Blues - Country - Jazz
Group & Last Name Index to Full History:
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Tracks are listed in chronological order by year, then alphabetically.
Listings do not reflect proper order by month or day: later oft precedes earlier.
Find on Page = F3. Not on this page? See history tree below.
Featured on this page loosely in order of first recording or record release (as possible):
Memphis Slim Muddy Waters Jimmy Witherspoon Little Walter John Lee Hooker
Bobby Bland Elmore James Howling Wolf Otis Rush
Tennessee Ramblers Moon Mullican Chet Atkins Lloyd Cowboy Copas Hank Williams Sr.
Mac Wiseman Webb Pierce Marty Robbins Roy Clark George Hamilton IV Buck Owens
Helen Humes Buck Clayton Nat King Cole Ella Mae Morse Dinah Washington
Hadda Brooks Grady Martin Jimmy Forrest
Tracks are listed in chronological order by year, then alphabetically.
Listings do not reflect proper order by month or day: later oft precedes earlier.
Find on Page = F3. Not on this page? See history tree below.
|
Blues |
||
|
First recording in 1940, Memphis Slim (Peter Chatman) became one of the most highly regarded pianists in American music. Among titles from his first session on August 6 of '40 were 'The Jive Blues' and 'Blues at Midnight'. Slim held a minimum of a prolific 141 sessions during his career [Lord's]. But one example from amidst was his album, 'At the Gate of Horn', recorded live in Chicago on August 18, 1959. His final recordings were released posthumously as 'The Paris Sessions' in 1989. Main entry for Memphis Slim in Blues 4. Memphis Slim 1958 Composition: Fraser |
Memphis Slim Source: Blues Everyday
|
|
|
One great influence on rock music was blues guitarist, Muddy Waters (McKinley Morganfield), first recording in 1941 per 'Country Blues' and 'I Be's Troubled'. Albeit Waters was mainly a bluesman, in his later career he worked with numerous rock musicians. The four songs below were elected into The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as among the '500 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll'. Main entry for Muddy Waters in Blues 3. Muddy Waters 1950 Composition: Muddy Waters Muddy Waters 1954 Composition: Willie Dixon Muddy Waters 1955 Composition: Muddy Waters/Mel London Bo Diddley (Ellas McDaniel) Muddy Waters 1957 Composition: Preston Foster Muddy Waters 1960 Live television performance Composition: Preston Foster
|
Muddy Waters
Source:
Morrison Hotel Gallery |
|
|
Jimmy Witherspoon Photo: Concord Music Group Source: Black Kudos
|
Vocalist, Jimmy Witherspoon, largely jump blues (up-tempo blues), first recorded in 1945 with jazz pianist and bandleader Jay McShann: 'Confessin' the Blues' and 'Hard Working Man Blues'. He would attend at least 141 sessions [Lord's Disco] for up to nearly seventy albums until the latter nineties, he dying of cancer in 1997. 'Steamroller', below, is a good example of blues rock. Main entry for Witherspoon in Blues 4. Jimmy Witherspoon 1947 Composition: Jimmy Witherspoon Jimmy Witherspoon 1950 Composition: Jake Jordan Jimmy Witherspoon 1957 Composition: Jesse Stone Jimmy Witherspoon 1965 Composition: Cherry Foster/Walter Jessup Jimmy Witherspoon 1971 With Eric Burden Composition: James Taylor
|
|
| Pianist and vocalist,
Sunnyland Slim (Albert Luandrew), is said
to have first found himself on record in 1946 with Jump Jackson. He put
together his own band the same year, which first recording was 'Illinois
Central' with 'Sweet Lucy Blues' B side, released the next year in 1947. Luandrew was identified on his first releases
only as "Doc Clayton's Buddy", but assumed the name "Sunnyland Slim" the
same year due to frequent performances of a tune called 'Sunnyland Train'. Main entry for
Sunnyland Slim in Blues 4. Sunnyland Slim 1954 Composition: Sunnyland Slim Composition: Sunnyland Slim
|
Sunnyland Slim Source: Mapleshade Records |
|
|
Little Walter Source: Bon Corretore
|
