Living Blues #21 May-June 1975 Jimmy Reed, DeFord Bailey

Cover Photo: Jimmy Reed by Jim O’Neal

Contents:

On the Road

Article summary: alphabetical listing of 20 touring blues bands, from Luther Allison to Mighty Joe Yong, plus numerous festivals from May thru July 1975; listing dates, geographical locations and clubs

San Francisco Bay Area Club Guide by Tom Mazzoloni

Article summary: list of 27 nightclubs throughout the Bay area that play live blues, including addresses, contact information, and lists of regularly featured artists; locations covered include, San Francisco, Oakland, Richmond, Berkeley; performers listed are predominantly local residents such as Dave Alexander, Jimmy McCracklin, L.C. Robinson etc… who play at all the clubs

Blues Notes by Eric Kriss

-artists named: Bach, Bessie Smith/ Article summary: musician’s definition of what “blue notes” are; blues music samples given in comparison with both classical European music and African music; two circular charts show the location of blue notes on different scales 

The Grand Old Opry’s DeFord Bailey, by Bengt Olsson

-artists mentioned: Charlie Pride, Bob Lee, Uncle Dave Macon, Sam and Kirk McGee, Uncle Jimmy Thom, John Brim, Harmonica Frank, Sonny Terry, Dr. Ross, TV Slim, Lonnie Glosson, Noah Lewis, Cannon’s Jug Stompers, D. H. Bilbro/ Article summary: brief biography and discography of the first black musician to play on the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville; details of his affliction with polio and his outside of music jobs, including his own shoe shine stand; reunion in 1974 after being out of the country music business for 33 years  

Living Blues Interview with Jimmy Reed by Jim & Amy O’ Neal, including sidebars from Eddie Taylor, Kansas City Red & Blind John Davis, Mama Reed, John & Grace Brim, Vivian Carter, Al Smith, Lefty Bates, Lonnie Brooks, Bill Tyson & Howard Scott

-artists mentioned: The Rolling Stones, Ike & Tina turner, Elvis Presley, Muddy Waters, Freddy King, Chuck Berry, the Chambers Brothers, Bill Cosby, James Cleveland Phillips, Erman Phillips, B. Shaw, Sonny Boy Williamson (No. 2), James (Peck) Curtis, Robert Jr. Lockwood, Sonny Boy Williamson (No. 1), Eddie Taylor, B.B. King, Jody (Willie Joe Duncan), Jimmy Reed Jr (“Boonie”), Kansas City Red, Blind John Davis, the Spaniels, Jerry Butler, John Lee Hooker, Lightnin’ Hopkins, Memphis Slim, Guitar Slim, Bo Diddley, (Bobby) Blue Bland, Sunnyland Slim, Dinah Washington, Louis Jordan, Count Basie, Remo Biondi, Willie Mabon, Henry Gray, Johnnie Jones, Earl Phillips, Morris Wilkerson, Lefty “Guitar” Bates, Mary Lee (Mama) Reed , Big Joe Williams, Johnnie Mae Dunson Smith, Jimmie Reeves Jr., Willie Dixon, James Smith, Brook Benton, Louis Myers, Dave Myers, Malinda (Reed)  and the One Step Beyond band, Big John Wrencher, Albert King, Little Milton, Jesse Reed, Benny Latimore/ Charley Patton, Robert Johnson, Snooky Pryor, Floyd Jones, Junior Anderson, Johnny Littlejohn / Tampa Red, Dr. Clayton, Big Bill Broonzy, “Red” Arthur Lee Stevenson, Robert Nighthawk, Boyd Gilmore, Earl Hooker, Walter Shakey (Head) Horton, Tim Overhall (Overton), Joe Turner/ Homesick James, Morris Pejoe/ Dee Clark, Gene Chandler, Etta James, Dinah Washington, Lloyd Price, John Lee Hooker, Lucius Washington, Cliff Davis, Little Wash, Red Holloway, Vernell Fournier, Al Duncan, Floyd Morris, Phil Upchurch, Jimmy Gresham, Von Freeman, Phil Thomas, Lonnie Brooks, Slim Harpo, Lee Baker Jr, Guitar Jr.,  Muddy Waters, T-Bone Walker, B.B. King/ Scott Brothers Soul Band, Johnny Winter, Nolan Struck, King Edward, Stevie Wonder

