1915 Floyd McDaniel*
1917 Floyd Jones*
2002 Little Jimmy King+
2005 Long John Baldry+
Will Wilde*
Dorian Sorriaux*
Teresa Lynn*
Happy Birthday
Floyd Jones *21.07.1917
Floyd Jones (July 21, 1917 – December 19, 1989) was an American blues singer, guitarist and songwriter, who is significant as one of the first of the new generation of electric blues artists to record in Chicago after World War II. A number of Jones' recordings are regarded as classics of the Chicago blues idiom,[1] and his song "On The Road Again" was a top ten hit for Canned Heat in 1968.[2] Notably for a blues artist of his era, several of his songs have economic or social themes, such as "Stockyard Blues" (which refers to a strike at the Union Stockyards), "Hard Times" or "Schooldays".
Jones was born in Marianna, Arkansas. He started playing guitar seriously after being given a guitar by Howlin' Wolf, and worked as an itinerant musician in the Arkansas and Mississippi area in the 1930s and early 1940s, before settling in Chicago in 1945.[4]
In Chicago, Jones took up the electric guitar, and was one of a number of musicians playing on Maxwell Street and in non-union venues in the late 1940s who played an important role in the development of the post-war Chicago Blues sound. This group included Little Walter and Jimmy Rogers, both of who went on to become mainstays of the Muddy Waters band, and also Snooky Pryor, Floyd's cousin Moody Jones and mandolin player Johnny Young. His first recording session in 1947, with Snooky on harmonica and Moody on guitar, produced the sides "Stockyard Blues" and "Keep What You Got", which formed one of the two records released by the Marvel Label, and was one of the first examples of the new style on record. A second session in 1949 resulted in a release on the similarly short-lived Tempo-Tone label. During the 1950s Jones also had records released on JOB, Chess and Vee-Jay, and in 1966 he recorded for the Testament label's Masters of Modern Blues series.[5]
Jones continued performing in Chicago for the rest of his life, although he had few further recording opportunities. Later in his career the electric bass became his main instrument.[6] He died in Chicago in December 1989.
Will Wilde *21.07.
Will "Harmonica" Wilde
aus Brighton, England gründete mit 17 Jahren seine erste Band, die The Neptune Blues Band (2005) und veröffentlichte 2008 sein Debut Album "Nothin' But Trouble".
Außer mit seiner eigenen Band durch Europa zu touren spielt Will auch in der Band seiner älteren Schweste "Dani Wilde" (Ruf Records). Trotz seiner erst 20 Jahre (2009) spielte Will schon viele Male im BBC Radio - einschließlich einer Session für die Paul Jones show auf BBC Radio 2.
Er spielte schon in vielen ehrwürdigen Hallen unter anderem in der The Royal Albert Hall als Opener für Jools Holland. Mit seiner gefühlvollen Stimme, die viel reifer klingt als man es erwarten würde, und seinem natürlichen Talent als Liedermacher und Mundharmonika-Spieler ist Will 'Harmonica' Wilde auf dem besten Weg sich einen guten Namen in der internationalen Blues Szene zu machen.
Außer mit seiner eigenen Band durch Europa zu touren spielt Will auch in der Band seiner älteren Schweste "Dani Wilde" (Ruf Records). Trotz seiner erst 20 Jahre (2009) spielte Will schon viele Male im BBC Radio - einschließlich einer Session für die Paul Jones show auf BBC Radio 2.
Er spielte schon in vielen ehrwürdigen Hallen unter anderem in der The Royal Albert Hall als Opener für Jools Holland. Mit seiner gefühlvollen Stimme, die viel reifer klingt als man es erwarten würde, und seinem natürlichen Talent als Liedermacher und Mundharmonika-Spieler ist Will 'Harmonica' Wilde auf dem besten Weg sich einen guten Namen in der internationalen Blues Szene zu machen.
Will Wilde picked up his first harmonica at the age of 16 and played it until his lips bled. Weaned on the likes of Muddy Waters, Sonny Boy Williamson and Buddy Guy, Wilde grew up steeped in traditional Chicago Blues yet his focus as an artist remains resolutely on the future. Wilde fuses raw blues with rock, soul and funk. He takes what's authentic and powerful about the music he grew up loving and introduces other influences without losing the heart and conviction of the blues. His live show has been described as: "A masterclass of blues harp playing, bar none." (Blues in the North West).
Wilde made his first album when he was 19, Nothing but Trouble, which was well reviewed in ‘Blues Matters’ and ‘Blues in Britain’. In 2011 he signed a two album deal with Rock the Earth Records. His first album with Rock the Earth, Unleashed, is described as: "An exemplary album with an extraordinary variety of styles" (Bluesbreeker NL) and "Pure, simple and low-down... vocal in classic Sam Cooke Mode" 8/10 (Blues in Britain).
On his latest album Raw Blues, Wilde returns to his roots paying homage to the stripped down Chicago blues that first inspired him to play. Raw Blues features Richard Newman on drums (Rory Gallagher, Steve Marriot, Sam Brown), Stuart Dixon on guitar (Eddie Floyd, Geno Washington, Marcus Malone) and Victoria Smith on Bass (Girls with Guitars, Dani Wilde, The Ramonas).
Wilde has been four times nominated in the British Blues Awards for best Harmonica player (2010/2011/2012/2013) and he has shared the stage with various notable blues artists. He has appeared twice on the Legendary Blues Cruise playing with veterans such as Sherman Robertson, Michael Burks, Earl Thomas and Taj Mahal.
"He will be a big name on the British Blues Scene" (Roots Time NL)
http://www.willharmonicawilde.com/bio
Harp-Feuerwerk - Will Wilde bei den 21. Rother Bluestagen
Floyd McDaniel *21.07.1915
Floyd Edward „Butter“ McDaniel (* 21. Juli 1915 in Athens (Alabama); † 22. Juli 1995 in Chicago) war ein US-amerikanischer Gitarrist und Sänger im Bereich von Blues, Jazz, Rhythm & Blues und Doo-Wop.
McDaniel kam mit 15 Jahren nach Chicago und begann seine Karriere 1933 in der Jug-Band The Rhythm Rascals, die ihr Debüt bei der Weltausstellung in Chicago hatten.[1] Ein Talentscout für den Cotton Club entdeckte ihn bei einem Auftritt im New Yorker Apollo Theater, was zu einem längeren Engagement als Leiter der Cotton Club Tramp Band führte; Aufnahmen entstanden 1937 mit The Tramp Band (mit Lester „Pinky“ Johnson und Al Cowans).[2] Von 1941 bis 1954 spielte er in der Chicagoer Jump Blues-Gruppe The Four Blazes (in wechselnden Besetzungen mit Paul Lindsley „Jelly“ Holt, Tommy Braden, Ernie Harper, William „Shorty“ Hill, später als Five Blazers), die Ende der 50er-Jahre auch als Begleitband von Sam Cooke fungierten. Die Four Blazes veröffentlichten auf Aristocrat (Chicago Boogie, 1947) und United Artists Records erfolgreich mehrere 78er wie Night Train/Rug Cutter, Perfect Woman, Please Send Her Back to Me, Mary Jo (#1 der R&B-Charts 1952), All Night Long und Please Send Her Back to Me/Stop Boogie Woogie (1952) bzw. als Five Blazes die Single Chicago Boogie/Dedicated to You.[3] Nach Auflösung der Five Blazes kaufte McDaniels eine Bar in Chicago.