Bluesman, Little Walter, was among the first to amplify harmonica, holding the instrument to the microphone. His first recordings, 'Ora-nelle Blues'/'Just Keep Loving Her' were released in 1947 (Ora Nelle 701). Below are a couple examples of Little Walter's contributions to the rock and roll beat. The Rolling Stones did a few covers of Walter as recently as 2016: 'Hate to See You Go' (Walter), 'I Got to Go' (Walter) and 'Just Your Fool' (Buddy Johnson). Both titles below reached Billboard's #1 spot in R&B, he placing 12 others in the Top Ten between '52 and 1958. Walter died ten years later in Chicago after a fight at a performance in 1968. Main entry for Little Walter in Blues 4. Little Walter 1952 Composition: Little WalterLittle Walter 1955 Composition: Willie Dixon
|
|
|
First recording in 1948 ('Boogie Chillen'), blues guitarist John Lee Hooker worked with a number of rock musicians from Canned Heat to Carlos Santana later in his career. Main entry for Hooker in Blues 3. Also under Ry Cooder in Folk Music. John Lee Hooker 1952 Composition: John Lee Hooker |
John Lee Hooker Photo: Brian Smith Source: VeV
|
|
|
Blues soul singer, Bobby Bland, first showed up on record shelves in 1951 with 'Booted' and 'I Love You Til the Day I Die' per Chess 1487. A major R&B vocalist during the sixties and seventies, Bland was another early contributor to rock n roll via R&B. Main entry for Bobby Bland in Blues 4. Bobby Bland 1951 Composition: Bland Bobby Bland 1952 Good Lovin'/Drifting from Town to Town Compositions: Bland/Jules Taub Bobby Bland 1963 Composition: See Wikipedia Bobby Bland 1964 Composition: Deadric Malone (Don Robey) Composition: Deadric Malone (Don Robey)
|
Bobby Blue Bland Source: Last FM
|
|
|
Elmore James Photo: Michael Ochs Archive Source: Black & Blue
|
Elmore James, was a Delta blues guitarist whose first recordings are thought to have been on January 4, 1951, in Jackson, MS, backing Sonny Boy Williamson II (Rice Miller) on 'Eyesight to the Blind'/'Crazy About You Baby' (Trumpet Records 129). On August 5 Williamson supported James on Catfish Blues'/'Dust My Broom' (Trumpet 146). James' blues were an influence to several later rock musicians such as Brian Jones (Rolling Stones), Jeremy Spencer (Fleetwood Mac) and Jimi Hendrix. Main entry for Elmore James at Blues 3. Elmore James 1961 Composition: See Wikipedia
|
|
|
Howling Wolf (Chester Burnett), guitar and harmonica, first recorded in 1951, 'Moanin' at Midnight' and 'How Many More Years'. The first three songs below were elected into The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as among the '500 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll'. Main entry for Howlin' Wolf in Blues 3. Howlin' Wolf 1956 Composition: Howlin' Wolf Howlin' Wolf 1960 Composition: Willie Dixon Howlin' Wolf 1962 Composition: Willie Dixon Howlin' Wolf 1964 Composition: Willie Dixon
|
Howlin' Wolf Source: 10 Mania |
|
|
Otis Rush released his first single, 'I Can't quit You', in 1956. He issued his first album, 'Mourning in the Morning', in August of 1969. Main entry for Otis Rush in Blues 3. Otis Rush 1956 Composition: Willie Dixon Composition: Willie Dixon |
Otis Rush Source: Chicago Blues Guide
|
|
|
Country Western |
||
|
Tennessee Ramblers Source: Hillbilly Music |
The Tennessee Ramblers, based in North Carolina, had little to do with Tennessee. That was the bluegrass band by the same name (aka the Sievers Ramblers). These Ramblers were among the first country swing bands, formed in 1928 by Dick Hartman. As they toured they performed at various radio stations like Pittsburg's KDKA. It's thought that Cecil Campbell (banjo/steel guitar), Kenneth Pappy Wolfe (fiddle) and Harry Blair (guitar/vocals) joined the band in 1932-33. Russell's 'Country Music Records' guesses Jack Gillette also on fiddle for their first recordings in 1935. They also performed in films with Gene Autry and Tex Ritter. Gillette led the group upon Hartman's departure in 1938. Cecil Campbell took over in '46 and led the group into the early seventies. As a country swing band it was perhaps inevitable that the Ramblers would experiment a wee bit with rock and roll, though it remained a solid country western group with Campbell's steel guitar the main feature throughout the existence of the band. Main entry for the Ramblers in C&W. Tennessee Ramblers 1957 Composition: William Lear/Cecil Campbell
|
|
|
