Living Blues #15, Winter 1973-74, Robert Jeffery,
Albert Collins, Louisiana Red, K.C. Douglas
Number #15, Winter 1973-74
Cover Photo: Robert Jeffery
List of Articles
Louisiana Red by Robert Cappuccio
-artists mentioned: Iverson Minter, Muddy Waters, Washboard
Ben, Orville Whitney, J.B. Lenoir, Jimmy Rogers, Little Walter, Rocky Fuller,
Playboy Fuller, Cryin’ Red, Walkin’ Slim, Elmore James Jr., John Lee Hooker, James Red & His
Nighthawks, Lightnin’ Hopkins, Elmore James, Carl Lynch, “Panama”, The
Bluesettes, Tommy Bennett, Barney Zelders, Jesse Hill, B.B. King/ Article
summary: brief bio of Red’s tragic life; claims career disrupted by 7 years
in Korea, multiple family deaths; early
influence of Muddy Waters; trouble with lack of royalties and gigs; unsure of
his future, contemplates giving up slide guitar for a B.B. King approach
The Boogie Pianist, by Eric Kriss
-artists mentioned: Roosevelt Sykes, Memphis Slim, Drive ‘em
Down, Toothpick, One Arm Pike, Big Jug, No Leg Kenny, Sideways Slim, Big Sun,
Jelly Roll Morton, Speckled Red, Roosevelt Sykes, Robert Shaw, Cripple Clarence
Lofton, Meade Lux Lewis, Sunnyland Slim, Otis Spann, Skip James, Albert Ammons,
Mary Lou Williams, Pete Johnson, Pinetop Smith/ Article summary: author list 9
types of blues piano including boogie woogie (early and classic), then gives
music notation of 5 samples of boogie woogie
Mr. Bo by Jim O’Neal
-artists mentioned: B.B. King, Louis Bo Collins, Eddy
Arnold, Muddy Waters, Little Walter, T-Bone Walker, Albert King, Johnny Moore,
Washboard Willie, Little Sonny, Calvin Frazier, Duke Dawn, Little Mack (Mac)
Collins, Lee Rogers/ Article summary: though doing better than most Detroit
blues artists, Mr. Bo has no record deal and doesn’t tour; considered a
competent B.B. King imitator, he works steadily in Detroit hotel clubs; did not
do well at the recent Ann Arbor Festival. [Note: Mr. Bo—Louis B. Collins—said yes
when asked if the B stood for Bo; however, official records have since revealed
his name to have been Louis Berry Collins.—J.O.]
Robert Jeffery by Lou Curtiss
-artists mentioned: (Blind) Lemon Jefferson, Blind Blake,
George Jeffery, Jerry Cain, T-Bone Walker, Tom Shaw, Bonnie Jefferson, Tom
Courtney, Henry Ford Thompson, Sam Chatmon, Louis Major, Joe Liggins, Alex
& Peaches/ Article summary: discusses early career in Oklahoma under the
influence of T-Bone Walker, his move to San Diego, reuniting with old friend,
Tom Shaw, and making his first record with Texas ex-patriates now living in
South California
The Cool Sound of Albert Collins, by Edward Blake
-artists mentioned: Otis Rush, Chuck Berry, Walter Price,
(Lightning) Hopkins, B. B. (King), Albert King, Sly & The Family Stone,
Jimmie Lunceford, Louis Jordan, T-Bone Walker, Gatemouth Brown, Fenton
Robinson, Larry Davis, Henry Hayes, Frank Mitchell, Big Tiny, Herbert Hanson,
Bill Johnson, The Dolls, Leo Davison, Bobby Alexis, Walter McNeil/ Article
summary: author writes during Collins’ first tour of the (North) East;
discusses the 45s and 6 LPs by Collins currently available, stressing his live
performance is better than anything he has recorded
Dave Alexander by Eric Kriss
-artists mentioned: Tom Alexander, Albert Ammons, L.C.
