural died of lung cancer at age 68
19. Al Cromwell: Als Blues
(Al Cromwell)
Grossmans Live: Spadina Beat Records WRC1-5490
Toronto ON
Al Cromwell: guitar, vocals
Produced by Michael McDonald & Michael Pickett, 1987
Recorded by Michael McDonald w Jim Jones, Bob Read, Pat Rush & Cory Turnbull, Grossmans Tavern, Toronto
Mastered by Pete Norman at McClear Place, Toronto
Alan Cromwell b. Finny’s Cove, Nova Scotia 1938 / d. Sept 28, 1995, Toronto (57)
Born in Nova Scotia, the family moved up to Montreal where Al
grew up before relocating to Toronto. He learned spirituals, blues, and folk
songs from his father, Norman Cromwell. He got into the coffee house scene,
folk music and blues, teamed up with boyhood friend, Doug Bush (Johnson).
Played the first Mariposa Folk Festival up in Orillia ON in 1961.
He quit the music scene altogether in the late ‘60s and did various jobs
to support his family. He was washing store front windows on Toronto’s Queen
St West in the early ‘90s when he staged a brief musical comeback.
Side B
1. Oscar Peterson Trio: The Days of Wine and Roses
(Mercer / Mancini)
We Get Requests: Verve MIJ-1-5321
Montreal QC
Oscar Peterson: piano
Ray Brown: bass
Ed Thigpen: drums
Produced by Jim Davis - 1965
Recorded by Bob Simpson & Val Valentin
b. Montreal QC August 15, 1925 / d. December 23, 2007 Mississauga ON (82)
RIP Donny Gerrard: 1946 - 2022
2. Skylark: The Writing’s On The Wall
(Domenic Troiano)
45 single bw Wildflower: Capitol Records Canada 3511
Vancouver BC
Bonny .J. Cook (vocals)
Donny Gerrard (vocals)
Norman McPherson (guitar)
Steven Pugsley (bass)
David Foster (keyboards)
Carl Graves (percussion)
Duris Maxwell (drums)
Produced by Eirik The Norwegian, 1972
Donny Gerrard b. March 19, 1946 Vancouver BC / d. February 3, 2022 (75) Santa Fe,
Donny Gerrard began singing professionally when he was just 17,
in 1961, fronting a group called "Donny Gerrard and the Checkmates" which
lasted three years. He then went on to form another group called Night Train
Revue as its lead vocalist and bass player.
Skylark formed from the ashes of one of Ronnie Hawkins' many back-up groups.
‘The Writing’s On The Wall’ was actually the B side of mega-hit, Wildflower,
which went to No. 1 in Canada and made Billboard magazine's Top-10. The single
would go on to sell over a million copies. The band featured some prime players
including pianist David Foster and singer Donny Gerrard who went on to do
backing vocal work for Elton John, John Fogerty and Donna Summer.
3. Harry Belafonte: I’m Just A Country Boy
(Fred Brooks / Marshall Barer)
The World of the Small Faces & Beyond: MOJO CD February 2012
New York City
Hugo Winterhalter And His Orchestra
Produced 1954
Originally released as RCA Victor – 47-5617
Harold George "Harry" Bellanfanti, Jr. b. March 1, 1927 NYC
Well known for his ‘Banana Boat (Day-o) Song, Belafonte popularised the Trinbagonian
Caribbean musical style with an international audience in the 1950s. His
breakthrough album Calypso (1956) was the first million-selling LP by a single
artist. Although Belafonte has had great success as an entertainer, his greatest
contributions can no doubt be attributed to his political activities and
humanitarianism.
4. (Big John Little &) The Hot Toddys: Shakin’ & Stompin’
(John Little)
45 Single bw Rockin’ Crickets: Shan-Todd Records ST-0056
Niagara Falls ON
Big John “T-Bone” Little: rhythm guitar, vocals
Bill Pernell: sax
Vaughan Jonah: guitar
Garry Kelba: drums
Produced by Tom Shannon & Phil Todaro, March 1959
Recorded at Shan-Todd studios, Buffalo NY by Phil Todaro
Big John Little b. Niagara Falls ON November 1929 (91)
The real name of the band was ‘Big John Little and the Rockers’
but recorded, at their producer’s insistence, as The Hot-Toddys. This wasn’t
their first recording though…their first record was “I’ll Always Love You”
bw “Rock With Me Baby” released on the Tri-Fi label out of NYC. Later, under
the leadership of Big John Little, they released 1 LP, Twist, on the Metro
label out of Montreal and were totally ripped off again. The same album was
re-packaged and re-released (without John’s okay) as ‘Big John and The Beetlers’;
it was the same album on the Rusticana label out of Quebec. John was well
connected and was on very friendly terms with Stompin’ Tom Connors and BB
King (who gave him one of his Lucilles).
