May 2008 Issue #79

Blues History
Courtesy Of Suncoast Blues Society

...In 1925, a band calling itself The Cotton Pickers recorded "Down And Out Blues" for Brunswick Records. Brunswick, like many other companies had done, put The Cotton Pickers together using an assortment of white musicians and marketed them as black to cash in on the popularity of "authentic" Blues recordings.

...In 1965, John Jackson recorded forty songs for Chris Strachwitz in Fairfax, Va, a selection of which were chosen to form Jackson's debut album "Country Blues and Dances"

...In 1960, Dick Clark, described as "the single most influential person" in the pop music business, testified before the congressional committee looking into payola. He admitted he had a financial interest in 27 percent of the records he played on his show in a 28 month period.

...In 1969, Janis Joplin and the Kozmic Blues Band played London's Royal Albert Hall.

...In 1955, Ray Charles returned to Florida long enough to record "Drown In My Own Tears", and "Hallelujah, I Love Her So", in the studios of WMAQ Miami, for Atlantic Records. That day Ray also recorded the gospel drenched "A Fool For You" which eventually reached #1 on the R&B chart.

...In 1934, Mr. Laurens Hammond introduced his "pipeless organ". His B3 and the "Leslie" speaker cabinet are pretty much THE standard in Blues.

Janis Joplin with her Kozmic Blues Band. Live at the Woodstock Music and Arts Fair 1969
Ball and Chain

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