Pianist, Moon Mullican, who first recorded in 1936, early aligned country western with everything from the blues to boogie woogie to rock and roll. Main entry for Moon Mullican in C&W. Moon Mullican 1951 Cherokee Boogie (Eh-Oh-Aleena) Composition: Moon Mullican Composition: Louis Innis/Moon Mullican Moon Mullican 1956 Composition: Al Hoffman/Dick Manning Composition: Buck Trail/Henry Glover/Louis Innis Moon Mullican 1958 Composition: Moon Mullican
|
Moon Mullican
Source:
F.U.N.K. |
|
|
Chet Atkins
Source:
NoNaMe |
Extraordinarily talented country guitarist, Chet Atkins, played in all variety of genres from classical to folk to jazz and beyond. His first recordings were with Red Foley in 1946 in New York City: 'Till the End of Time' (Decca 46058), 'Atomic Power'/'Have I Told You Lately That I Love You (Decca 46014), 'Foggy River'/'Lay Down Your Soul' (Decca 46024) and 'Old Shep' (Decca 46052). September of 1946 saw 'Guitar Blues' and 'Brown Eyes Cryin' in the Rain' recorded as Chester Atkins per Bullet 617. He became a member of the Grand Ole Opry in 1950 as an accompanist for Mother Maybelle & the Carter Sisters. His recording of 'Mr. Sandman' alighted at the #13 spot on Billboard's Country chart in January of 1955. 'Yakety Axe' reached #4 in July of '65. Though one hesitates to call those rock they bounce that direction along the popular vein. (The Coasters had issued 'Yakety Yak' in 1958 prior to Boots Randolph's 'Yakety Sax' the same year.) Among the most highly regarded of American guitarists, Atkins little pursued rock and roll, though he was instrumental in launching the careers of the Everly Brothers. He also briefly produced Elvis Presley. A major name in the Nashville hillbilly sound, Atkins was also a major producer of a long stream of country western artists from Hank Snow and Porter Wagoner to Skeeter Davis and Waylon Jennings. Main entry for Chet Atkins. Chet Atkins 1955 Live performance 1954
Composition:
Pat Ballard Chet Atkins 1965 Filmed live at the Grand Ole Opry Composition: Boots Randolph/James Rich: 'Yakety Sax' 1958 From 'Yakety Yak' by the Coasters 1958 Composition: Jerry Leiber/Mike Stoller
|
|
|
There was a time when to venture into rock and roll could be detrimental to the career of a country western musician. Though country western had its origins in jazzier atmospheres like New York City and western swing (sibling to big band swing), and was less than welcome on the conservative stage of the early Grand Ole Opry (thus C&W: Country and Western, as in points east centered in Nashville, and points west, particularly swinging California), a large portion of the country western audience wanted nothing to do with black-powered R&B later reinforced by white male musicians with long hair such as the Rolling Stones or the Animals. The merge, however, was inevitable via honky tonk and rockabilly, such that country western has long been largely a major sibling of rock, arranged for twang, perhaps some bluegrass fiddle included, but still rock. Lloyd Cowboy Copas was among the few musicians bred in country (though born in Ohio) to defy conventions largely set by the Grand Ole Opry, of which he was an esteemed member, and dive into rock & roll a wee bit. Main entry for Cowboy Copas in Country Western. Cowboy Copas 1958 Composition: Lou Adler/Herb Alpert
|
Lloyd Cowboy Copas Source: The Pogues
|
|
|
Hank Williams Sr. Photo: The Tennessean Source: MP3 XL
|
Hank William's honky tonk sound was progenitor to less countrified rockabilly. 'Move It On Over', obviously a rocker, was a huge success for Williams in 1947. Williams' career was a brief one, yet of strong influence on early rock n roll by way of rockabilly, the white country (honky) approach to rock n roll that wasn't otherwise largely black R&B. He was later voted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as an influence. Main entry for Hank Williams in Country Western. See also Hank Williams Jr.. Hank Williams Sr. 1947 Composition: Hank Williams |
|
|
Mac Wiseman Source: CMT |
Born in 1925 in Virginia, Mac Wiseman,
upright bass and guitar, began his
music career as a disc jockey for WSVA radio in Harrisonburg, Virginia, upon
studying music at the Shenandoah Conservatory of Music. He began his career
as a musician playing upright bass for country singer Molly O'Day. Wiseman first
recorded soon after in 1948 with the Foggy Mountain Boys, formed that year by
Earl Scruggs and Lester Flatt upon
their leaving
Bill Monroe's Blue Grass Boys.