Im folgenden Jahrzehnt gehörte McDaniel einer Rockband an; in den 1970er-Jahren trat als Gitarrist mit einer der als Ink Spots firmierenden Revival-Gruppen auf. In den 1980er-Jahren spielte er mit Willie Dixon im Big Three Trio. Aufnahmen entstanden 1991 für Delmark Records mit der Band The Blues Swingers, geleitet von dem Tenorsaxophonisten Dave Clark, stilistisch angelehnt am Blues und Rhythm & Blues der 40er-Jahre (Let Your Hair Down!, Delmark).[4] Kurz vor seinem Tod trat Floyd McDaniel 1994 auf dem Bremer Bluesfestival Breminale auf.[5] Er starb einen Tag nach seinem achtzigsten Geburtstag auf dem Dan Ryan Expressway an den Folgen eines Herzinfarktes.[6] 1997 erschien bei Delmark posthum McDaniels Album West Side Baby (Live in Europe).
McDaniel kam mit 15 Jahren nach Chicago und begann seine Karriere 1933 in der Jug-Band The Rhythm Rascals, die ihr Debüt bei der Weltausstellung in Chicago hatten.[1] Ein Talentscout für den Cotton Club entdeckte ihn bei einem Auftritt im New Yorker Apollo Theater, was zu einem längeren Engagement als Leiter der Cotton Club Tramp Band führte; Aufnahmen entstanden 1937 mit The Tramp Band (mit Lester „Pinky“ Johnson und Al Cowans).[2] Von 1941 bis 1954 spielte er in der Chicagoer Jump Blues-Gruppe The Four Blazes (in wechselnden Besetzungen mit Paul Lindsley „Jelly“ Holt, Tommy Braden, Ernie Harper, William „Shorty“ Hill, später als Five Blazers), die Ende der 50er-Jahre auch als Begleitband von Sam Cooke fungierten. Die Four Blazes veröffentlichten auf Aristocrat (Chicago Boogie, 1947) und United Artists Records erfolgreich mehrere 78er wie Night Train/Rug Cutter, Perfect Woman, Please Send Her Back to Me, Mary Jo (#1 der R&B-Charts 1952), All Night Long und Please Send Her Back to Me/Stop Boogie Woogie (1952) bzw. als Five Blazes die Single Chicago Boogie/Dedicated to You.[3] Nach Auflösung der Five Blazes kaufte McDaniels eine Bar in Chicago.
Im folgenden Jahrzehnt gehörte McDaniel einer Rockband an; in den 1970er-Jahren trat als Gitarrist mit einer der als Ink Spots firmierenden Revival-Gruppen auf. In den 1980er-Jahren spielte er mit Willie Dixon im Big Three Trio. Aufnahmen entstanden 1991 für Delmark Records mit der Band The Blues Swingers, geleitet von dem Tenorsaxophonisten Dave Clark, stilistisch angelehnt am Blues und Rhythm & Blues der 40er-Jahre (Let Your Hair Down!, Delmark).[4] Kurz vor seinem Tod trat Floyd McDaniel 1994 auf dem Bremer Bluesfestival Breminale auf.[5] Er starb einen Tag nach seinem achtzigsten Geburtstag auf dem Dan Ryan Expressway an den Folgen eines Herzinfarktes.[6] 1997 erschien bei Delmark posthum McDaniels Album West Side Baby (Live in Europe).
Known for blues-drenched jazz and jazz-drenched blues, Floyd McDaniel was a part of the Chicago scene for most of his 80 years. The singer/guitarist was born in Athens, Alabama but spent much of his life in the Windy City, where he'd moved to when he was 15, in 1930. As a teenager, McDaniel played and sang the blues on the streets of Chicago, and in 1933, he joined a washboard band called the Rhythm Rascals. In the early '40s, McDaniel learned to play the electric guitar and joined the Four Blazes, a jump blues combo that later became the Five Blazes and recorded for Aristocrat in 1947 and United Artists in 1952-1953. The Blazes went through their share of personnel changes; some of the artists McDaniel played with in the group included bassist Thomas Braden and pianist Ernie Harper. After The Blazes drifted apart in the late '50s, McDaniel was involved in a variety of activities, including operating a tavern on Chicago's South Side in the '50s and '60s and playing with a version of the Ink Spots in the '70s. In the '80s, McDaniel joined forces with Dave Clark, a veteran tenor saxophonist who ended up joining McDaniel's final group, the Blues Swingers. McDaniel, who recorded for Delmark in the 1990s, died in Chicago on July 23, 1995, only two days after his 80th birthday.
Floyd McDaniel - Chicago Blues Festival (1995) Part 1
Floyd McDaniel (vocal & guitar), Erwin Helfer (piano) and S. P. Leary (drums)
Dorian Sorriaux *21.07.
Ein Bassist aus den USA, eine schwedische Sängerin und ein schwedischer Drummer sowie ein Franzose an der Gitarre haben sich als Blues Pills zusammengetan und werden durch ihre Liebe zu gutem altem Bluesrock zusammengeschweißt. Über die letzten Jahre hat das Quartett sich einen absolut faszinierenden und eigenständigen Sound erarbeitet. 2014 erschien dann das schlicht „Blues Pills“ betitelte Debütalbum. Und schon dort erkennt man nach wenigen Takten, dass es sich um eine ganz besondere Band handelt, die sich ganz lässig richtig coole Bluesrock-Songs aus dem Ärmel schüttelt über denen Sängerin Elin Larsson sich mit ihrer tollen Stimme dann voll ausleben kann.
Doch noch besser als auf Platte funktioniert der Sound der Blues Pills live, weswegen wir auch die Gelegenheit nutzten, die Wahlschweden bei ihrem Konzert in München zu besuchen. Netterweise nahm sich Gitarrist Dorian Sorriaux die Zeit uns im Interview ausgiebig zu erzählen, wie die Band zu ihrem Sound gekommen ist, warum sie lieber analog aufnehmen und welches Equipment er bevorzugt. Doch bevor du das Interview genießt: wie wäre es mit der Rezension des Debütalbums dieser fantastischen Band.
Doch noch besser als auf Platte funktioniert der Sound der Blues Pills live, weswegen wir auch die Gelegenheit nutzten, die Wahlschweden bei ihrem Konzert in München zu besuchen. Netterweise nahm sich Gitarrist Dorian Sorriaux die Zeit uns im Interview ausgiebig zu erzählen, wie die Band zu ihrem Sound gekommen ist, warum sie lieber analog aufnehmen und welches Equipment er bevorzugt. Doch bevor du das Interview genießt: wie wäre es mit der Rezension des Debütalbums dieser fantastischen Band.
Blues Pills ist eine schwedische Bluesrock-Band aus Örebro. Die Band steht bei Nuclear Blast unter Vertrag und hat bislang ein Studioalbum veröffentlicht.
