History of the Blues - Z200: Unit 3

Bluebird Records

Lower priced RCA Victor subsidiary; many musicians signed with Lester Melrose.

John Lee "Sonny Boy" Williamson

Who was mostly responsible for establishing the harmonica as an early essential part of the early Chicago blues sound?

John Lee "Sonny Boy" Williamson

1937; "Good morning, School Girl" - intro sounds like “Dumb Dog” from Annie

Johnny Winter

Who covered John Lee "Sonny Boy" Williamson's "Good morning, School Girl?"

Jazz Gillum

- 1938; "Reefer Head Woman."

- 1940; "Key to the Highway."

Derek & The Dominoes - 1970

Who covered Jazz Gillum's "Key to the Highway?"

George Barnes

Who played guitar for Jazz Gillum?

Al Dexter

1936; "New Jelly Roll Blues"

Memphis Minnie

- 1936; "Black Cat Blues"

- 1941; "Me and My Chauffer Blues"

Big Bill Broonzy

Who appeared at the 1938 and 1939 'From Spirituals to Swing' replacing Robert Johnson and, in the summer of 1951, did his first concert tour of Europe?

Big Bill Broonzy

1939; "Let's Have a Little Fun" - also features drums and electric guitar

Merline Johnson

Who was known as 'The Yas Yas Girl?'

Merline “The Yas Yas Girl” Johnson

1940; "You Know It Ain't Right" - this song is very clearly R&B

Washboard Sam

1941; "Flying Crow Blues" - heavy emphasis on the Washboard

Andy Kirk & His 12 Clouds of Joy

1939; "Floyd's Guitar Blues" - very big band sounding - electric guitar solo - trombone, trumpet, clarinet, alto and bari, etc.

Andy Kirk & His 12 Clouds of Joy

Who had the first ever electric guitar hit record, using a lap steel guitar?

What replaced 'race music?'

Rhythm & Blues/West Coast Blues

The American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP)

Had a virtual monopoly on the performance rights of American songs, but lost control when it attempted to double its fees from the radio in 1939. In retaliation, 600 radio stations founded their own licensing society, Broadcast Music Incorporated (BMI).

Who was one of the first Black recording artists to achieve crossover success?

Louis Jordan

Louis Jordan

- 1943; "Ration Blues"

- 1965; "Caldonia"

Arthur 'Big Boy' Crudup

- "Mean Old Frisco Blues"

- "Rock Me Mama"

- "That's All Right"

Whose song was the first song Elvis covered?

Arthur 'Big Boy' Crudup's "That's All Right"

T-Bone Walker

- "Don't Leave Me Baby"

- "Mean Old War"

- Call It Stormy Monday"

Pee Wee Crayton

- "Love After Hours"

- "Texas Hop"

Which song of Pee Wee Crayton's was released on Modern Records?

"Love After Hours"

Modern Records

An LA record label started by the Bihari Brothers.

Clarence 'Gatemouth' Brown

In 1945, who filled in for T-Bone Walker at the Bronze Peacock?

The Bronze Peacock

A Houston nightclub owned by Don Robey

Don Robey

Who became Clarence 'Gatemouth' Brown's manager, also forming Peacock Records?

Clarence 'Gatemouth' Brown

- 1952; "Dirty Work at the Crossroad" - screechy electric guitar - has an amp

- 1954; "Okie Dokie Stomp" - all instrumental - big band texas feel

Johnny Otis

1949; "Midnight in the Barrelhouse" - all instrumental - very distorted

Guitar Slim

1953; "Story of My Life" - more speaking than singing - very preacher-like

Johnny 'Guitar' Watson

1955; "Three Hours Past Midnight"

RPM

Who recorded Johnny “Guitar” Watson, that was also a subsidiary of Bihari Brother’ Modern Records?

West Coast cocktail/nightclub blues

What type of blues did Johnny Moore's Three Blazers make?

Charles Brown

Who was the singer for Johnny Moore's Three Blazers?