Now in his 91st year, Big John “T-Bone” Little still performs in and around the Niagara Falls region.
5. Sam Cooke: Sugar Dumpling
(Sam Cooke)
20 Greatest Hits: TeeVee International TA-1064
Clarksdale, MS
Sam Cooke: vocal
Produced by Al Schmitt, 1962
Compilation produced 1976
Samuel Cooke b. January 22, 1931 Clarksdale Miss / d. Los Angeles December 11, 1964
Shot to death at the Hacienda Motel in Los Angeles, a crime that
remains unsolved till this day. He was considered to be the King Of Soul
Music and the dawning of the genre. Was highly influential in the Black music
scene.
6. James Brown & His Famous Flames: Try Me
(James Brown)
Please Please Please: King / Regency Records 909
Barnwell, SC
James Brown: lead vocal
Johnny Terry: background vocals
Bill Hollings: background vocals
J.W. Archer: background vocals
Louis Madison: background vocals
George Dorsey: alto saxophone
Clifford Scott: tenor saxophone
Ernie Hayes: piano
Kenny Burrell: guitar
Carl Pruitt: bass
David "Panama" Francis: drums
Song Produced by Andy Gibson, 1958
Song recorded September 18, 1958, Beltone Studios,
Album Produced by Ralph Bass, 1959
James Joseph Brown b. May 3, 1933, Barnwell, SC / d. December 25, 2006, Atlanta, Georgia
AKA The Hardest Working Man In Show Business. Try Me was a #1
R&B hit and charted #48 on the Pop music charts and was the band's first
appearance on the Billboard Hot 100. It was Brown and the Flames' second
charting single, ending a two-year dry spell after the success of "Please,
Please, Please".
7. Ray Charles: Drown In My Own Tears
(Henry Glover)
45 single bw Mary Ann: Atlantic 1085
Greenville FLA
Ray Charles: vocal, piano
Produced 1956
Ray Charles Robinson b. September 23, 1930 Albany, GA / d. June 10, 2004 (73) Beverly Hills
In 1962, Charles recorded the most soulful album of country music
ever made, bridging a gap that was as wide as the Grand Canyon. They said
‘it couldn’t be done’ but he did it!
8. LaVern Baker: Shake A Hand
(J Morris / Joe Morris)
Saved: Atlantic Records 8050
Chicago
LaVern Baker: vocals
Stan Applebaum Orch
Produced by Ahmet Ertegun and Jerry Wexler, 1961
Recorded 1960
Delores Evans b. Chicago November 11, 1926 / d. March 10, 1997 (67) Queens, New York
Baker began singing in Chicago clubs such as the Club DeLisa
around 1946, often billed as Little Miss Sharecropper. She was billed as
LaVern Baker when she sang with Todd Rhodes and his band in 1952. In 1953
she signed with Atlantic Records as a solo artist, her first release being
"Soul on Fire". Her first hit came in early 1955, with the Latin-tempo "Tweedle
Dee", which reached number 4 on the R&B chart. Baker toured Australia
in 1957 as part of Lee Gordon's Big Show, performing with an number of rock
'n' roll bands including Bill Haley and the Comets. She appeared in the film
Rock, Rock, Rock!
9. J John Allison: Tangerine
(Mercer)
Play A Simple Melody: CBC Records LM-444
Toronto ON
John Allison: trumpet
Arnie Chycoski, Darryl Eaton, Bram Smith, Rob McConnell, John Capon, Bob Livingston: brass
Eugene Amaro, Bernie Piltch: reeds
Bruce Fraquhar: drums
Tom Szczesniak: bass
Bobby Edwards: guitar
Charlie Mountford: keys
Brian Leonard: percussion
Bill Richards: concert master
Produced by Paul Mills, 1977
Recorded by Larry Morey
John B Allison b. Toronto
He has performed over the years with great artists such as Tony
Bennett, Tom Jones, Peggy Lee, Engelbert Humperdinck to name but a few. Written
music for Anne Murray, Wayne Newton and The Boss Brass. John Allison is an
accomplished composer and arranger in styles ranging from pop to movie soundtracks
and rock and roll.
10. Sonny Boy Williamson II: Bring It On Home
(Willie Dixon)
Blues From “Big Bill’s” CopaCabana: Chess Records LPS 1533
Chicago IL
Sonny Boy Williamson: harmonica, vocal
Others not listed
Produced by Ralph Bass, 1963
Recorded at Chess Studios, Chicago by Phil Chess
Chess Records Re-Issue 1967
Alex or Aleck Ford aka Rice Miller b. Dec 5, 1912 Greenwood or Glendora Mississippi / d. Helena Arkansas May 24, 1965 (52)
Originally released on Chess Records subsidiary Argo Records
as ‘Folk Festival of the Blues’. While most of the tracks (featuring Willie
Dixon, Buddy Guy, Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf) were recorded live at Big Bill’s
CopaCabana club in Chicago, Sonny Boy’s song was actually recorded at Chess
studios with fake audience to simulate a live recording.