Main article summary: biographical interview traces his growing up in Mississippi and his long relationship with Eddie Taylor; recalls being turned town by Chess Records and how he landed up on Vee-Jay; discussion of alcohol, illness, missing shows, playing in Europe; noted that he had 11 songs break on the pop charts (more than any other bluesman of the time), and how that made him popular with whites; time spent in the army in 1940s  before coming to Chicago; [ his memory is often questionable and his declarations of independence and claims to having creating his style with no influences (beyond the two Sonny Boys on his harp playing) seem suspect]; sidebars from other musicians often contradict his story

 Eddie Taylor: refutes many of Reed’s comments, specifically about his role in creating the Reed style/sound

 Kansas City Red & Blind John Davis:  Davis discusses Reed’s first band in Chicago and touring in the south in the late 40s; also claims to have helped create Reed’s signature sound

 Mama Reed: talks about specific songs, some of which she wrote, others on which she can be heard singing in the background; his epileptic fits in NYC

 John and Grace Brim: discuss giving Reed his first gig in Chicago and being reunited with him in the 1970s

 Al Smith: discusses recording Reed and the difficulties of managing him in his last years due to alcohol; discusses three-way contract fights with Reed and Johnnie Mae Dunson Smith; family members say some nice things about Al Smith despite the popular opinion that he cheated Reed

Lefty Bates: recalls all the studio musicians used by Al Smith to make Reed sound different (fuller) yet the same; noted that Bates was a much in demand session player but still managed to tour with Reed off and on over the years

 Lonnie Brooks: discusses the ease of playing Reed’s material and the influence he had on Louisiana bluesmen, notes his problems with alcohol and popularity with white college kids in the South; listed as playing on Reed’s Big Boss Man session

 Billy Tyson & Howard Scott: the last managers of Reed discuss the past troubles with alcohol and a big NYC “no-show”, but believe he has passed his worst and is now doing better, attempting a comeback; the trouble getting him gigs as people believed he had died

Richmond Blues: Charles Conley by Tom Mazzolini

-artists mentioned: Johnny George, Cool Papa, Charles Houff, Tommy Romerson, C.L. Jones, Wild Willie Moore, Hi-Tide Harris, John Mayall, Lowell Fulson, Jimmy McCracklin, L.C. Robinson, Charles Conley, Lil Son Jackson, Willie B. Huff, Robert Pete Williams, Buddy Chiles, Gatemouth Brown, Lightnin’ (Hopkins), Eddie Boyd, Tampa Red, T-Bone (Walker), Little Walter, Little B. B., Al Simmons, Slim Green, B.B. King/Article summary: author discusses the importance of World War II and shipbuilding in the development of the city of Richmond and the Richmond blues scene; traces unrecorded blues artist Conley around Texas  in the 40s-50s; later in Los Angeles and eventually  the move to Richmond after two terms in prison; influenced by Lowell Fulson  

Live Blues: Elizabeth Cotten by Joan Brown/ University of Miami Blues Festival by Pete Crawford/Yank Rachell by C. Chris Sautter/ Larry Johnson by Mike Bifulco

-artists mentioned: Johnny Shines, Mabel (Mable) Hillery, Eddie Baccus, Buddy Guy, Junior Wells, Son Seals with  Koko Taylor, Jimmy Walker, Robert Jr. Lockwood, Grady  “Fats” Jackson, Georgia Sea Island Singers, Bessie Smith, S.P. Leary, Pete Crawford, Albert Ammons, Lonnie Johnson, Elmore James, Little Walter, Phil Guy, A.C. Reed, Jack McDuff, Groove Holmes, Jimmy Smith, Albert King/ LeRoy Bates, Sammy Hampton, Winfield Cooper, Dave Davison, J.T. Adams/ Bobby “ Professor Six Million” King, Tom Pomposello, Leroy Carr,    

-Article summaries: Cotten performs left-handed acoustic blues before a white folk café audience; recently performed at the White House/ 4^th Annual Miami Festival; artist by artist review; poorly attended despite being free; Lockwood was a hit; it was Lockwood’s 4^th straight year appearing/ small club regular performance of Rachell with small band; jam atmosphere/ private blues club performance with a guest appearance by Pomposello and magic tricks by King