Geschichte
Gründung und erste Veröffentlichungen (2011–2012)
Im Jahre 2011 spielten die aus Iowa stammenden Halbbrüder Zack Anderson (Bass) und Cory Berry (Schlagzeug) in der Band Radio Moscow und lernten in Kalifornien die schwedische Sängerin Elin Larsson kennen. In der Garage von Andersons Vater nahmen die drei Musiker zwei Lieder als Demo auf und veröffentlichten diese auf der Internetplattform YouTube. Die Musiker erhielten daraufhin von dem Plattenlabel Crusher Records ein Angebot, eine EP aufzunehmen. Außerdem wurde ihnen eine Tournee in Spanien angeboten.[1]
Bei einer Konzertreise in Frankreich lernten Anderson und Berry den erst 16-Jährigen Gitarristen Dorian Sorriaux kennen. Sorriaux wurde von den anderen Musikern nach Örebro eingeladen und komplettierte schließlich die Band. Der Bandname stammt vom gleichnamigen Musikblog, das sich mit Undergroundmusik der 1960er und 1970er Jahre beschäftigt.[2] Über das Plattenlabel Crusher Records wurden ein Jahr später die Debüt-EP Bliss und die 7″-Single Black Smoke veröffentlicht.
Devil Man und Live at Rockpalast (2013–2014)
Blues Pills spielten im Jahre 2013 zahlreiche Konzerte und traten unter anderem auf dem Desertfest und dem Roadburn Festival auf. Ende Juli 2013 wurden Blues Pills vom deutschen Plattenlabel Nuclear Blast unter Vertrag genommen.[3] Die Musiker hatten sich ohne große Erwartungen mit einer schlichten E-Mail beim Label beworben und erhielten schließlich einen Vertrag.[2] Im Oktober des gleichen Jahres wurde mit Devil Man die zweite EP veröffentlicht. Die EP wurde von Don Alsterberg produziert und stieß auf positive Resonanz von Seiten der Fachpresse. Die deutschen Magazine Rock Hard und Metal Hammer kürten die EP jeweils zum Demo des Monats.[4]
Am 18. Oktober 2013 spielten Blues Pills im Rahmen des Crossroads-Festivals in Bonn. Der Auftritt wurde vom WDR für die Sendung Rockpalast aufgezeichnet.[5] Es folgte eine Europatournee im Vorprogramm von Orchid und Scorpion Child sowie eine Tour durch Australien mit der deutschen Band Kadavar.[6] Am 28. März 2014 veröffentlichte die Band die Live-EP Live at Rockpalast mit vier Titeln des Bonner Konzerts vom Oktober 2013.
Blues Pills und Blues Pills Live (2014–2015)
Mit dem Produzenten Don Alsterberg nahm die Band ihr selbstbetiteltes Debütalbum auf, dessen Veröffentlichung am 25. Juli 2014 erfolgte. Das Album enthält mit dem Lied Gypsy eine Coverversion eines Liedes von Chubby Checker. Darüber hinaus enthält das Album eine Bonus-DVD mit dem Auftritt der Band beim Hammer of Doom-Festival im Jahre 2013. Das Album erreichte Platz vier der deutschen und Platz zehn der Schweizer Albumcharts. Am 7. Juni 2014 führten Blues Pills in Schwerin das Lied Devil Man im Rahmen des Boxkampfes zwischen Jürgen Brähmer und Roberto Bolonti auf.[7]
2014 traten Blues Pills auf Festivals wie dem Summer Breeze und dem Rock-Hard-Festival auf und absolvierten eine Europatournee mit The Vintage Caravan als Vorgruppe. Aus persönlichen Gründen nahm Schlagzeuger Cory Berry nicht an den Sommerkonzerten teil und wurde durch den ehemaligen Truckfighters-Schlagzeuger André Kvarnström ersetzt.[8] Ende August gab die Band die Trennung von Berry bekannt. Gründe wurden nicht genannt. André Kvarnström wurde zum festen Bandmitglied ernannt.[9]
Im Dezember 2014 gingen Blues Pills als Vorband mit der kalifornischen Blues-Rock-Band Rival Sons auf Tour im Vereinigten Königreich.[10] Die Veröffentlichung des Livealbums Blues Pills Live, das 2014 beim Freak Valley Festival mitgeschnitten wurde, erfolgte am 20. März 2015.[11] Im Frühling 2015 fand eine weitere Europatournee mit den Truckfighters und Jex Thoth statt, bevor Blues Pills im Sommer 2015 bei den Festivals Rock am Ring und Rock im Park auftraten.
Lady in Gold (seit 2016)
Im Februar und März 2016 ging die Band mit den Vorbands Pristine und White Miles erneut auf Europatour. Gleichzeitig arbeitete die Band an ihrem zweiten Studioalbum, das erneut von Don Alsterberg produziert wurde. Die Veröffentlichung von Lady in Gold ist für den 5. August 2016 geplant.
Stil
Sängerin Elin Larsson beschreibt den Stil ihrer Band als harten Bluesrock mit souligem Gesang.[2] Bassist Zack Anderson sieht Blues Pills als Psychedelic-Soul-Band, die ihre Wurzeln im Blues hat.[12] Der Sound der Gruppe wurde als eine Art Jamsession von Aretha Franklin mit der Band Led Zeppelin beschrieben.[2]
Als Haupteinflüsse der Band nennt Larsson klassische Rockbands wie Free, Fleetwood Mac, Grand Funk Railroad,[2] Frumpy, November und Cactus, aber auch zeitgenössische Gruppen wie Graveyard oder Kadavar.[13] Larssons Stimme wird mit der von Janis Joplin oder Aretha Franklin verglichen[14], während der Bass- und Gitarrensound der Band häufig an den von Ten Years After erinnert.
Die hauptsächlich von Elin Larsson und Zack Anderson verfassten Texte handeln häufig von persönlichen Gefühlen und Erlebnissen, die in den Songs verarbeitet werden.[15] Ferner geht es in den Texten um die Suche nach der Seele, den Sinn des Lebens aber auch um die Familien und Freunde der Musiker. Laut Anderson entstehen die meisten Texte spontan.
https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blues_PillsGeschichte
Gründung und erste Veröffentlichungen (2011–2012)
Im Jahre 2011 spielten die aus Iowa stammenden Halbbrüder Zack Anderson (Bass) und Cory Berry (Schlagzeug) in der Band Radio Moscow und lernten in Kalifornien die schwedische Sängerin Elin Larsson kennen. In der Garage von Andersons Vater nahmen die drei Musiker zwei Lieder als Demo auf und veröffentlichten diese auf der Internetplattform YouTube. Die Musiker erhielten daraufhin von dem Plattenlabel Crusher Records ein Angebot, eine EP aufzunehmen. Außerdem wurde ihnen eine Tournee in Spanien angeboten.[1]
Bei einer Konzertreise in Frankreich lernten Anderson und Berry den erst 16-Jährigen Gitarristen Dorian Sorriaux kennen. Sorriaux wurde von den anderen Musikern nach Örebro eingeladen und komplettierte schließlich die Band. Der Bandname stammt vom gleichnamigen Musikblog, das sich mit Undergroundmusik der 1960er und 1970er Jahre beschäftigt.[2] Über das Plattenlabel Crusher Records wurden ein Jahr später die Debüt-EP Bliss und die 7″-Single Black Smoke veröffentlicht.
