1920 Percy Mayfield*
1934 Roy Gaines*
1947 Albie Donnelly*
1949 Mark Freuder Knopfler*
1951 Herman Villere „Roscoe“ Ernest III*
1968 Birleanna Blanks*
1969 Albert Castiglia*
1997 Luther Allison+
2008 Hosea Leavy+
2016 Ruby Wilson+
Richard Hagel*
Happy Birthday
Albert Castiglia *12.08.1969
Geboren wurde er am 12. August 1969 in New York als Sohn eines Italieners und einer Kubanerin. Als er fünf Jahre war, zog die Familie nach Miami, Florida, wo er dann im Alter von zwölf Jahren seine erste Gitarrenstunde bekam. Der Funke sprang sofort über.
Nichtsdestotrotz mussten Rechnungen bezahlt werden und obwohl er sein professionelles Debut bereits 1990 mit Miami Blues Authority hatte (und später zum ‚Best Blues Guitarist‘ durch die New Times in Miami gekürt wurde), verband er die Gigs weiterhin mit seinem Job als Sozialdienstmitarbeiter. Trotzdem erlangte er immer mehr an Bekanntheit, vor allem nachdem ihn Buddy Guys Star-Mundharmonikaspieler Junior Wells singen hörte und in seine Soloband zu mehreren Welttourneen einlud. Auch nach Wells Tod 1998 blieb Albert weiterhin am Ball: In den späten 90er Jahren spielte er mit der aus Atlanta kommenden Sängerin Sandra Hall bei nationalen Tourneen und jamte mit Größen wie Pinetop Perkins oder John Primer.
Doch für ein Talent wie Albert Castiglia konnte die Nebenrolle nicht für immer genug sein. Von Beginn an hatte er diese kreative Ader, die nur in einer Solokarriere und dem Schreiben eigener Songs gipfeln konnte. Und so brachte er 2002 sein Debut Burn heraus, gefolgt von A Stone’s Throw (2006), Keepin On (2012) bis hin zu Living The Dream (2012).
Jede neue Veröffentlichung war ein weiterer Schritt nach vorne, verfestigte Alberts guten Ruf und sicherte ihm ausreichend gutes Material, um seine immer besser besuchten Liveshows zu füllen. 2014 erschien Solid Ground. Mit der Begeisterung von Fans und Medien im Rücken, großen Tourplänen (u.a. zusammen mit Christina Skjolberg und Laurence Jones beim Blues Caravan) und der Unterstützung durch sein neues Plattenlabel war dieses Album für Albert ein gewaltiger Schritt nach vorne. Mit Big Dog (2016) setzt er jetzt noch einmal einen drauf. "Ich denke, dieses Album wird für mich ein Wendepunkt sein", sagt Albert. "Egal was nach dieser Veröffentlichung passiert, ich werde immer stolz auf dieses Album sein. Wenn wir mit diesen Songs auf Tour sind, solltet ihr eine Vollgas-Bluesrockshow erwarten. Rechnet mit dem, was ich euch immer gegeben habe - meine 100%..." Vergesst die Rock ’n‘ Roll-Sternchen und die Blitzerfolge. Albert Castiglia ist ein Talent, das Bestand haben wird.
RUF Records announced the signing of top Blues guitarist, singer and songwriter, Albert Castiglia (pronounced ka-steel-ya), to the Internationally renowned label, with a U.S. release of SOLID GROUND scheduled for April 8th, 2014. He joins RUF for the release of his seventh album in two decades filled with constant touring, songwriting and musical evolution. A U.S. tour will follow the release of the album in the States.
"SOLID GROUND is my best album to date," says the 44-year-old bandleader simply. "I put more time, love, blood, sweat and tears into this recording than any of the others. I love every song on it and the result is a musical variety that I hope touches something in everyone."
RUF Records Founder, Thomas Ruf proclaimed, "We are thrilled to have Albert Castiglia join the RUF Records family of artists. Albert is an energetic powerhouse on stage and the funniest guy in the world off stage. We had a ball on the Blues Caravan tour together. Thank you, Samantha Fish and Mike Zito, for turning me on to his amazing talent and personality."
Castiglia is an artist who sings from the gut, shoots guitar licks from the hip and writes songs that articulate ones hopes, fears and heartaches.