Blues News:

Tennessee: The Folk Life Center of the Smokies in Cosby, presents the First Annual Blues Heritage Gathering with Bessie Jones, Uncle Homer Walker, Trav Travis, John Davis, and Sparky Rucker of Knoxville

Mississippi: James “Sonny Ford” Thomas played with one-fingered guitarist Willie McCullen (lost his fingers in a gun fight) at Mississippi State Hospital/Houston Stackhouse at Folk Arts Festival in Jackson/ Sam Myers playing weekends at Club Sunset in Jackson/C.V. Weal plays weekends in Clarksdale/Sam Carr, Frank Frost and Big Jack Johnson play the Black Fox in Clarksdale regularly; the club is owned by Johnson

Ann Arbor: benefit at the Blind Pig for Lightnin’ Slim’s wife, with Dr. Ross, Bobo Jenkins, Boogie Woogie Red, Eddie Burns, John Nichols and Jimmy Jones/Boogie Woogie Red has played the Blind Pig every Monday for three years; plays Tuesdays in Grand Rapids, Wednesdays and Thursdays in Saginaw

Chicago: Otis Rush in the studio for Delmark session/ Dick Shurman working with Louis and Bob Myers,  Jimmy Rogers, Johnny Littlejohn and Eddie Taylor for releases on Advent/Sunnyland Slim, Eddy Clearwater and Freddy Young all recording on  their own labels/Alligator announces its next records, a live Hound Dog Taylor and a new Son Seals LP/ Jimmy Reed at the Golden Checkmate with large crowds/Steve Wisner recording may artists who have either never recorded or recorded previously only as sidemen, including George Mayweather and Billy Branch; some sessions supervised by Willie Dixon at Blues Factory Studios/ Albert King still plays black clubs; double bill with B. B, King at the High Chaparral/ O. V. Wright and Little Milton also playing black clubs/Blind John Davis opens for John Hammond/Eddie Taylor has formed new band with Carey Bell/Jimmy Rogers has formed a band with Sam Lay and Good Rockin’ Charles/ Johnny Twist has replaced Eddie King in Koko Taylor’s band; King has moved to Peoria/ WMAQ-TV to air a show with Magic Slim, Bob Koester and Jim and Amy O’Neal/ Bruce Iglauer and Jan Loveland married in Cincinnati; met at a Hound Dog Taylor concert; music at the wedding provided by Son Seals/ B. J King, local singer who plays B. B. King songs, now driving B.B.’s tour bus/British TV 16 part series: All You Need is Love: The Story of Popular Music, filming in Chicago and at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival

Texas: Zydeco dances continuing regularly in Beaumont: Rockin’ Dopsie at Mother of Mercy, Marcel Dugas at the Knights of Peter Claver Hall before Lent/ Clifton Chenier in Bridge City and Austin where he is very popular, playing before full houses/ Dopsie’s rubboard/harp player, Chester Zeno now singing Boozoo Chavis with the band; formerly played rubboard with Chavis

New York: weak blues line-up for Newport Jazz Festival, but B. B. King will appear/gospel show featuring Thomas Dorsey honoring Mahalia Jackson at Carnegie Hall/ new Chess Vintage Series LPs by Howlin’ Wolf, Sonny Boy Williamson and Little Walter

Louisiana: Jed’s University Inn featured on consecutive weekends: Professor Longhair, Irma Thomas, Clifton Chenier and the Meters/ Lil Bob, Rockin’ Dopsie and Clifton Chenier regularly playing in Lafayette/Silas Hogan and Guitar Kelley have regular weekend gigs in Baton Rouge

Florida: Georgia guitarist B.B. Fleming has joined Dr Cool’s New Breed Band; band to play International Folk Festival in Miami

Philadelphia: Willie Dixon talking of retiring from gigging to concentrate on studio work; Carey Bell joining Eddie Taylor in a new band/ Taj Mahal at the Bijou Café for a week/ James Cotton opening for Johnny Winter at the Spectrum/ rare appearance by Hound Dog Taylor at Grendal’s Lair, poorly attended due to lack of advertising