There was always the issue of the name Sonny Boy Williamson, as the original
blues singer who used that name died in 1948. Rice Miller used the name to
get better gigs while the original Sonny Boy was still alive! He always claimed
to be the original Sonny Boy, even though he wasn’t. Still, he was one of
the greatest blues singers and blues harp players. His last recordings were
made in England, backed by either The Yardbirds or The Animals.
11. Howlin’ Wolf: Evil
(Willie Dixon)
Chester Burnet AKA Howlin’ Wolf: Chess Records – CH 60016-2
Chicago IL
Howlin’ Wolf: vocal, harp
Hubert Sumlin and Jody Williams (guitars)
Otis Spann (piano)
Willie Dixon (double-bass)
Earl Phillips (drums)
Produced by Leonard Chess, Phil Chess, Willie Dixon, 1954
Compilation Produced by Chess Records, 1981
Recorded at Chess Studios, Chicago
Chester Arthur Burnett b. June 10, 1910 White Station, MS / d. January 10, 1976 Hines, IL (65)
The name "Howlin' Wolf" originated from Burnett's maternal grandfather,
who would admonish him for killing his grandmother's chicks from reckless
squeezing, warning him that wolves in the area would come and get him; the
family would continue calling him "the Wolf". In 1930, The Wolf met Charley
Patton, the most popular bluesman in the Mississippi Delta at the time. He
would listen to Patton play nightly from outside a nearby juke joint. He
also learned about showmanship from Patton: "When he played his guitar, he
would turn it over backwards and forwards, and throw it around over his shoulders,
between his legs, throw it up in the sky". Burnett would perform the guitar
tricks he learned from Patton for the rest of his life.
In the 1950s he moved up to Chicago and became one of the biggest blues stars,
rivaling the exploits of Muddy Waters and BB King.
12. Muddy Waters: I’m Ready
(Willie Dixon)
The Best of Muddy Waters: Chess - LP 1427
Clarksdale MS
Muddy Waters (vocal and guitar)
Little Walter (chromatic harmonica)
Jimmy Rogers (guitar)
Otis Spann (piano)
Willie Dixon (bass)
Fred Below (drums)
Produced by Fred & Leonard Chess, 1964
McKinley Morganfield b. Issaquena County MS April 4, 1913 / d. April 30, 1983 Chicago (70)
13. Albert King: I Walked All Night Long
(A King)
45 single bw I've Made Nights By Myself: Bobbin Records 129
Chicago IL
Albert King: left handed guitar, vocal
Others not listed
Produced 1961
Albert Nelson b. April 25, 1923 Indianola, Miss. / d. December 21, 1992 (69) Memphis
He started using the name Albert King in 1953 as an attempt to
be associated with B.B King. Along with Freddie King, the three of them were
known as The Kings of the Blues. In 1967 he recorded Born Under A Bad Sign
which brought him a new ‘white’ audience. With his flamboyant Flying V guitar,
he rocked the blues world and was posthumously inducted into the Rock and
Roll Hall of Fame in May 2013.
14. Junior Wells and Buddy Guy: I Don’t Know
(Willie Mabon)
Play The Blues: Atco Records SD 33-364
Lettsworth LA / Memphis TN
Buddy Guy: guitar
Junior Wells: harmonica, vocals
Eric Clapton: rhythm guitar, bottleneck
A.C. Reed: tenor sax
Mike Utley: keys
Leroy Stewart: bass
Roosevelt Shaw: drums
Produced by Eric Clapton, Ahmet Ertgun & Tom Dowd 1972
Recorded by Ron Albert at Criteria Studios, Miami FL
Buddy Guy b. July 30, 1936 Lettsworth, Louisiana (currently 85)
Amos ‘Jr. Wells’ Blakemore Jr b. December 9, 1934 Memphis / d. Chicago Jan 15, 1998 (63)
15. Earl Hines: Cavernism
(Earl Hines)
Rosetta: Jazz Archives No 2: Jazz Archives – 157482
Duquesne, PA
Earl Hines: piano
Jimmy Mundy: tenor sax
Charlie Allen: trumpet
George Dixon: trumpet
Walter Fuller: trumpet, violin
Louis Taylor: tuba
William Franklin: trombone
Darnell Howard: clarinet
Omer Simeon: bass
Cecil Irwin: clarinet
Produced 1933
Recorded in New York City
Compilation CD produced by EPM Records 1990
Earl Kenneth Hines b. December 28, 1903 Duquesne, PA / d. April 22, 1983 (79) Oakland CA
He was one of the most influential figures in the development
of jazz piano. He left home at the age of 17 to take a job playing piano
with Lois Deppe and His Symphonian Serenaders. Several years later he met
Louis Armstrong and they became fast friends; Hines was asked to play piano
for Armstrong to replace his wife Lillian. He started his own band up in
Chicago in 1928 and played The Grand Terrace, a club owned by Al Capone.