Those were issued in '49 as 'God Loves His Children' (Mercury 6161), 'I'm
Going to Make Heaven My Home' (Mercury 6161) and 'We'll Meet Again
Sweetheart' (Mercury 6161). In 1949 he joined
Monroe's Blue Grass Boys
on 'Can't You Hear Me Callin''/'Travelin' Down This Lonesome Road' (Columbia
20676). Forming his own band the same year, they recorded 'From the Manger
to the Cross', 'A Broken Heart to Mend' and 'Grey Eagle' in Bristol,
Tennessee in 1950, those unissued until 1988 on 'Live Again! WCYB-Bristol
Farm and Fun Time'. His first name plates to issue went down on May 23 of
1951: 'Little White Church'/'I'm a Stranger' (Dot 1075) and ''Tis Sweet to
Be Remembered'/'Are You Coming Back to Me' (Dot 1062). Wiseman's first 12"
LP, ''Tis Sweet to Be Remembered', was issued in
1957 (preceded by 'Songs from the Hills' in the UK in 1956 on 10").
Wikipedia
has him leading or co-leading above fifty more albums until his most recent,
'I Sang the Songs', in 2017. He had collaborated with
Merle Haggard on 'Timeless'
shortly before the latter's death in 2016.
Wiseman was inducted into the International Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame in
1993 and the Country Western Music Hall of Fame in 2014. Main entry for
Mac Wiseman in
Bluegrass Music. Mac Wiseman 1957 Music: Blind Boy Fuller Lyrics: James Long Sr.
|
|
|
Webb Pierce was another among country western musicians who ventured beyond the strictures of the folk-purist Grand Ole Opry (no drums, horns, etc.) to create some rockabilly. His first issues had been in 1949: 'Heebie Jeebie Blues'/'Sweetheart I Love You So' (4 Star 1357), 'English Sweetheart'/'High Geared Daddy' (4 Star 1413) and 'Million Years From Now'/'I Heard Her Call My Name In Prayer' (4 Star 1401), the last with Betty Pierce. Main entry for Webb Pierce in Country Western. Webb Pierce 1959 Composition: Mel Tillis/Webb Pierce Webb Pierce 1960 Composition: Felice & Boudleaux Bryant Composition: Mel Tillis
|
Webb Pierce Source: Martin Vintage Guitars
|
|
|
Marty Robbins Source: VK |
Born in Glendale, Arizona, in 1925,
Marty Robbins, who played both guitar and piano,
began his musical career in Phoenix [Wikipedia]. He had taught himself guitar while in
the Navy in the Solomon Islands during World War II. Upon discharge he
played gigs in Phoenix, quickly acquiring his own radio show on KTYL. He
just as quickly acquired his own television show on KPHO. It was
Little Jimmy Dickens, making a guest appearance on the latter, who gained Robbins
his debut recording contract in 1951, he to release 'Love Me Or Leave Me
Alone'/'Tomorrow You'll Be Gone' (20925) and 'Crying 'Cause I Love You'/'I
Wish Somebody Loved Me' (20965) [released in March '52 per
rocky52]. Robbins'
'I'll Go on Alone' rose to Country's #1 sort in 1952, followed by fifteen
more to 'El Paso City' in 1972. He released his first LP in 1955, that
shared with
Carl Smith and
Lefty Frizzell for
'carl, lefty and marty'. He issued 'Rock'n Roll'n Robbins' the next year,
'The Song of Robbins' and 'Song of the Islands' in 1957, and the eponymously
titled 'Marty Robbins' in 1958. He was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1982. Robbins
was also a race car driver, competing in 35 NASCAR races, finishing in the
top ten six times [1,
2,
3]. His last race was
in 1982 a month before his death upon
heart attack on December 8 that year. Robbins had authored the majority of
his recordings. He composed all titles below except as noted. Main entry for
Marty Robbins in C&W. Marty Robbins 1954 Composition: Arthur Crudup Marty Robbins 1955 Composition: Chuck Berry Marty Robbins 1956 Marty Robbins 1957 Marty Robbins 1958 Marty Robbins 1959 Composition: Roy Bennett/Sid Tepper
|
|
|
Roy Clark Source: Ranch Party Round Up
|
Born in 1933 in Virginia, banjo
guitar and mandolin player,
Roy Clark, made his first appearance at
the Grand Ole Opry at age seventeen. He made his first unissued recordings w
Marvin Rainwater's Rockin'
Tommyhawks in 1953, hanging with
Rainwater's ensembles
into 1956. Clark meanwhile issued his first name titles,