Vermont/Quebec: new club in Burlington featured Luther Allison, Luther Johnson, Eddie Cleanhead Vinson/ B.B King at memorial Auditorium and scheduled for Burlington Blues Festival/New Club in Montreal, In Concert, has replaced the 40-year old Esquire Show Bar as the local jazz and blues club; recent shows with Luther Allison, Muddy Waters, Willie Dixon/ Café Campus featured J. B. Hutto and Jimmy Dawkins

Europe: 1939 Library of Congress Texas field recordings to be issued by Flyright-Matchbox, Vol. 5, called “Two White Horses Standin’ in a Line”/ Piano Blues 1927-1937 featuring Joe Turner with Pete Johnson and Albert Ammons released on Oldie Blues in Holland/ Dutch Blues and Boogie Organization had May concert with Sammy Price, Willie Mabon and The Mighty Flea Conners ; possible fall festival to include the Aces, Luther Johnson, Sammy Lawhorn, and Mojo Buford/ Sonny & Brownie to tour/James Cotton at Montreux and Dr. Ross to tour in the fall/ Jim Simpson’s American Blues Legends tour included Homesick James, Jimmy Lee Robinson, Billy Boy Arnold, Little Joe Blue and Tommy Tucker  

Washington D.C.: famed Howard Theater re-opened with a two-week memorabilia exhibition including artifacts from Leadbelly and B.B. King

San Francisco: pianist Floyd Dixon now living and gigging in the Bay Area (also works at a liquor store); hoping to record new material, and reports Amos Milburn has had a stroke (living in Cleveland)/ Little Willie Littlefield and Hi-Tide Harris at Minnie’s; for Harris’ first gig after touring with John Mayall he was joined by local rising harmonica stars Gary Smith and Rick Estrin; Charlie Musselwhite, Luther Tucker, Freddy Roulette, J.C. Burris played together at Minnie’s; Dave Alexander was also present but didn’t play/ Bobo Jenkins visiting with John Lee Hooker as part of the National Association of Independent Record Distributors (NAIRD) Convention; the two played several gigs together; Bobo considering moving to the Bay Area/ L. C. Robinson playing in Palo Alto/ Luther Tucker playing with his own 10-piece big band as well as with John Lee Hooker / Z.Z. Hill and Latimore are playing in the area from other states/regular Sunday afternoon gigs at Minnie’s with L.C. Robinson and Schoolboy Cleve/ Bobby Bland plays to a sell-out crowd at Richmond Auditorium/ Chris Strachwitz recording J. C. Burris , who has played recently with Mike Bloomfield/Blues Connoisseur label to record Little Willie Littlefield in Sacramento/ Luther Tucker hoping to record for ABC, but ABC has dropped John Lee Hooker/ 3^rd Annual San Francisco Blues Festival planned for mid-July in Golden Gate Park/ KGO-TV filmed K.C. Douglas to air during African-American Heritage Month

Los Angeles: Joe Turner has suffered a stroke; replaced by Pee Crayton on double bills with Albert King/new female singer-dancer Eunice appearing with Chuck Higgins; wowed crowds at Cal State Rock  ‘n’ Roll revival concert/ Blues producer Jerry Hooks has recorded a song commemorating Jackie Robinson, proceeds from sales to go to charity 

Obituaries

T-Bone Walker- 1910-1975

Rubin Lacy- 1901-1975

Walter Vinson 1901-1975

James Rogers, Big Duke’s Lounge club owner killed in gunfight

Saul Bihari, co-founder of Modern/RPM records-age 54

Mail:

Pete Lowry (Trix Records) re: reviews of Trix LPs by Eddie Kirkland and Robert Lockwood

Answer by Dick Shurman

Rhythm & Blues and Rock ‘n’ Roll Society Inc

“Long Gone” Wesley Race re: free (no admission charge) blues gigs in Chicago

Richard Phillips, Association of Independent Record Collectors Inc

Questions & Answers

Answer to earlier issue question regarding Sonny Boy Williamson unissued Trumpet sides, by Darryl Stolper

Charles Wright seeking information on the dates of first blues LPs directed to white audience, and to black audiences

