Page 71 - Blues Festival Guide Magazine 2017

Elmore James MEN SINGERS
Style: slide guitar master, Chicago blues
If you like the slide guitar, this is where it really begins Bobby “Blue” Bland
on the electric. George Thorogood, Duane Allman, J.B. Style: classic blues, R&B blues
Hutto and Little Ed all kneel at the Shrine of St. Elmore. Bobby Bland will make your blood run cold and then fill
You’ll listen to this guy and say, “That sounds like...” It you with the spirit. What a voice – I actually envy you if this
does, except that it’s the other way around, they sound like will be the first time you hear “Turn On Your Love Light”
Elmore. Look for Blues Masters: The Very Best Of Elmore and “Yield Not To Temptation.” His early records on the
James. Fabulous. Duke label feature a magnificent backup band led by Joe
Scott. He’s insanely great. Look for “Best Of” collections
T-Bone Walker on MCA CDs or Duke vinyl.
Style: Texas blues, big-band blues,
guitar blues Big Joe Turner
The Babe Ruth of the blues. Mr. Style: classic blues, R&B blues
Walker revolutionized the electric One of the godfathers of rock ‘n’ roll, Big Joe Turner
guitar and how it’s played. He began as a “blues” singer in Kansas City in the ‘30s,
introduced chord progressions singing all songs in the key of “C.” He was a great
that have become standards and barrelhouse voice from a three-hundred-pound blues OG.
trademark solos. A true giant, Find any number of great collections with his blues and
every single blues artist – and rock ’n’ roll together.
most rock ‘n’ roll players – owe
him a big one for his solo and chordal techniques. Look for Ray Charles
T-Bone Blues, either on CD or vinyl. It’s flawless, one of the Style: R&B, gospel blues, soul
greatest blues albums of all time. The man who brought The Church to the blues.
Literally. Several of his songs were direct copies of gospel
WOMEN SINGERS standards, like “There’s a Man Going ‘Round Taking
Names” became “I Got A Woman.” No worries, it all
Big Maybelle sounded so good. His early stuff on the Atlantic Record
Style: classic blues, R&B blues label defines soul.
She often walked the line between blues and jazz, and
OMGodzilla could this woman sing. Find a copy of her HARMONICA
Savoy recordings and prepare to blown totally away. She
was also a major influence on Janis. Harmonica, often called a
Mississippi saxophone, is one of the
Dinah Washington instruments most closely associated
Style: classic blues, R&B blues with blues. Anyone can blow a few
Dinah Washington was a jazz/blues/pop singer without notes, but being one of the hardest
equal, who led a tumultuous personal life (married seven instruments to play well, mastery is
times) and was a wealthy rock star in her day. Look for her limited to a very select few. Here’s a
album Back to the Blues, and please check out some of her couple of the greats:
crossover hits like “What A Difference a Day Makes.” She’s
as smooth as it gets, like honey on your auditory receptors. Little Walter Jacobs
Style: R&B, gospel blues, soul
Sister Rosetta Tharpe A deeply troubled individual but most deserving of the
Style: classic blues, R&B blues “genius” moniker. His technique: awesome. His approach
It turns out that in the male-dominated world of guitar, to improvisation: jaw dropping. He used a taxi dispatcher
a gay middle-aged Black woman became one of the most microphone to amplify the harp so he could be heard
influential guitar players in history. Originally a gospel over the band, wailing his way into blues immortality
singer, she was condemned by her peers for playing “the – first with Muddy Waters, and then on his own. Every
Devil’s music.” (I’m sure Satan was glad to have her in his harmonica player you see at festivals has been schooled
band.) Sister Rosetta was Johnny Cash’s favorite artist, a and humbled by Marion “Little Walter” Jacobs. The latest
major influence on rockabilly, and a was terrific, spirited album by The Stones features three of his compositions.
blues singer. Hallelujah! Look for her “Greatest Hits” Pick up any one of several “Best Of” collections and hear
albums. for yourself.

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