Devil Man und Live at Rockpalast (2013–2014)
Blues Pills spielten im Jahre 2013 zahlreiche Konzerte und traten unter anderem auf dem Desertfest und dem Roadburn Festival auf. Ende Juli 2013 wurden Blues Pills vom deutschen Plattenlabel Nuclear Blast unter Vertrag genommen.[3] Die Musiker hatten sich ohne große Erwartungen mit einer schlichten E-Mail beim Label beworben und erhielten schließlich einen Vertrag.[2] Im Oktober des gleichen Jahres wurde mit Devil Man die zweite EP veröffentlicht. Die EP wurde von Don Alsterberg produziert und stieß auf positive Resonanz von Seiten der Fachpresse. Die deutschen Magazine Rock Hard und Metal Hammer kürten die EP jeweils zum Demo des Monats.[4]
Am 18. Oktober 2013 spielten Blues Pills im Rahmen des Crossroads-Festivals in Bonn. Der Auftritt wurde vom WDR für die Sendung Rockpalast aufgezeichnet.[5] Es folgte eine Europatournee im Vorprogramm von Orchid und Scorpion Child sowie eine Tour durch Australien mit der deutschen Band Kadavar.[6] Am 28. März 2014 veröffentlichte die Band die Live-EP Live at Rockpalast mit vier Titeln des Bonner Konzerts vom Oktober 2013.
Blues Pills und Blues Pills Live (2014–2015)
Mit dem Produzenten Don Alsterberg nahm die Band ihr selbstbetiteltes Debütalbum auf, dessen Veröffentlichung am 25. Juli 2014 erfolgte. Das Album enthält mit dem Lied Gypsy eine Coverversion eines Liedes von Chubby Checker. Darüber hinaus enthält das Album eine Bonus-DVD mit dem Auftritt der Band beim Hammer of Doom-Festival im Jahre 2013. Das Album erreichte Platz vier der deutschen und Platz zehn der Schweizer Albumcharts. Am 7. Juni 2014 führten Blues Pills in Schwerin das Lied Devil Man im Rahmen des Boxkampfes zwischen Jürgen Brähmer und Roberto Bolonti auf.[7]
2014 traten Blues Pills auf Festivals wie dem Summer Breeze und dem Rock-Hard-Festival auf und absolvierten eine Europatournee mit The Vintage Caravan als Vorgruppe. Aus persönlichen Gründen nahm Schlagzeuger Cory Berry nicht an den Sommerkonzerten teil und wurde durch den ehemaligen Truckfighters-Schlagzeuger André Kvarnström ersetzt.[8] Ende August gab die Band die Trennung von Berry bekannt. Gründe wurden nicht genannt. André Kvarnström wurde zum festen Bandmitglied ernannt.[9]
Im Dezember 2014 gingen Blues Pills als Vorband mit der kalifornischen Blues-Rock-Band Rival Sons auf Tour im Vereinigten Königreich.[10] Die Veröffentlichung des Livealbums Blues Pills Live, das 2014 beim Freak Valley Festival mitgeschnitten wurde, erfolgte am 20. März 2015.[11] Im Frühling 2015 fand eine weitere Europatournee mit den Truckfighters und Jex Thoth statt, bevor Blues Pills im Sommer 2015 bei den Festivals Rock am Ring und Rock im Park auftraten.
Lady in Gold (seit 2016)
Im Februar und März 2016 ging die Band mit den Vorbands Pristine und White Miles erneut auf Europatour. Gleichzeitig arbeitete die Band an ihrem zweiten Studioalbum, das erneut von Don Alsterberg produziert wurde. Die Veröffentlichung von Lady in Gold ist für den 5. August 2016 geplant.
Stil
Sängerin Elin Larsson beschreibt den Stil ihrer Band als harten Bluesrock mit souligem Gesang.[2] Bassist Zack Anderson sieht Blues Pills als Psychedelic-Soul-Band, die ihre Wurzeln im Blues hat.[12] Der Sound der Gruppe wurde als eine Art Jamsession von Aretha Franklin mit der Band Led Zeppelin beschrieben.[2]
Als Haupteinflüsse der Band nennt Larsson klassische Rockbands wie Free, Fleetwood Mac, Grand Funk Railroad,[2] Frumpy, November und Cactus, aber auch zeitgenössische Gruppen wie Graveyard oder Kadavar.[13] Larssons Stimme wird mit der von Janis Joplin oder Aretha Franklin verglichen[14], während der Bass- und Gitarrensound der Band häufig an den von Ten Years After erinnert.
Die hauptsächlich von Elin Larsson und Zack Anderson verfassten Texte handeln häufig von persönlichen Gefühlen und Erlebnissen, die in den Songs verarbeitet werden.[15] Ferner geht es in den Texten um die Suche nach der Seele, den Sinn des Lebens aber auch um die Familien und Freunde der Musiker. Laut Anderson entstehen die meisten Texte spontan.
It´s been a long, hard and winding road for mankind, but in December 2011 the moment we´ve all – yet unknowingly and yet unaware of our coming salvation – been waiting for finally saw the light of day. Elin Larsson, Cory Berry and Zack Anderson, all just in their early twenties, formed a group which should quickly become one of the most acclaimed and interesting bands in music. Behold the birth of a new musical experience, an experience we thought was long gone, lost in time and space. Behold the birth of BLUES PILLS.
The young American-Swedish-French quartet create a very unique, intense and extraordinary rock atmosphere while at the same time having a major mainstream appeal that takes you right back to the time of BLUES PILLS’ ancestors Aretha Franklin, THE ORIGINAL FLEETWOOD MAC, LED ZEPPELIN, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin and CREAM. Driving bass lines, grooving drums and guitar solos from another planet by the only 18 year old Dorian Sorriaux, harmonized and tied together with such easiness, such delight, by Elin’s incredible voice.
With the idea to take soul music, combined with blues and rock’n’roll and turn it into a new force of unimaginable energy, intensity and freshness, their blonde archangel & soul-saviour Elin Larsson will guide you gently into a new world, the band´s empire of soulful rock; her beautiful voice seems to be taking you beyond the stars to an infinite universe on a journey that appears endless in time, yet profound and revealing. Elin´s powerful lyrics are full of emotions, her jazzy-soulful voice never falls into the trap of an aestheticization of kitsch, but unfolds an outstanding beauty itself with a refreshing new take on the timeless and unquestionably noble art of rock `n` roll, touching your soul.After playing at Roadburn Festival as well as Desertfest Berlin in April 2013 as part of their first European headline tour, the band had also played a few selected summer festivals before embarking on the road again, this time as direct support of ORCHID. Last year also saw them heading to Australia for the very first time as they were invited to support their labelmates KADAVAR and having come back from down under, the band straight away returned to the studio to continue working on their debut record. They also took their time in between to head to Norway for a first ever headlining tour, another proof of how great the band’s demand has grown.
While having toured heavily across Europe and visiting Australia without even having an album out, Nuclear Blast released the highly-acclaimed EP »Devil Man« and a live EP including four tracks recorded at the legendary German WDR Rockpalast to appease the constantly growing hunger and demand, from both fans and media.