Among the listeners were a young Nat King Cole
16. Jackie Shane: Sticks and Stones
(Titus Turner)
45 single bw Any Other Way: SuE Records 776
Toronto ON
Jackie Shane: vocals
Frank Motley And His Crew
Produced 1962
Released 1963
Jackie Shane b. Nashville TN May 15, 1940 / d. Feb 21, 2019 Nashville
Jackie Shane came to Toronto in 1959 and, like Lonnie Johnson,
decided that Canada was to be her new home. She said: “One cannot choose
where one is born, but you can choose your home.” She went on to release
some fabulous records but decided, in 1971, to leave it all behind her. She
returned to the States to look after her mother, who lived in Nashville.
In 2017 an anthology album of Shane’s works was issued by the Numero Group
label and was nominated for a Grammy Award. The liner notes were written
by Toronto’s Rob Bowman who claimed that Shane’s life “story is so remarkable,
that even Hollywood couldn’t dream it up.”
17. The Minah Birds: I Got You (In My Soul)
(Van Morrison)
Unreleased: Motown
Toronto ON
Rick James: vocals
Neil Young: guitar
Bruce Palmer: bass
Rickman Mason: drums
Johnny Taylor: guitar
Produced by Mickey Stevenson and Jeffrey Bowen, 1966
Recorded at Motown Records studios, Detroit January 1966
One of the few pieces of music to include Neil Young not included from his
extensive archives, largely due to the fact that Barry Gordy, Motown Records
boss, controlls the copyright. Having joined this Toronto Yorkville club
band (who played at The Minah Bird club), it featured an American singer,
Rick James from Buffalo, who was up in Canada, AWOL from the US Army. The
band were scouted in Toronto and invited down to Detroit, given a recording
contract with Motown Records. They recorded an entire album worth of songs
featuring the Mick Jagger-like vocals of Rick James, only to be outed by
their manager (who was accused of pilfering all of their Motown money) and
James was arrested. Because of this, the album was shelved and remained that
way until released as part of a box set in 2006. The band also featured Bruce
Palmer, who had been swapped for Nick St. Nicholas in a music player trade
with another Toronto band, The Sparrows (soon to be Steppenwolf). Palmer
went with Young to California and begat The Buffalo Springfield.
18. Jay Jackson: Darling Don’t You Go
(Phil Gariepy)
45 single bw Anytime: Red Leaf Records TTM 614
Toronto
Jay Jackson: vocals
Produced by Jason King, 1966
Eugene “Jay” Jackson b. Toronto / d. September, 2020 Toronto
Jackson was recruited (with older sister Shawne) by a 1960s Toronto R&B
band, The Majestics to be lead vocalists. Their voices blended together like
only Sam & Dave’s could. They were that good. The Majestics were a Toronto
staple, made for dancing. After Shawne left the band, Jay continued to front
it for another decade. Their family escaped slavery in the US by moving up
to Canada from the State of Deleware in the 1850s. Their great-grandfather,
Albert Jackson, was the first Black postman in Toronto, working there from
1882 to 1918, the year he died.
19. Lionel Hampton with The Jazz Allstars: Perdido
(Tizol / Lenk / Drake)
45 single bw Flying Home: Vogue Records – EPV1190
New York City
Lionel Hampton: vibes
Charlie Shavers: trumpet
Willie Smith: alto
Milt Buckner: piano
Barney Kessel: guitar
Slam Stewart: bass
Jackie Mills and / or Lee Young: drums
Produced by Gene Norman, 1947
Recorded live at the Pasadena Auditorium
Released on Vogue Records – 1956
Lionel Leo Hampton b. Louisville, Kentucky April 20, 1908 / d. August 31, 2002 NYC (94)
20. The Supremes: Nothing But Heartaches
(Holland / Dozier / Holland)
Greatest Hits: Motown MS 2-663
Detroit MI
Diana Ross: lead vocals
Mary Wilson: bg vocals
Florence Ballard: bg vocals
The Funk Brothrs: instrumentation
Produced by Lamont Dozier & Brian Holland, 1965