Robinson, Jimmy McCracklin, Johnny Fuller, Smiley Winters, Lowell Fulson, Ike
& Tina Turner, Roosevelt Sykes, Little Brother Montgomery, Meade Lux Lewis,
Pete Johnson, Lee Morgan/ Article summary: new artist in the Bay area, with new
LPs; discusses early boogie woogie influences and who he is currently playing
with on both sides of the Bay
Living Blues Interview: K.C. Douglas, by Tom Mazzolini
-artists
mentioned: Isadore Scott, Robert Lucky, Tom Young, Fadel Harrison [sic: Theodore
Harris], John Stovall, Tommy Johnson, Ishman Bracey, Robert Johnson, Charley
Patton, The Mississippi Sheiks, Elmore James, Muddy Waters, Sidney Maiden,
Lowell Fulson, “Ford” , Otis Cherry, Barbara Lane, Lightnin’ Hopkins, B.B.
King, T-Bone Walker, Blind Lemon (Jefferson), Richard Riggins, Bob Smith, Jim
Marshall, Brownie McGhee, Jesse Fuller/ Article Summary: Douglas discusses the
influence of Tommy Johnson and other Jackson, Mississippi, artists on his
style, his move to California during WWII and his recording activities since
settling in the Bay area; discussion of his best known song “Mercury Blues” and
a rare LP done in the 1950s featuring it, and his most recent recording for
Arhoolie
Farewell to the Regal by Steve Tomashefsky
-artists mentioned: B.B. King, James Brown, Cab Calloway,
Duke Ellington, Wilson Pickett, The Five Stairsteps, Jackie Wilson, Gladys
Knight & The Pips, Stevie Wonder, Maurice & Mac, Jean Wells, The
Detroit Embers, The Jive Five, Archie Bell and the Drells, Shelley Fisher/
Article summary: the theater, perhaps best known to the blues world outside of
Chicago for a famous live LP by B.B. King, had already been closed and vacant
for a while, but the author visits the site for one last time before it is
destroyed by a wrecking ball; he finds a couple pieces of interesting
memorabilia, including unused tickets for a Motown show; accompanying photos
graphically portray the author’s emotional sadness
Albany Blues Part 2 by Kip Lornell
artists mentioned: Buddy Durham, Willie Morris (Jr.), Sylvester
Rankin, Blind Donald Dawson, Buddy Moss, Blind Boy Fuller, Little Son Joe, Joe
Williams, Arthur Crudup, Blind Blake, Tom McCrary, J.C. Woodward, Jim Small,
John Carter, Fats Jefferson, Ed Miller, Ozelle Miller, Raymond “Rooster “
Jordan, Clay Morris, Willie Moore, Lightnin’ Hopkins, Leroy Holmes, Bessie
Smith, Clifton Clark, Curley Weaver, Roy Hunt, Emmitt Lang, Peter Hutchinson,
John Lee Hooker, Lil Son Jackson, J.B. Rankin, Abraham Ziniman, Clay Ziniman, Jr. Rogers,
Walter Johnson, Buddy Moss, Peetie Wheatstraw, Josh White, Cowboy Willie Moore,
Roy Brown, Aaron George Washington, Matt Washington, Rev. Gary
Davis, Willie Clarence, Bill Braxton/ Article summary: brief biographies of 4
musicians who play country blues but have never recorded; each traces how they
got from their southern hometowns to Albany; Washington tells of his early
travels with Gary Davis in the 1920s
Curley Mays by Eagle
-artists mentioned: “Gatemouth” Brown, Phillip Walker, James
“Widemouth” Brown, Wilson “Gapmouth” Brown, Violet Walker, Winfred Mays, Jessie
Mays, Muddy Waters, Peter Mays, Willard Mays, Jerry Butler, Jackie Wilson, Etta
James, the Duals, Joe Henderson, the Isley Brothers, Garnell Cooper, Plas
Johnson, Clifford Scott, Robbie Robinson, Bert Kendrix, Wayne Robinson, Jo-Jo
Adams, Carolyn Blanchard, Lobi-Siki (dancer), Barbara Lynn, Joy Ann Tobin, the
Five Royals, James Brown, Willie John, Tina Turner, L.C. Cooke, Clay Tyson,
Ruby and the Romantics, Julius Jones and the Rivieras, Mickey Mosely, Sandra
Smith, Little Ricky Williams, the Nicholas Brothers, Sally Blair, Stepin
Fetchit, Mimi Delores, Herman Adams, Chester Douglas, “Ralph,” Mary Parchman,
Sokol Richardson, Ike Turner, B.B. (King), The Brothers Seven/ Article summary:
list of the Mays family lineage (several members who play music), list of
people he has played with, most significantly, Etta James, for 3 years; touring
in the 50s-60s before settling in San Antonio, Texas; review of a current show
in which he played the guitar with his toes.