'Mysteries of Life'/'Sugar Coated' (4 Star 45-1659), in 1954. Clark released
the first of above fifty albums, 'The Lightning Fingers of Roy
Clark', in 1962. Clark and
Buck Owens became hosts
of the television show, 'Hee Haw', in 1969 for more than twenty years. Clark
finally became a member of the
Grand Ole Opry in 1987. He was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame
in 2009. Main entry for Roy Clark in Country Western. Roy Clark 1958 Composition: Augustus Bobby Stevenson Composition: Augustus Bobby Stevenson/Blackwell
|
|
| Born in 1937 in North Carolina,
George Hamilton IV
was a student at the University of North Carolina when he released his first
records in 1956: 'Sam'/'I've Got A Secret' (Colonial CR-410) and 'If You
Don't Know'/'A Rose and a Baby Ruth' (Colonial CR-420/ABC Paramount
9765). Hamilton's early music was rock n roll oriented, he moving over to country upon becoming a member of the Grand Ole Opry in Feb
of 1960. His most popular LPs had been 'Steel Rail Blues' in '66 and 'Folk
Country Classics' in '67. His most recently released albums were in 2011: 'In
the Heart of Texas' and 'A Tribute to Luke the Drifter (The Other Side of
Hank Williams)' before his death on September 17, 2014, in Nashville. Main entry for Hamilton at Country
Western. George Hamilton IV 1956 Composition: John Loudermilk Composition: Hamilton IV George Hamilton IV 1957 Composition: Hamilton IV Composition: Joe Tanner
|
George Hamilton IV Source: Metro Lyrics
|
|
|
Buck Owens Source: Start
|
Buck Owens began his recording career in 1953, recording an unissued track of 'Blue Love' with Billy Mize (steel) and Cliff Crawford (trumpet), et al. His first vinyl is thought to have been issued in January of 1954, backing Tommy Collins on 'You Better Do Not That'/'High On the Hilltop' (Capitol 2701). He backed Forrest Lee and Cleet Stewart in 1954 on 'When I Hold You/I Can't Live Without You Now' (Chesterfield 353). During his early career he worked as session guitarist for Capital Records in Hollywood. He released his first record in 1956: 'Down on the Corner of Love' with 'Right After the Dance'. Soon after followed the rockabilly experiment, 'Hot Dog', recorded as Corky Jones. Owens would have made a great rock and roll musician but his greater country western inclinations brought a stellar career of several decades, notably as co-host for seventeen years of the television program, 'Hee Haw', with Roy Clark. Main entry for Owens in C&W. Buck Owens 1957 Composition: Denny Dedmon/Buck Owens Buck Owens 1969 Composition: Chuck Berry
|
|
|
Country pianist, Mickey Gilley, began his career as a boogie woogie musician. Indeed, as a child he played piano with cousin, Jerry Lee Lewis (as well as Jimmy Swaggart, who played piano as a youth before later becoming a Pentecostal pastor). Among other country musicians who began their careers in rock were Conway Twitty (rockabilly) and Kenny Rogers (R&B). Gilley's first issues were 'Tell Me Why'/'Ooh Wee Baby' (Minor MH 106) in 1957 and 'Call Me Shorty'/'Come On Baby' (Dot 15706) in 1958. Main entry for Gilley in C&W. Mickey Gilley 1957 Composition: M. Ross Composition: Mickey Gilley Mickey Gilley 1958 Composition: Charles Matthews Composition: Mickey Gilley Mickey Gilley 1976 Composition: Lloyd Price
|
Mickey Gilley Source: Bands In Town
|
|
|
Jazz |
||
|
Born in 1913, Helen Humes first recorded with blues guitarist Sylvester Weaver in 1927 (age 14). But her big break didn't arrive until 1937 when she joined Harry James' big band. The next year she replaced Billie Holiday in the Count Basie Orchestra. The song, 'They Raided the Joint', below, is a good example of the early contributions swing jazz made to rock and roll. Main entry for Helen Humes in Swing Jazz Song. Helen Humes 1947 Composition: Dan Burley/Louis Jordan
|
Helen Humes Source: Data B |
|
|
Buck Clayton Source: Nicole Mones
|
