Page 33 - Blues Festival Guide Magazine 2023 Digital Edition

Living Legend:
Living Legend:

Leon Blue
Leon Blue

All photos by Ÿ Marilyn Stringer

By Dan D. Harrell time! From ragtime to funky blues, he’s got it covered. And if
“I want ta tell you a story.” That’s the first line of Leon you like some storytelling with your R&B, you’ll be chuckling
Blue’s “Blues Bender,” an homage to the Las Vegas festival, while you’re shuffling.
featured on the album Blue Las Vegas sponsored by the Las I knew all along since I was a kid that I wanted to be a piano
Vegas Blues Society – and the theme of what follows. player, says Mr. Blue. After I heard Meade Lux Lewis playing
Mr. Blue turned 91 last fall, and he can still play as good “Honky Tonk Train,” that was it. I used to shine shoes at the bus
as any piano player you know – good enough to get invited station in Wichita Falls (where Leon was born in 1931) and my
almost every year to both the Big Blues Bender and the first gig was with Bob Wills (the famous Western swing pioneer).
Legendary Rhythm and Blues Cruise. He’s been keyboardist That was the first piece of money I ever made in my life. I
for some giant blues acts, notably with Ike and Tina Turner for was only 15, still in high school. I got $40. That was a whole
more than a dozen years. He’s toured and played behind lot of money.
B.B. King, Lowell Fulson, Albert Collins and Albert King. Days I married my high school sweetheart, and every job I got, I
before his 91 birthday, he was in the studio killing it for the got fired. My middle name was “fired!” (laughs) My wife didn’t
st
album mentioned above. want me to play music; she wanted me to keep a job. Once,
Everything Mr. Blue is on stage he is in real life – gentle, I got fired from yet another job and was on my way home. I
funny, informed, polite, and oh so damned talented. With his stopped by a beer joint and got to talking to this guy named
million-dollar smile, captivating personality, funny tales and Gene. He said, “You don’t have no job?” Gene said he’d pay
masterful piano licks, a Leon Blue show is always a good $40 a week for work and Mr. Blue took the job.

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