Live Blues: James Cotton & Willie Dixon in Philadelphia
by Thomas Cullen/Memphis Blues Caravan in St. Paul, Minnesota by Andy Schwartz/Professor
Longhair in New York by Anton Mikofsky/ John Jackson in Hamburg, Germany by
Dirk & Dorte Schubert
-artists mentioned: Matt Murphy, Little Bo, Charles Calmese,
Ken Johnson, Carey Bell, Lafayette Leake, Clifton James, Buster Benton, B.B.
King, Junior Wells, Howlin’ Wolf, Bukka
White, Furry Lewis, Sleepy John Estes & Hammie Nixon, Harmonica Frank
Floyd, Piano Red (John Williams), Joe Willie Wilkins, Sonny Blake, Leon Strong,
Houston Stackhouse, Robert Johnson, Thelonious Monk, Solomon Burke, Ray
Charles, Antoine Fats Domino, Earl King, Julius Farmer, Albert [Alfred] Roberts,
the Meters, Snooks Eaglin, Lee Dorsey, Huey Smith & the Clowns, Allen
Toussaint, Ernie K-Doe,Blind Boy Fuller, Mississippi John Hurt,
Article summary: Cotton playing with great energy and is a
crowd favorite; Dixon’s first gig in the area; Carey Bell carried the weight of
his show/ artist by artist summary of a well-produced well attended concert of
acoustic Memphis blues; the writer loved it all and praises Steve LaVere for
rescuing these artists from poverty and obscurity/excited review of a Longhair
concert with a trio, listing songs played and people influenced by “Byrd”;
references to his 1950s sides on Atlantic/author reviews a solo concert and
comments on Jackson being shy, and quiet, and perhaps lonely in a foreign
country; comments a that he played harmonica and banjo as well as guitar, and
that the banjo portion of the show was very well received
Blues News
Atlanta: Lightnin’ Hopkins/John Hammond/ Buddy Moss / Sonny
Terry & Brownie McGhee play for a full week but poorly attended/Taj Mahal,
well attended but disappointing folk- based performance
Chicago: Muddy Waters forms his own production company and
moves from his long time South Side residence to a western suburb/Sunnyland
Slim starts his own record label / Delmark Records starts its own booking
agency/Fats Domino, B.B. King and Willie Dixon in town; Dixon to tour Japan,
Australia and New Zealand/James Cotton now living in New York but visits to
play with Muddy Waters/performers
announced for the University of Chicago Folk Festival/ Bernard Abrams of
Maxwell Radio Shop reports that the city of Chicago has bought much of Maxwell
Street and demolition has started; street performer Arvella Gray filmed for a
movie about the street/Yazoo and Blues Classics label send royalties to Tampa
Red (his first in years)
Detroit: performers playing across the river in Windsor,
Ontario, Canada
Los Angeles: Release of six Blues Spectrum LPs: Great Rhythm
& Blues Oldies/ Lowell Fulson has recorded for Shelter Records/Shakey Jake
Harris retires from music and starts his own trucking company/ David Evans
planning a Los Angeles Blues Festival
Memphis: 3rd Annual River City Festival with
recognition to W.C. Handy / Fenton Robinson in town
Miami: Dr. Cool and His New Breed Blues Band touring Florida
with one-nighters; recorded a new 45; has done an interview for Living Blues
Magazine of Miami bluesman Little Beaver
Minneapolis: Lazy Bill Lucas gigging/Mojo Buford has left
Muddy Waters band and is seeking work; JoJo Williams is currently inactive
Nashville: all masters from King/Federal for sale
New York: B. B. King starts international society for the
appreciation of blues; Board of Directors, including King, announced/ B. B.