Arranger and trumpeter Buck Clayton formed his first band in 1929 upon graduating from high school. Five years later he took off for Shanghai and played jazz with Chinese musicians. Upon his return he first recorded with Count Basie on January 21, 1937, in NYC: 'Honeysuckle Rose', 'Pennies from Heaven', 'Swingi' at the Daisy and 'Roseland Shuffle'. While he was with Basie he also recorded with Teddy Wilson, therefore Billie Holiday as well. His first recorded solo was the same year with Count Basie ('Swingin’ at the Daisy Chain'). Clayton was a serious jazzman a world apart from rock and roll. Though the track below is quite late (1955), and in retrospect for Clayton, it is too perfect an example of swing jazz leaning toward rhythm and blues to not include on this page. Main entry for Buck Clayton in Swing Jazz: Big Band. Buck Clayton 1955 With the Count Basie Orchestra Composition: Count Basie/Lester Young/Myles Collins |
|
|
Nat King Cole, both a fine pianist and singer, was another serious jazzman who decidedly lived a world apart from rock and roll. As to classical and country, rock was lowbrow to the jazz realm as well until the development of such as jazz fusion into the seventies. The great success of 'Route 66' released in 1946, however, was swing with an uh-oh-too-late-now rock & roll beat. (It is principally beat by which the Oxford Dictionary of Music has in the past distinguished rock and roll from other forms of music.) More Cole at Modern Jazz Piano and Modern Jazz Song. Nat King Cole 1946 Composition: Bobby Troup Nat King Cole 1960 Composition: Bobby Troup Conductor: Billy May Nat King Cole 1960 Composition: Jimmy, Joe & Noel Sherman
|
Nat King Cole 1965 Photo: William P. Gottlieb Source: Circulo de Estudios
|
|
|
Born in 1924 in Mansfield, Texas, Ella Mae Morse was but 17 when she joined the band of boogie woogie pianist, Freddie Slack, and made her first recording, 'Cow Cow Boogie' (1942). That was also Capitol Records' first gold disc. Although Morse made her last name issue in 1957 per the LP, 'Morse Code', she continued working nightclubs on both coasts into the nineties, such as Michael's Pub in New York and Ye Little Pub, the Cinegrill and the Vine St. Bar and Grill in Los Angeles. She also appeared at Disneyland for several years with the Ray McKinley Orchestra and toured Australia. Morse died in 1999 of heart failure in Bullhead, Arizona. She is an excellent example of transition from boogie woogie and swing toward rock and roll. Some consider her the first rock vocalist as an R&B artist. Main entry for Ella Mae Morse in Swing Jazz Song. Ella Mae Morse 1947 Composition: Dick Larkin Ella Mae Morse 1951 Guitar: Jimmy Bryant Pedal steel: Speedy West Composition: Johnny Tyler Ella Mae Morse 1952 Composition: Jack Holmes Ella Mae Morse 1953 Composition: Bill Sanford/Jimmy Ricks Ella Mae Morse 1955 Composition: Charles Calhoun Ella Mae Morse 1956 Composition: Charles Calhoun
|
Ella Mae Morse Photo: Getty Images Source: OK Music
|
|
|
Dinah Washington Source: ladybret
|
Bluesy jazz singer Dinah Washington released her first recording, 'Evil Gal Blues', in 1944 with Lionel Hampton. (That and 'Salty Papa Blues' at Dinah Washington Blues.) Like Nat King Cole above, Washington's realm was jazz, she never pursuing rock and roll although her 1948 release, 'Am I Asking Too Much', was inducted into The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as among the '500 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll'. She also dipped her toes in rock a wee bit in 1960 with Brook Benton. Washington died at the relatively young age of 39 due to an accidental drug overdose. Main entry for Dinah Washington in Modern Jazz: Song. Dinah Washington 1960 With Brook Benton Composition: Brook Benton/Luchi DeJesus
|
|
|
Born in 1916 and raised in Los Angeles, versatile pianist Hadda Brooks made a reputation for herself as the Queen of Boogie Woogie. Boogie woogie was the southern equivalent of ragtime, developing out of the barrelhouses (bars) of eastern Texas in the Marshall area. Brooks' first single, 'Swingin' the Boogie', was in 1945. She died in Los Angeles on November 21, 2002. She hadn't pursued rock and roll per se, her boogie woogie largely in the context of jazz piano. Hadda Brooks 1947 Composition: Hadda Brooks