The band´s eagerly awaited self-titled debut album is going to be released on 25 July 2014 and is yet another document of their musical talent. It was recorded in Gothenburg with infamous producer Don Alsterberg (GRAVEYARD) and it is the product of a vision which was already beginning to manifest itself, before the thought was even imagined. It contains 10 songs filled with feelings of love and hate, joy and sadness, relaxation and frustration, all balancing together to form a whole picture which is the album »Blues Pills«.
„There are some hard times going on all over the world right now, and it seems to keep rising. Violence, hate and poverty are some peoples everyday life whether its from war, racism, gender, love, economy or sickness. We hope this album will bring a pause to people´s worried minds and fill their hearts with love and joy from the groovy tunes.“
The artwork is by the incredible artist Marijke Koger-Dunham and it was painted sometime in the late 60’s and because the band were looking for some 60’s inspired artwork, what could be better?
„For us as a band, it is a representation of the balance of life, as shown in all the symbolism of natural dualities such as darkness and light, sun and moon, life and death, etc. It shows how opposite forces are interconnected and compliment each other to form a whole. Besides that, it just looks absolutely amazing!“
So, sit back and relax and enjoy the elixir that is BLUES PILLS.
The young American-Swedish-French quartet create a very unique, intense and extraordinary rock atmosphere while at the same time having a major mainstream appeal that takes you right back to the time of BLUES PILLS’ ancestors Aretha Franklin, THE ORIGINAL FLEETWOOD MAC, LED ZEPPELIN, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin and CREAM. Driving bass lines, grooving drums and guitar solos from another planet by the only 18 year old Dorian Sorriaux, harmonized and tied together with such easiness, such delight, by Elin’s incredible voice.
With the idea to take soul music, combined with blues and rock’n’roll and turn it into a new force of unimaginable energy, intensity and freshness, their blonde archangel & soul-saviour Elin Larsson will guide you gently into a new world, the band´s empire of soulful rock; her beautiful voice seems to be taking you beyond the stars to an infinite universe on a journey that appears endless in time, yet profound and revealing. Elin´s powerful lyrics are full of emotions, her jazzy-soulful voice never falls into the trap of an aestheticization of kitsch, but unfolds an outstanding beauty itself with a refreshing new take on the timeless and unquestionably noble art of rock `n` roll, touching your soul.After playing at Roadburn Festival as well as Desertfest Berlin in April 2013 as part of their first European headline tour, the band had also played a few selected summer festivals before embarking on the road again, this time as direct support of ORCHID. Last year also saw them heading to Australia for the very first time as they were invited to support their labelmates KADAVAR and having come back from down under, the band straight away returned to the studio to continue working on their debut record. They also took their time in between to head to Norway for a first ever headlining tour, another proof of how great the band’s demand has grown.
While having toured heavily across Europe and visiting Australia without even having an album out, Nuclear Blast released the highly-acclaimed EP »Devil Man« and a live EP including four tracks recorded at the legendary German WDR Rockpalast to appease the constantly growing hunger and demand, from both fans and media.
The band´s eagerly awaited self-titled debut album is going to be released on 25 July 2014 and is yet another document of their musical talent. It was recorded in Gothenburg with infamous producer Don Alsterberg (GRAVEYARD) and it is the product of a vision which was already beginning to manifest itself, before the thought was even imagined. It contains 10 songs filled with feelings of love and hate, joy and sadness, relaxation and frustration, all balancing together to form a whole picture which is the album »Blues Pills«.
„There are some hard times going on all over the world right now, and it seems to keep rising. Violence, hate and poverty are some peoples everyday life whether its from war, racism, gender, love, economy or sickness. We hope this album will bring a pause to people´s worried minds and fill their hearts with love and joy from the groovy tunes.“
The artwork is by the incredible artist Marijke Koger-Dunham and it was painted sometime in the late 60’s and because the band were looking for some 60’s inspired artwork, what could be better?
„For us as a band, it is a representation of the balance of life, as shown in all the symbolism of natural dualities such as darkness and light, sun and moon, life and death, etc. It shows how opposite forces are interconnected and compliment each other to form a whole. Besides that, it just looks absolutely amazing!“
So, sit back and relax and enjoy the elixir that is BLUES PILLS.
Blues Pills - Live at Rockpalast (2013) (Full Concert)
The young American-Swedish-French quartet created an intense and
extraordinary Rock'n'Roll - atmosphere, resulting in a direct line to
the musical ancestors of Blues Pills: early Fleetwood Mac, Led Zeppelin,
Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin and Cream. Hard to believe that this is true
for these youngsters living in Örebro, Sweden time travelers, but all
are just about 20 years old. From the heavy grooving
Sixties-/Seventies-Blues-Rock-Gewand project virtuoso guitar solos by 17
year old prodigy Dorian Sorriaux, united by a unique lightness and
harmonized by singer Elin with her impressive voice and presence,
sometimes in their native language Swedish singing. They go to work and
retain highly authentic in addition to their love for everything in the
late sixties in San Francisco was anybody, own, engaging identity.Crossroads - 16.-19. Oktober 2013
1.Bliss
2.Time Is Now
3.Dig In
4.The River
5.Devil Man
6.Little Sun
7.Mind Exit
8.Blues Pills
9.Astral Plane
10.Gypsy
11.Black Smoke
12.Interview
13.Wheel To Wheel
14.Yet To Find (Unplugged)
Elin Larsson - Vocals
Cory Berry - Drums
Dorian Sorriaux - Guitar
Zack Anderson - Bass
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PW9Pl6ZIbHI
Teresa Lynne *21.07.
Teresa Lynne Lead Singer /Songwriter /Harmonica Player
A southern gal thru and thru, “T-Bird” Teresa Lynne was born in Shreveport, Louisiana and raised as a “military brat” whose family came to call home many locales throughout the Deep South. From Biloxi, Mississippi all the way to Florida, Teresa was exposed to, and shaped by, a rich potpourri of blues, soul, & gospel music. Word has it that she was playing the harmonica before she could walk and was singing from a very early age. First in school & church choir, eventually she made her way to the nightclub stage, where she won wide regional acclaim for her vocal & harp ability. As a young girl, Teresa snuck away to compete in a weekly music contest at a neighborhood bar. Upon discovery, she was about to experience the wrath of her father when she pulled out her wad of cash from her winnings. In that moment, she had become a professional musician.
In the summer of 1977, the teenager was on the road between Houston and Grand Rapids, Michigan, where she was scheduled to join up with local legend Ronnie Fray & the Beverage Brothers. Along the way she decided to take in a show by blues-master Delbert McClinton, of whom she was and still is a big fan. Teresa boldly introduced herself backstage, told Delbert that she played harp & knew his music well, and next thing you know, she was on stage with the band, playing their classic “24 Hours A Day “. Delbert & the boys invited Teresa back the next night and the whole experience was magical... her first taste of playing with a top-notch band and there was no turning back !