announces he will reduce live appearances to focus on other projects including
recording, a film and a biography , but announces an Australian tour/ list of
recent performers playing at several different clubs [very active blues scene,
both band and acoustic styles]/ Trix artist Pink Anderson touring colleges/ Sam
Chatmon records second Blue Goose LP
St. Louis: regular Friday night concerts at Webster College
San Diego: San Diego State College folk and blues festival;
Lou and Virginia Curtiss to teach a course on country blues at the University
of California, San Diego
San Francisco: K. C. Douglas gigging and has recorded for
Arhoolie; Richard Riggins recorded for Arhoolie, but had a heart attack and may
not perform again; K. C. Douglas ill and needs surgery/ Johnny Guitar Watson
has recorded a second LP for Fantasy/Charlie Musselwhite gigging with Albert
Collins/ Little Willie Littlefield and Jimmy McCracklin active, but
McCracklin’s Continental Club has folded and changed name and formatting; Hi
Tide Harris gigging; appearances by Charles Brown in Berkeley; Lafayette Thomas
performing again in Lafayette/ list of performers for the Second Annual San
Francisco Blues Festival including recently rediscovered Jesse Fuller in
Oakland; new young artist, Robert Lowery playing in Santa Cruz
Santa Barbara: new Santa Barbara Blues Society teaming up
with DJ John Breckow to produce concerts, including Tom Shaw and Albert Collins
Shreveport Jesse Thomas playing at a posh dinner club; has
made new recordings for Blue Goose
Texas: Mother of Mercy Church continues to feature Cajun and
zydeco dances; Gatemouth Brown active in the Port Arthur area
Toronto: steady agenda of blues at El Mocambo club,
seemingly replacing former blues club, the Colonial as the #1 local blues club/
Sammy Lawhorn has left Muddy Waters band/ first local performance of Albert
Collins and a return by popular demand performance by Fats Domino, both at the
El Mocambo/Hound Dog Taylor also makes debut at the El Mocambo
West Virginia: list of performers at John Henry Memorial
Authentic Blues and Gospel Festival featuring black Appalachian musicians;
organized by James “Sparky” Rucker; hope to make it an annual ongoing event
including lectures and workshops
Europe: Don & Dewey reunited and touring to promote new
recordings/Jim Simpson’s Chicago Blues Festival also on tour featuring John
Wrencher; Johnny Mars quit the package/ other tours by John Jackson, Dr. Ross, Cousin
Joe/Odetta, Eddie Cleanhead Vinson and Louis Jordan play Berlin Jazz Festival/
French Black & Blue Chicago Blues Festival tours France with Koko Taylor,
Willie Mabon and Jimmy Rogers with the Aces/ new releases on the Flyright label
including live recordings done at the University of North Carolina, field
recordings by David Evans and music recorded in New Orleans by John Broven for
his upcoming book
Japan: Trio records releases ten Delmark LPs; “Blues
Masterpiece Series” initial sales of 2.000 copies for three of them
Obituaries
Bill Williams -age 76
Luther Huff
