Wednesday, February 8, 2012

Black History Month Tribute to the Delta Blues

Guitar Slim  (1926-1959)
  
Today our tribute begins with the memory of Greenwood, Mississippi blues guitarist, Eddie Jones, aka GUITAR SLIM whom we lost 53 years ago today.  He moved to New Orleans to be raised by his grandmother after his mother died when he was 5. As a teenager he picked cotton during the day while singing and dancing as "Limber Legs" in local Hollandale clubs by night.

After returning from World War II military service, he resumed his singing and dancing in juke joints until he met bandleader, Willie D. Warren, who introduced him to the guitar at age 18.

Influenced by Gatemouth Brown, T-Bone Walker and Delta slide legend, Robert Nighthawk, he quickly adapted his dance routines to the stage in a flamboyant presentation modeled after W.C. Handy's Mississippi Delta blues and Charley Patton's wild stage performances. Slim donned outrageous threads with hair dyed to match his stage costumes, he was labeled "Guitar Slim". His playing was just as unique as he incorporated distorted guitar overtones 10 years before it made it's way into rock and roll.

His first record in 1952, "Feelin' Sad", was a minor R&B hit. But it was his 1954 classic produced by Ray Charles, "The Things That I Used to Do" that took Slim national. Staying at #1 for six weeks, riding the R&B charts for 21 weeks and selling a million copies, it was this son that would be Slim's legacy. The song was commemorated in the Rock HOF as one of the 500 most influential songs in shaping Rock-n-Roll.

"The Things That I Used to Do", Guitar Slim, 1954

The high point in Slim's career was selling out New York's Apollo Theater for a full week, a record that has stood even over Sammy Davis Jr's 5-night sold out engagement. It took him to Los Angeles performing with the great Muddy Waters. Despite a string of songs like "Sufferin' Mind", "The Story Of My Life", "Letter to My Girlfriend" (aka "Prison Blues") " and "5th Street Alley Blues",
his career never recaptured the success of his million seller.

Slim sadly turned to alcoholism and according to his guitarist, Earl King, Slim was drinking "a pint of gin and chasing it with a fifth of black port every day.". He finally passing away in New York City from pneumonia at the young age of 32. His death was overshadowed by the plane crash that killed Buddy Holly, Richie Valens and The Big Bopper only four days earlier. (See February 3rd article, "This Day in Music History".) But we pay special tribute to a blues legend today After all, his biggest contribution to the blues just could be one he would never know.

Buddy Guy on Guitar Slim

It was after seeing Guitar Slim perform, that a young Buddy Guy decided to make the Blues his career. Buddy stated in his autobiography, Damn Right I've Got The Blues:
"When I saw him, I'd made up my mind. I wanted to play like B.B. (King) but act like Guitar Slim." 
To this day, Buddy still utilizes the stage antics he learned by watching Slim. 

RIP, Guitar Slim 

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DENNY WRIGHT (1924-1992)

The Guitar Maniacs remember 20 years ago today the passing of Denny Wright, British jazz and skiffle guitarist. Denny was born in Deptford, London, England, and began his musical education on the piano. His older brother, Alex, was a semi-professional guitarist and by age 15, guitar became Denny's main instrument. Denny spent World War II playing in jazz clubs in the West End of London and doing non-stop session work. He worked with Stephane Grappelli for the first time in London around 1941.

His free-flowing improvisational style was inspired by Django Reinhardt. He became known working with Lonnie Donegan in the 1950`s. Denny was a pioneer in establishing a fresh lead guitar style in folk and blues roots. Denny also performed with Johnny Duncan, Digby Fairweather, Ella Fitzgerald, Billy Eckstine and many other musicians including young rising stars such as: 

 Bireli Lagrene

&
Nigel Kennedy

Denny was a prolific composer for jazz and orchestra. He led many bands in his career, ranging from small jazz ensembles through night club bands to full size orchestras. Between all the recording sessions and sit-ins, he would always return to the comfort of his own The Denny Wright Quartet.

He also played often with the Carlyle Barriteau Orchestra, Glen Miller Orchestra and the Phil Green Orchestra of Decca Records. In addition to jazz and skiffle, he worked with Latin American and Jamaican bands, including Kenny Graham's Afro-Cubists. We lost Denny at age 68 after a 9 year battle with bladder cancer.
RIP, Denny. 

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1 comment:

  1. Thank you. Just found you lovely tribute to my late father, Denny Wright. Seeing this meant a lot to me.
    St,John Wright (son of Denny)

    ReplyDelete