Ms. Lynne eventually made it all the way to Michigan, where she WOW'd crowds all around the local circuit, from Lansing to Kalamazoo. Before long the road once again beckoned, this time calling her to the singer-songwriter capital of America, NASHVILLE. In no time, Teresa was playing harp with the best session cats in town, including the famous “Nashville Cats” and bassist Bob Moore " A-TEAM ", who had done all of the studio work for greats like Patsy Cline and Elvis Presley. She soon found herself a new friend and mentor in the respected Music City, steel guitarist Pete Drake, who showed her the ropes of the music industry, from songwriting to recording and mixing tracks. (To this day, T-Bird plays an active role in the production of her own music, from tracking the performances all the way through to the final master.)
In 1984, Teresa arrived in Denver, promptly fell in love with the mountains and, lucky for us, never left. Having carved an enviable niche for herself in the blues community, both locally and beyond, she has had the opportunity to play and record with many of the top names in Blues including Bob Margolin, James Cotton, and Chris Cain and has opened for John Lee Hooker, Debbie Davies, Tommy Castro, she appeared with the Latin Kings, Lenny Williams . In 2006 and 2007 she made two back-to-back appearances with her band at the coveted Monterey Blues Festival, garnering a very respectable 2nd place award each time out.
Today Teresa Lynne aka “Mistress of the Blues” & “T-bird” continues to spread the groove of traditional blues, vintage soul, and her own earthy original music around the Rocky Mountain region. Presently undergoing an exciting evolution in their sound, Teresa Lynne & the Dreamboats are ready for action and come to the stage prepared to stir up some lively fun !
A southern gal thru and thru, “T-Bird” Teresa Lynne was born in Shreveport, Louisiana and raised as a “military brat” whose family came to call home many locales throughout the Deep South. From Biloxi, Mississippi all the way to Florida, Teresa was exposed to, and shaped by, a rich potpourri of blues, soul, & gospel music. Word has it that she was playing the harmonica before she could walk and was singing from a very early age. First in school & church choir, eventually she made her way to the nightclub stage, where she won wide regional acclaim for her vocal & harp ability. As a young girl, Teresa snuck away to compete in a weekly music contest at a neighborhood bar. Upon discovery, she was about to experience the wrath of her father when she pulled out her wad of cash from her winnings. In that moment, she had become a professional musician.
In the summer of 1977, the teenager was on the road between Houston and Grand Rapids, Michigan, where she was scheduled to join up with local legend Ronnie Fray & the Beverage Brothers. Along the way she decided to take in a show by blues-master Delbert McClinton, of whom she was and still is a big fan. Teresa boldly introduced herself backstage, told Delbert that she played harp & knew his music well, and next thing you know, she was on stage with the band, playing their classic “24 Hours A Day “. Delbert & the boys invited Teresa back the next night and the whole experience was magical... her first taste of playing with a top-notch band and there was no turning back !
Ms. Lynne eventually made it all the way to Michigan, where she WOW'd crowds all around the local circuit, from Lansing to Kalamazoo. Before long the road once again beckoned, this time calling her to the singer-songwriter capital of America, NASHVILLE. In no time, Teresa was playing harp with the best session cats in town, including the famous “Nashville Cats” and bassist Bob Moore " A-TEAM ", who had done all of the studio work for greats like Patsy Cline and Elvis Presley. She soon found herself a new friend and mentor in the respected Music City, steel guitarist Pete Drake, who showed her the ropes of the music industry, from songwriting to recording and mixing tracks. (To this day, T-Bird plays an active role in the production of her own music, from tracking the performances all the way through to the final master.)
In 1984, Teresa arrived in Denver, promptly fell in love with the mountains and, lucky for us, never left. Having carved an enviable niche for herself in the blues community, both locally and beyond, she has had the opportunity to play and record with many of the top names in Blues including Bob Margolin, James Cotton, and Chris Cain and has opened for John Lee Hooker, Debbie Davies, Tommy Castro, she appeared with the Latin Kings, Lenny Williams . In 2006 and 2007 she made two back-to-back appearances with her band at the coveted Monterey Blues Festival, garnering a very respectable 2nd place award each time out.
Today Teresa Lynne aka “Mistress of the Blues” & “T-bird” continues to spread the groove of traditional blues, vintage soul, and her own earthy original music around the Rocky Mountain region. Presently undergoing an exciting evolution in their sound, Teresa Lynne & the Dreamboats are ready for action and come to the stage prepared to stir up some lively fun !
Teresa Lynne and the Dreamboats
R.I.P.
Long John Baldry +21.07.2005
Long John Baldry (* 12. Januar 1941 in East Haddon, Northamptonshire, England; † 21. Juli 2005 in Vancouver), eigentlich John William Baldry, war ein britischer Sänger und Bluesmusiker, der später die kanadische Staatsbürgerschaft annahm. Wegen seiner Größe von über 2 Metern wurde er „Long“ John genannt. John Baldry galt als einer der Väter der britischen Bluesbewegung, die in den 1950ern begann.
John Baldry erlernte den Beruf eines Werbegraphikers. Schon früh entdeckte er seine Liebe zu Blues- und Folkmusik. Ende der 1950er lernte er Alexis Korner kennen. 1961 wurde er Sänger in dessen Band Blues Incorporated, die 1962 R&B from the Marquee, das erste britische Bluesalbum, herausbrachte.Nach einem längeren Aufenthalt in Deutschland wurde John Baldry Mitglied der Cyril Davies' All Stars. Als Cyril Davis 1964 starb, führte Baldry die Band unter dem Namen Hoochie Coochie Men weiter. Ein weiteres Mitglied der Hoochie Coochie Men war Rod Stewart.
Baldry und Stewart gründeten 1965 die Band Steampacket, zu der auch Brian Auger und Julie Driscoll gehörten. Baldrys nächstes Projekt war 1966 die Band Bluesology, in der ein gewisser Reginald Dwight seine Karriere begann, der sich später Baldry und Elton Dean zu Ehren Elton John nannte.
1968 löste sich Baldry vom Blues und begann als Entertainer in Clubs zu tingeln. Mit Let the Heartaches Begin hatte er einen Hit in England.[1] In den Vereinigten Staaten war es seine erste Single, die sich in den Billboard-Charts platzieren konnte, allerdings nur auf Platz 88.[2] Mit dem Titel Mexico gelang ihm 1968 sein zweiter und letzter Top 20-Erfolg.
1971 kehrte er zum Blues zurück, konnte aber nicht an die früheren Erfolge anknüpfen. Mit dem Album It Ain't Easy wurde erstmals ein Album von Baldry in den USA veröffentlicht.[3] Mit dem von Rod Stewart produzierten Titel Don't Try To Lay No Boogie-Woogie On The King Of Rock And Roll [4] konnte Baldry bis Platz 73 der Singles-Charts vordringen. In der Folgezeit wurden mehrere Alben Baldrys in den USA bei mehreren Plattenfirmen veröffentlicht.[5] 1976 musste Baldry für einige Monate in eine Nervenheilanstalt.
Ende der 1970er hatte er wieder kleinere Hits. Einen letzten, eher bescheidenen Erfolg hatte er 1979 in den USA mit seinem Duett mit Kathi MacDonald und der Coverversion des Hits der Righteous Brothers You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling[6] Baldry siedelte nach Kanada über. In den 1990ern veröffentlichte er einige Alben und war auch nach der Jahrtausendwende noch musikalisch aktiv.