Peter Aschoff seeking information regarding Blues as an Oral Tradition

Bob Dickson seeking name of vocalist on Earl Hooker Cuca recording

Record Reviews

Johnny Young and His Chicago Blues Band (Arhoolie)

Johnny Young & Big Walter (Arhoolie)

Johnny Young Blues Masters Vol. 9 (Blue Horizon)

Johnny Young, Plays & Sings the Blues with His Gut-Bucket Mandolin Young (Blues on Blues)

Johnny Young, I Can’t Keep My Foot from Jumping (BluesWay)

Koko Taylor, Southside Baby (French-Black & Blue)

Koko Taylor, I Got What It Takes (Alligator)

Eddie Lee Jones & Family, Yonder Go that Old Black Dog (Testament)

Various Artists, Spivey’s Blues Cavalcade (Spivey)

Henry Townsend, Henry T-Music Man (Adelphi)

Blind Blake, Rope Stretchin’ Blues (Biograph)

Freddie King, Burglar (SRO)

Boisec, La Musique Creole (Arhoolie)

Various artists, The Blues…A Real Summit Meeting Recorded Live at Newport in New York (Buddah)

Carey Bell, Last Night (BluesWay)

Olive Brown and Her Blues Chasers (JTP)

Eddie Playboy Taylor and The Blueshounds, Ready for Eddie (Dutch-Big Bear)

Junior Wells, On Tap (Delmark)

Mississippi and Beale Street Sheiks (Biograph)

45s

Johnnie Morisette, Meet Me at the Funk House Parts 1 & 2 (J&J)

Johnnie Morisette, Treat Me Right/I’m Hungry (J&J)

Tommy Youngblood, Tremble Walk/Caress Me Now My Love (TYB)

Katie Webster, Lied. Lied. Lied/Family Rules (Goldband)

Latimore, Keep the Home Fires Burnin’ (Glades)

Little Beaver, Let the Good Times Roll Everybody (Cat)

Lee Shot Williams, We’re Gonna Make It/I Think It’s You (Outta Sight)

Robert Lowery, She Always Treats Me Wrong/ She’s so Sweet (Blues Connoisseur)

Percy Mayfield, I Don’t Want to be the President/Nothin’ Stays the Same Forever (Atlantic)

Kevin Calhoun & Quens, Orange Julius Blues/ Spanish Omelette (Styletone)

Little Johnny Taylor, I Don’t Want It All (Ronn)

Ted Taylor, I’ve Got to Find Someone New/For All the Days in My Life (Ronn)

Artie White, She’s the One Parts 1 & 2 (PM)

Clifton Chenier, Key to the Highway/Someone Told Me It Was All Over (Arhoolie)

McKenley (sic) [McKinley] Mitchell, Good Time Baby/Willie Dixon’s Chicago Blues All-Stars, All Star Bougee (Spoonful)

Book Reviews

John Broven, Walking to New Orleans (Blues Unlimited)

List of Adverts

Sonet Records: 12 Volume set by Sam Charters, The Legacy of the Blues, with book of the same title-p. 2

Koko Taylor/Alligator Records-p. 5

Living Blues Subscriptions-p. 7

Mike Rowe’s Chicago Breakdown (book) available through Living Blues Magazine-p. 8

Spivey Records-p.9

New England Blues Festival-p.9

Blues Guitarists (a book)/Guitar Player Productions-p. 15

Inner City Trade-p. 35

J &F Record Sales-p. 36

Barrelhouse Piano new book by Eric Kriss-p. 42

Chris Wellard Records Ltd (England)-p. 43

Trix Records-p. 45

Jump Jackson Package Tour-p. 48

Alec Seward/Louisiana Red/Blue Labor Records-p. 51

Jive in the Hills (Records-Austin)- p.52

Chicago Blues Package: John Brim, Jimmy Reed, Eddie Taylor, Floyd Jones, p. 53

Big Star Records (Bobo Jenkins)-p. 54

Black Beauty Productions (45s)-p. 54

Bob Riedy/RMR Productions-p. 56

Classified Ads-p. 58

Otis Rush signing announcement/Delmark Records-p. 59

Number of Pages: 60

Published in Chicago

(Contents description by Edward Meyer.)

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