Sister Rosetta Tharpe 1921-1973
Mail
Letter from Dave Alexander (pianist)
Letter from Leo W. Bruin
Letter from Paul Neff
Record Reviews
Bob Kirkpatrick, Feeling the Blues (Folkways)
Frank Frost (Jewel)
Various artists, Packin’ Up My Blues, Blues of the Deep
South, 1950-1961 (Muskadine )
Bo Carter, Greatest Hits (Yazoo)
Bo Carter, Twist it Babe (Yazoo)
Chuck Berry’s Golden Decade Vol. 2 (Chess)
Peg Leg Sam, Medicine Show Man (Trix)
Henry Johnson, The Union County Flash (Trix)
Rev. Gary Davis, New Blues & Gospel (Biograph)
Phillip Walker, The Bottom of the Top (Playboy)
Jimmy Reed, The Ultimate Jimmy Reed (ABC Bluesway)
Big Walter Horton, King of the Harmonica Players (Delta)
L.C. Robinson, Ups & Downs (Arhoolie)
Louisiana Red, Sings the Blues (Atco)
The Bob Reidy Chicago Blues Band, Lake Michigan Ain’t No
River (Rounder)
Robert Pete Williams, Those Prison Blues (Arhoolie)
Robert Pete Williams, Sugar Farm (Blues Beacon)
Willie Mabon, Funky (Blues On Blues)
Detroit Jr., Chicago Urban Blues (Blues On Blues)
Junior Parker, Sometimes [sic] Tomorrow My Broken Heart Will
Die (BluesWay)
Blind Arvella Gray, The Singing Drifter (Birch)
Jerry McCain (Romulus)-Tape Only
Mac Simmons-EP: You Got to Help Me/You’re So Fine/Blue
Lite/Mother-In-Law (PM)
45s
Eddie Lang, Food Stamps Parts 1 &2 (Super Dome/Jewel)
Johnnie Taylor, Cheaper To Keep Her/I Can Read Between the
Lines (Stax)
O.V. Wright, I’d Rather Be (Blind, Crippled & Crazy) (Back
Beat)
B. B. King, I Like to Live the Love (ABC)
U.S. Warren & the Genghis Pea, The Goodie Box/Hard
Hearted Woman (Chytowns)
Byther Smith, Give Me My White Robe Parts 1 & 2 (C.J.)
Mack Simmons, Rainy Night in Georgia/I’m Gonna Keep On
Searching Till I Find Mine Part 1(PM)
Thunder, Lightning & Rain, Let’s Stay Together/Blues For
Mama (Dash)
Phillip Walker, Hello My Darling/I Can’t Lose With the Stuff
I Use (Playboy)
Menard Rogers, Ain’t Nothing But a Titty/O’ My Love
(Margaret)
Cleo Page, Goodie Train Parts 1 & 2 (Goodie Train)
Blinky, T’aint Nobody’s Business If I Do (MoWest)
Lucky Peterson, Our Future/Funky Alphabet (Today)
Miss Chuckle Cherry, Females Answer to My Ding-A-Ling: My
Pussycat /S.O.S. (Grassroots)
Chick Willis, The Way Your Stooping Down Baby- I Can Deal
With That/ My Bowlegged Woman (Markeda)
Faye Ross, Faith, Hope & trust/You Ain’t Right (Round)
Ann Sexton, Have a Little Mercy/It’s All Over But the
Shouting (Seventy 7)
List of Ads
Delmark Records-p. 2
Spivey Records-p. 5
Trix Records-p. 7
Joe Willie Wilkins/Mimosa Records-p. 12
Lynn Art Enterprises-p. 13
Old Time Music Magazine-p. 13
Black Diamond Records-p. 18
Blues Link Magazine-p. 18
Vintage Jazz Mart-p. 18
Big Walter Horton/Delta Records (Sweden)-p. 23
Andrew “Bluebood” McMahon/Dharma Records-p. 25
Beaumont Blues Sales-p. 23
Yambo Records-p. 23
Blues & Swing Magazine-p. 30
Chris Wellard Records (London)-p. 32
Kinnara Distributors-p. 35
Classified Ads-p. 38
Blues Unlimited Magazine-p. 38
Bim Bam Boom Magazine-p. 38
Whiskey, Women and…p. 38
Jewel Records-p. 39
Number of Pages: 40
Published in Chicago