Am 21. Juli 2005 starb John William Baldry im Vancouver General Hospital an den Folgen einer schweren Lungeninfektion.
John William "Long John" Baldry (12 January 1941 – 21 July 2005) was an English blues singer and a voice actor. He sang with many British musicians, with Rod Stewart and Elton John appearing in bands led by Baldry in the 1960s. He enjoyed pop success in the UK where Let the Heartaches Begin reached No. 1 in 1967 and in Australia where his duet with Kathi McDonald You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin' reached number two in 1980. Baldry lived in Canada from the late 1970s until his death; there he continued to make records and do voiceover work. One of his best known roles in voice acting was as Dr. Robotnik in Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog.
Early life
Baldry's birth was registered in Brixworth Registration District in the first quarter of 1941. This District includes East Haddon so it appears certain that this was his birthplace. His mother's maiden name was Parker. His early life was spent in Edgware, Middlesex where he attended Camrose Primary School until the age of 11, after which he attended Downer Grammar School. Just before his death, he attended the school's 40th anniversary celebrations.
Blues bands of the 1960s
Baldry grew to 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m), resulting in the nickname "Long John". He was one of the first British vocalists to sing blues in clubs.[citation needed] Baldry appeared quite regularly in the early '60s in the Gyre and Gymble coffee lounge, around the corner from Charing Cross railway station, and at the Brownsville R. & B. Club, Manor House, London, also "Klooks Kleek" (Railway Hotel, West Hampstead). He sometimes appeared at Eel Pie Island on the Thames at Twickenham and at the Station Hotel in Richmond, one of the Rolling Stones' earliest venues.
In the early 1960s, he sang with Alexis Korner's Blues Incorporated, with whom he recorded the first British blues album in 1962, R&B from the Marquee. At stages, Mick Jagger, Jack Bruce and Charlie Watts were members of this band while Keith Richards and Brian Jones played on stage, although none played on the R&B at the Marquee album.[2] When The Rolling Stones made their debut at the Marquee Club in July 1962, Baldry put together a group to support them. Later, Baldry was the announcer introducing the Stones on their US-only live album, Got Live If You Want It!, in 1966.
Baldry became friendly with Paul McCartney after a show at the Cavern Club in Liverpool in the early 1960s, leading to an invitation to sing on one of The Beatles 1964 TV specials, Around The Beatles. In the special, Baldry performs "Got My Mojo Workin'" and a medley of songs with members of The Vernons Girls trio; in the latter, the Beatles are shown singing along in the audience.[3][4]
In 1963, Baldry joined the Cyril Davies R&B All Stars with Nicky Hopkins playing piano. He took over in 1964 after the death of Cyril Davies, and the group became Long John Baldry and his Hoochie Coochie Men featuring Rod Stewart on vocals and Geoff Bradford on guitar. Stewart was recruited after Baldry heard him busking a Muddy Waters song at Twickenham station after Stewart had been to a Baldry gig at Eel Pie Island.[5] Long John Baldry became a regular fixture on Sunday nights at Eel Pie Island from then onwards, fronting a series of bands.
In 1965, the Hoochie Coochie Men became Steampacket with Baldry and Stewart as male vocalists, Julie Driscoll as the female vocalist and Brian Auger on Hammond organ. After Steampacket broke up in 1966, Baldry formed Bluesology featuring Reg Dwight on keyboards and Elton Dean, later of Soft Machine, as well as Caleb Quaye on guitar. Dwight, when he began to record as a solo artist, adopted the name Elton John, his first name from Dean and his surname from Baldry.[6]
Baldry was openly gay during the early 1960s, at least amongst his friends and industry peers. However, he did not make a formal public acknowledgement of this until the 1970s—possibly because until 1967 in Britain, homosexuality was still a criminal offence that could lead to forced medication and/or jail time.
Baldry had a brief relationship with lead-guitarist of The Kinks, Dave Davies,[7][8] and supported Elton John in coming to terms with his own sexuality.[7][9] In 1978 his then-upcoming album Baldry's Out announced his formal coming out, and he addressed sexuality problems with a cover of Canadian songwriter Bill Amesbury's "A Thrill's a Thrill".[10]
Solo artist
In 1967, he recorded a pop song "Let the Heartaches Begin" that went to number one in Britain, followed by a 1968 top 20 hit titled "Mexico", which was the theme of the UK Olympic team that year. "Let the Heartaches Begin" made the lower reaches of the Billboard Hot 100 in the US.
Bluesology broke up in 1968, with Baldry continuing his solo career and Elton John forming a songwriting partnership with Bernie Taupin. In 1969, Elton John tried to commit suicide after relationship problems with a woman. Taupin and Baldry[11] found him, and Baldry talked him out of marrying the woman, helping make Elton John comfortable with his sexuality. The song "Someone Saved My Life Tonight" from Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy was about the experience.[12]
In 1971, John and Stewart each produced one side of It Ain't Easy which became Baldry's most popular album and made the top 100 of the US album chart. The album featured "Don't Try to Lay No Boogie Woogie on the King of Rock and Roll" which became his most successful song in the US. Baldry's first tour of the US was at this time. The band included, Micky Waller, Ian Armitt, Pete Sears, and Sammy Mitchell. Stewart and John would again co-produce his 1972 album Everything Stops For Tea which made the lower reaches of the US album charts. The same year, Baldry worked with ex-Procol Harum guitarist Dave Ball.[13]
Baldry had mental health problems and was institutionalised for a brief time[14] in 1975. The 1979 album Baldry's Out was recorded after his release. He played live at Zolly's nightclub in Oshawa, underneath the Oshawa Shopping Centre, shortly after releasing Baldry's Out. In a 1997 interview with a German television program, Baldry claimed to be the last person to see singer Marc Bolan before Bolan's death on 16 September 1977, having conducted an interview with the fellow singer for an American production company, he says, just before Bolan drove away and had his accident.[15]
Canadian citizenship
After time in New York City and Los Angeles in 1978, Baldry settled in Vancouver, British Columbia, where he became a Canadian citizen. He toured the west coast, as well as the U.S. Northwest. Baldry also toured the Canadian east, including one 1985 show in Kingston, Ontario, where audience members repeatedly called for the title track from his 1979 album Baldry's Out! – to which he replied, "I'll say he is!"[citation needed]
In 1979, he teamed with Seattle singer Kathi McDonald to record a version of The Righteous Brothers' "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin", following which McDonald became part of his touring group for two decades. The song made the lower reaches of the US Billboard charts but was a top 5 hit in Australia in 1980. He last recorded with the Stony Plain label. His 1997 album Right To Sing The Blues won a Juno Award in the Blues Album of the Year category in the Juno Awards of 1997.
He played his last live show in Columbus, Ohio, on 19 July 2004, at Barristers Hall with guitarist Bobby Cameron. The show was produced by Andrew Myers. They played to a small group, some came from Texas.[citation needed][14] Two years previously the two had a 10-venue sell-out tour of Canada. Baldry's final UK Tour as 'The Long John Baldry Trio' concluded with a performance on Saturday 13 November 2004 at The King's Lynn Arts Centre, King's Lynn, Norfolk, England. The trio consisted of LJB, Butch Coulter on harmonica and Dave Kelly on slide guitar.[16]
Death
Baldry died on 21 July 2005, in Vancouver General Hospital, of a severe chest infection. He was survived by his partner, Felix "Oz" Rexach,[17] a brother, Roger, and a sister, Margaret.