Johnny Moore's Three Blazers

1945; "Drifting Blues"

Charles Brown

Who quit the Blazers to form The Charles Brown Trio in 1948?

The Charles Brown Trio

1950; "Black Night"

Roy Hawkins

1951; "The Thrill is Gone" - sleezy saxophone tone

Big Joe Turner

Who was known as a blues shouter and appeared at the 1938 'From Spirituals to Swing?'

Big Joe Turner

1946; "My Gal's a Jockey" - heavy cymbal intro

Wynonie Harris

Who was known as another blues shouter?

Wynonie Harris

1947; "Lollipop Mama" - “Whining” about his gf being “too in love” with him

Jerry Lieber & Mike Stoller

Who wrote "Hound Dog?"

Big Mama Thornton

- 1952; "Hound Dog"

- 1968; "Ball N' Chain"

Lightnin' Hopkins

Who worked with his cousin, Texas Alexander, and in 1959, was rediscovered by Sam Charters and presented as a folk-blues artist?

Lightnin' Hopkins

- 1948; "Tim Moore's Farm"

- 1947; "Let Me Play with Your Poodle"

John Lee Hooker

Who recorded with Modern Records before signing with VeeJay Records, owned by Vivian Carter and Jame Bracken?

John Lee Hooker

- 1948; "Boogie Chillen" - has a cool glissando sounding guitar riff

- 1951; "I'm in the Mood"

- 1956; "Dimples"

- 1961; "Boom Boom" - Vee Jay Records

"Dimples"

What song of John Lee Hooker had electric bass?

"I"m in the Mood"

What song of John Lee Hooker's utilized doubled vocals?

Hooker/Taub

What names were added on John Lee Hooker’s “I’m in the Mood” to claim co-writer credits and royalties"?

Muddy Waters

Who was discovered and first recorded during a 1941 field trip headed by Alan Lomax and John Wesley Work III of Fisk University?

Chicago's Aristocrat Records

Who were Leonard and Phill Chess part-owners of?

Muddy Waters

- 1948; "I Can't Be Satisfied" - Aristocrat Records (later bought by Chess Records)

- 1954; "Hoochie Coochie Man" (written by Willie Dixon @ Chess Records)

- 1954; "I Just Want to Make Love to You (written by Willie Dixon @ Chess Records)

- 1957; "Got My Mojo Workin'"

Willie Dixon

By 1951, a full-time Chess employee, producer, scout, etc.

American Folk Blues Festival

Promoted by Germans Horst Lippman and Fritz Rau

Willie Dixon

Who helped to book musicians for the American Folk Blues Festival?

Little Walter

Who left Muddy Waters' band and recruited The Aces as his new backing band?

The Aces

Little Walter's backing band, who were working in Chicago backing harmonic player Junior Wells.

Junior Wells

Who replaced Little Walter in Muddy's band?

Little Walter

- 1952; "Juke"

- 1955; "My Babe" (bass = Willie Dixon) - based on Sister Rosetta Tharpe’s “This Train”

- 1959; "Blue and Lonesome"

Papa Lightfoot

1954; "Wine, Women, and Whiskey"

Howlin' Wolf

Who recorded at Sam Phillips' Memphis Recording Service before a recording of his song "Moanin' at Midnight" was leased to Chess Records in Chicago?

Howlin' Wolf

- 1951; "Moanin' At Midnight"

- 1956; "Smokestack Lightnin'"

- 1960; "Spoonful"

- 1964; "Killing Floor"

Lowell Fulson

1956; "Tollin' Bells"

Koko Taylor

1965; "Wang Dang Doodle"

The “Frying Pan” - 1932

played by Hawaiian guitarists to amplify sound

Bob Symons

Who played electric guitar on Al Dexter’s “New Jelly Roll Blues”?

Big Bill Broonzy

Who covered Jazz Gillum’s “Key to the Highway” song?

Vee Jay Records - owned by Vivian Carter and James Bracken

Who did John Lee Hooker sign with after severing ties with the Bihari Brothers?