Boogie Woogie & Cripple Clarence Lofton

Cripple Clarence Lofton

Source: Smokestack Lightnin'

Cripple Clarence Lofton was born Albert or Clarence Clemens on March 28 1887 in Kingsport, Tennessee. Lofton came by "Cripple" of being born with a limp, making it ideal to become a tap dancer before he turned to blues and boogie woogie piano. He left the Memphis Delta region for Chicago in 1921 at the prime age of 34 to there performed at piano the remainder of his life. Blues Trail has him opening his own club in Chicago in 1932.

On April 2 of 1935 Lofton led what is thought to be his first recording session in Chicago to result in 'Strut That Thing' / 'Monkey Man Blues' (Vocalion 02951). On April 12 he recorded 'Policy Blues' as Albert Clemens for release on Bluebird 5930 with some issues credited to Adam Wilcox. Dubiety is cast as to whether Clemens is actually Lofton, Wilcox or even Lofton's brother at the sessionography by Stefan Wirz (below). 'The Bluebird Label Discography' by John R. Bolig of 2017 lists Clemens with no mention of Lofton. Tom Lord lists Clemens as Lofton period. Pseudonym or not, Lofton was back to recording 'You Done Tore Your Playhouse Down' (Conqueror 8758) in his own name on July 18 in Chicago. Accompaniment on titles below is per Lord.

'Strut That Thing'   Cripple Clarence Lofton   First recording to issue

Recorded 2 April 1935 in Chicago   Matrix C947-B   Vocalion 02951

Drums: Myrtle Jenkins   Composition: Lofton

'Monkey Man Blues'   Cripple Clarence Lofton   Second recording to issue

Recorded 2 April 1935 in Chicago   Matrix C948-A   Vocalion 02951

Guitar: Big Bill Broonzy   Composition: Lofton

'Policy Blues'   Cripple Clarence Lofton possibly as Albert Clemens   Third recording to issue

Aka 'You Can't 3-6-9 Me'

Recorded 12 April 1935 in Chicago   Bluebird B5930

Also issued as Adam Wilcox

Doubt is cast if Clemens is actually Lofton or Wilcox

Guitar: Big Bill Broonzy   Composition: Adam Wilcox

February 4 of 1936 found Lofton with Al Miller's Swing Stompers, possibly with Odell Rant on clarinet, to lay out 'It's Got To Be Done' (Champion 50067) and 'Juicy Mouth Shorty' (Champion 50072). He also supported Red Nelson in February that year.

Recordings in or circa 1939 come with dates unknown, stacked below following Lord. Among those was 'Pine Top's Boogie Woogie' after Pinetop Smith's 1928 piano rag which is thought to have been the first use of "boogie woogie" on record, thereat establishing the genre. Among other titles of 1939 were those later issued on the LP, 'A Lost Recording Date' (Riverside Records RLP 1037) in 1954. The same session yielded 'Blue Boogie' released on 'Jazz Immortals No.1' in 1955 and 'Clarence's Blues' in 1979. In December 1943 Lofton recorded a version of another hallmark to boogie woogie but closer to its origins in George and Hersal Thomas's 'The Fives' of 1922. December sessions of 1943 are as late as Lord traces Lofton.

'Pine Top's Boogie Woogie'   Cripple Clarence Lofton

Recorded 1939 in Chicago   Solo Art 12009

 Composition: Pinetop Smith 1928

'Blue Boogie'   Cripple Clarence Lofton

Recorded 1939 in Chicago

Issued on Vogue Records LDE 122 in 1955 & Oldie Blues OL 2817 in 1979

 Composition: Lofton

'The Fives'   Cripple Clarence Lofton

Recorded Dec 1943 in Chicago   Matrix 129   Session 10-002

Composition: George & Hersal Thomas 1922

'In De Mornin''   Cripple Clarence Lofton   From last known session

Recorded Dec 1943 in Chicago   Matrix 140   Session 10-006

Composition: Lofton

Lofton remained one of Chicago's favorite performers until his death on January 9, 1957, of a brain blood clot [obit]. Other of his compositions were 'I Don't Know' and 'Streamlined Train' in the latter thirties.