Early life
Baldry's birth was registered in Brixworth Registration District in the first quarter of 1941. This District includes East Haddon so it appears certain that this was his birthplace. His mother's maiden name was Parker. His early life was spent in Edgware, Middlesex where he attended Camrose Primary School until the age of 11, after which he attended Downer Grammar School. Just before his death, he attended the school's 40th anniversary celebrations.
Blues bands of the 1960s
Baldry grew to 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m), resulting in the nickname "Long John". He was one of the first British vocalists to sing blues in clubs.[citation needed] Baldry appeared quite regularly in the early '60s in the Gyre and Gymble coffee lounge, around the corner from Charing Cross railway station, and at the Brownsville R. & B. Club, Manor House, London, also "Klooks Kleek" (Railway Hotel, West Hampstead). He sometimes appeared at Eel Pie Island on the Thames at Twickenham and at the Station Hotel in Richmond, one of the Rolling Stones' earliest venues.
In the early 1960s, he sang with Alexis Korner's Blues Incorporated, with whom he recorded the first British blues album in 1962, R&B from the Marquee. At stages, Mick Jagger, Jack Bruce and Charlie Watts were members of this band while Keith Richards and Brian Jones played on stage, although none played on the R&B at the Marquee album.[2] When The Rolling Stones made their debut at the Marquee Club in July 1962, Baldry put together a group to support them. Later, Baldry was the announcer introducing the Stones on their US-only live album, Got Live If You Want It!, in 1966.
Baldry became friendly with Paul McCartney after a show at the Cavern Club in Liverpool in the early 1960s, leading to an invitation to sing on one of The Beatles 1964 TV specials, Around The Beatles. In the special, Baldry performs "Got My Mojo Workin'" and a medley of songs with members of The Vernons Girls trio; in the latter, the Beatles are shown singing along in the audience.[3][4]
In 1963, Baldry joined the Cyril Davies R&B All Stars with Nicky Hopkins playing piano. He took over in 1964 after the death of Cyril Davies, and the group became Long John Baldry and his Hoochie Coochie Men featuring Rod Stewart on vocals and Geoff Bradford on guitar. Stewart was recruited after Baldry heard him busking a Muddy Waters song at Twickenham station after Stewart had been to a Baldry gig at Eel Pie Island.[5] Long John Baldry became a regular fixture on Sunday nights at Eel Pie Island from then onwards, fronting a series of bands.
In 1965, the Hoochie Coochie Men became Steampacket with Baldry and Stewart as male vocalists, Julie Driscoll as the female vocalist and Brian Auger on Hammond organ. After Steampacket broke up in 1966, Baldry formed Bluesology featuring Reg Dwight on keyboards and Elton Dean, later of Soft Machine, as well as Caleb Quaye on guitar. Dwight, when he began to record as a solo artist, adopted the name Elton John, his first name from Dean and his surname from Baldry.[6]
Baldry was openly gay during the early 1960s, at least amongst his friends and industry peers. However, he did not make a formal public acknowledgement of this until the 1970s—possibly because until 1967 in Britain, homosexuality was still a criminal offence that could lead to forced medication and/or jail time.
Baldry had a brief relationship with lead-guitarist of The Kinks, Dave Davies,[7][8] and supported Elton John in coming to terms with his own sexuality.[7][9] In 1978 his then-upcoming album Baldry's Out announced his formal coming out, and he addressed sexuality problems with a cover of Canadian songwriter Bill Amesbury's "A Thrill's a Thrill".[10]
Solo artist
In 1967, he recorded a pop song "Let the Heartaches Begin" that went to number one in Britain, followed by a 1968 top 20 hit titled "Mexico", which was the theme of the UK Olympic team that year. "Let the Heartaches Begin" made the lower reaches of the Billboard Hot 100 in the US.
Bluesology broke up in 1968, with Baldry continuing his solo career and Elton John forming a songwriting partnership with Bernie Taupin. In 1969, Elton John tried to commit suicide after relationship problems with a woman. Taupin and Baldry[11] found him, and Baldry talked him out of marrying the woman, helping make Elton John comfortable with his sexuality. The song "Someone Saved My Life Tonight" from Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy was about the experience.[12]
In 1971, John and Stewart each produced one side of It Ain't Easy which became Baldry's most popular album and made the top 100 of the US album chart. The album featured "Don't Try to Lay No Boogie Woogie on the King of Rock and Roll" which became his most successful song in the US. Baldry's first tour of the US was at this time. The band included, Micky Waller, Ian Armitt, Pete Sears, and Sammy Mitchell. Stewart and John would again co-produce his 1972 album Everything Stops For Tea which made the lower reaches of the US album charts. The same year, Baldry worked with ex-Procol Harum guitarist Dave Ball.[13]
Baldry had mental health problems and was institutionalised for a brief time[14] in 1975. The 1979 album Baldry's Out was recorded after his release. He played live at Zolly's nightclub in Oshawa, underneath the Oshawa Shopping Centre, shortly after releasing Baldry's Out. In a 1997 interview with a German television program, Baldry claimed to be the last person to see singer Marc Bolan before Bolan's death on 16 September 1977, having conducted an interview with the fellow singer for an American production company, he says, just before Bolan drove away and had his accident.[15]
Canadian citizenship
After time in New York City and Los Angeles in 1978, Baldry settled in Vancouver, British Columbia, where he became a Canadian citizen. He toured the west coast, as well as the U.S. Northwest. Baldry also toured the Canadian east, including one 1985 show in Kingston, Ontario, where audience members repeatedly called for the title track from his 1979 album Baldry's Out! – to which he replied, "I'll say he is!"[citation needed]
In 1979, he teamed with Seattle singer Kathi McDonald to record a version of The Righteous Brothers' "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin", following which McDonald became part of his touring group for two decades. The song made the lower reaches of the US Billboard charts but was a top 5 hit in Australia in 1980. He last recorded with the Stony Plain label. His 1997 album Right To Sing The Blues won a Juno Award in the Blues Album of the Year category in the Juno Awards of 1997.
He played his last live show in Columbus, Ohio, on 19 July 2004, at Barristers Hall with guitarist Bobby Cameron. The show was produced by Andrew Myers. They played to a small group, some came from Texas.[citation needed][14] Two years previously the two had a 10-venue sell-out tour of Canada. Baldry's final UK Tour as 'The Long John Baldry Trio' concluded with a performance on Saturday 13 November 2004 at The King's Lynn Arts Centre, King's Lynn, Norfolk, England. The trio consisted of LJB, Butch Coulter on harmonica and Dave Kelly on slide guitar.[16]
Death
Baldry died on 21 July 2005, in Vancouver General Hospital, of a severe chest infection. He was survived by his partner, Felix "Oz" Rexach,[17] a brother, Roger, and a sister, Margaret.
Eric Burdon, Stevie Winwood, Long John Baldry, Julie Driscoll and Rod Stewart - I Feel Alright
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