|
Hadda Brooks Source: Lileks
|
|
|
Grady Martin Source: From the Vaults
|
Born in 1929 in Chapel Hill, Tennessee, phenomenal jazz guitarist Thomas Grady Martin [1, 2] was also a country western musician who liked to work in both genres. Martin got his professional break early, performing regularly for WLAC radio in Nashville at age fifteen. Several years later in '49 he joined Red Foley on 'Chattanoogie Shoe Shine Boy' [Lord's disco] for release in January of 1950. In 1951 Martin put together a band called the Slew Foot Five and made his first recordings as a leader that year ('Bully Of the Town', below, among them). The early fifties saw sessions with such as Bing Crosby and Burl Ives, as well as recordings with his band now called the Winging Strings. During the latter fifties Martin became a Nashville A-Team session guitarist, thereat to participate in titles by such as Marty Robbins and Johnny Horton. In 1964 he contributed to jazz trombonist, Kai Winding's 'Modern Country'. Others employing his talents in '64 were Roy Orbison and Lefty Frizzell. Martin issued the LP, 'Instrumentally Yours', in 1965. 1966 found him on clarinetist, Pete Fountain's, 'Mood Indigo'. His LP, 'A Touch of Country', appeared in 1967. He appeared on Joan Baez' 'Any Day Now' in '68 and 'David's Album' in '69. In the seventies he worked with such as J J Cale, Sammi Smith, Loretta Lynn, Conway Twitty and Kris Kristofferson. 1977 saw the issue of the LP, 'Country Classics'. In 1978 Martin traded session work for the road to tour with Jerry Reed. He's also said to have joined Willie Nelson's band that year, with which he worked until retirement in 1994 for health reasons. In the meantime he'd supported the jazz group, the Four Freshmen, on 'Graduation Day' in 1982, then shifted back to country the next year on Merle Haggard's 'That's the Way Love Goes'. Martin died of heart attack on December 3, 2001, in Lewisburg, Tennessee, leaving a legacy of nearly 400 sessions. Most of the tenor sax on the recordings below is by Dutch McMillin. Early recordings by various on which Martin features. Production and songwriting credits for recordings by Martin with and without the Slew Foot Five: *. See also Discogs 1, 2, 3. Further reading: 1, 2. See also Grady Martin Country and Grady Martin Jazz. Grady Martin 1950 With Red Foley Composition: Jack Stapp/Harry Stone Grady Martin 1954 Composition: Cliff Friend/Dave Franklin
|
|
|
The first name recording as a band leader made by jazz saxophonist, Jimmy Forrest, was 'Night Train' in 1952. He had laid his first tracks ten years earlier with veteran saxophonist, Andy Kirk. Main entry for Jimmy Forrest in Modern Jazz: Saxophone. Jimmy Forrest 1952 Composition: Oscar Washington/Lewis Simpkins/Forrest Jimmy Forrest 1956 Composition: Arthur Johnston/Sam Coslow Arrangement: Billy Mure
|
Jimmy Forrest Source: Papy Blues
|
|
|
|
We leave this page yet rather bare for a time, to make additions as may arise.
|
Black Gospel
Blues
Early Blues 2: Vocal - Other Instruments
Modern Blues 2: Vocal - Other Instruments
Classical
Romantic: Composers born 1770 to 1840
Modern: Composers born 1900 to 1950
Country
Folk Music
Jazz
Early Jazz 1: Ragtime - Bands - Horn
Early Jazz 2: Ragtime - Other Instrumentation
Modern 4: Guitar - Other String
Modern 5: Percussion - Other Orchestration
Modern 7: Latin Jazz - Latin Recording
Modern 8: United States 1960 - 1970
Modern 9: International 1960 - 1970
Latin
Latin Recording 2: The Caribbean
Latin Recording 3: South America
Popular Music
Rock & Roll
Total War - Sixties American Rock
Musician Indexes
Classical - Medieval to Renaissance
Classical - Baroque to Classical
Jazz Early - Ragtime - Swing Jazz
Jazz Modern - Percussion - Song - Other
Boogie Woogie - Doo Wop - R&B - Rock & Roll - Soul - Disco
Sixties American Rock - Popular
Latin Recording - The Caribbean - South America
vfssmail (at) gmaill (dot) com