Recorded at Fat Rabbit Studios in Glen Ridge, New Jersey, this album isn't just solid, it's special. There are plenty of thrills in the musical execution, with Albert leading the band on vocals and guitar, backed by the veteran team of Matt Schuler (bass/vocals), Bob Amsel (drums), Jeremy Baum (B3/piano/wurlitzer), Lou Bevere (guitar/vocals) and Debbie Davies (guitar/vocals) – plus Dave Gross on multi-instrumentation and production.
A quick look at the 14 tracks presented on SOLID GROUND illuminates tales of a life both bitter and sweet. "Triflin'" hits listeners with Albert's soulful fretwork, while his vocals spin tales of troubles ("We all have our share of problems, damn near every day…"). Woman trouble is a recurring theme, whether it's on the defiant bounce of "Keep You Around Too Long" or the shattered slow-blues of "Have You No Shame" ("I saw you last night under them parking-lot lights, wrapped up in someone else's arms…"). But alongside personal issues, there are also songs plugged into the wider social context, as Albert implores us to seize the day – or, as he puts it, "Put Some Stank On It" – and bemoans the war-torn modern world on "Love One Another" ("It seems like hate is on the rise, it's enough to bring tears to my eyes…").
A shape-shifting artist with an eclectic vision, Albert's songwriting is equally convincing on the Latin-tinged instrumental, "Little Havana Blues (Arroz Con Mango)" as the sunny strum of "Celebration," and even when he takes on the Stones' mighty "Sway," he makes it his own. He's just as magnetic when he strips down the sparse acoustic slide-blues of "Hard Time." ("I was born in a broke-down Chevy," he sings. "Now I feel like it's on me heavy. I was raised in a dirty junkyard, my only friend was this guitar...".)
Albert Castiglia arrived on the International radar after Buddy Guy's iconic harp-blower, Junior Wells, heard the young bluesman sing and invited him into his solo band for several world tours. The gig was a shop-window, and though Wells sadly died in 1998, Albert stayed busy, joining the great Atlanta vocalist, Sandra Hall, for national tours in the late-'90s, while he held his own in onstage jams with artists ranging from Pinetop Perkins to John Primer. He has been named "Best Blues Guitarist" by Miami New Times, the respected alternative music magazine and honored by Roots Music Report with a Top Blues Album of 2011 and 2012. Castiglia was born in New York and raised in Miami to an Italian father and Cuban mother and combines all influences to create his unique style of modern day blues with a traditional core.
Percy Mayfield *12.08.1920
Percy Mayfield (* 12. August 1920 in Minden, Louisiana; † 11. August 1984 in Los Angeles, Kalifornien) war ein US-amerikanischer Rhythm-and-Blues-Sänger und Songschreiber.
Percy Mayfield begann seine musikalische Karriere in Texas, zog aber während des Zweiten Weltkriegs nach Kalifornien. 1947 macht er seine erste Aufnahme Two Years Of Torture.
Einem breiten Publikum bekannt wurde Percy Mayfield 1950 durch seinen Nummer-1-Hit Please Send Me Someone To Love. 1952 hatte er einen schweren Autounfall, bei dem sein Gesicht entstellt wurde. Dennoch schrieb er weiterhin zahlreiche erfolgreiche Songs, z. B. die Klassiker Hit the Road Jack und At The Club für Ray Charles.
1987 wurde Percy Mayfield in die Blues Hall of Fame aufgenommen.
http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Percy_Mayfield
Percy
Mayfield (August 12, 1920 – August 11, 1984) was an American songwriter
famous for the songs "Hit the Road Jack" and "Please Send Me Someone to
Love", as well as a successful rhythm and blues artist known for his
smooth vocal style.
Career
Mayfield was born in Minden, the seat of Webster Parish in northwestern Louisiana. As a youth, his talent for poetry led him into songwriting and singing. He began his performing career in Texas, and then moved to Los Angeles, California in 1942; success as a singer continued to elude him. In 1947, a small record label, Swing Time, signed him to record his song "Two Years of Torture." The song sold steadily over the next few years, prompting Art Rupe to sign Mayfield to his label, Specialty Records in 1950.[2]
Although his vocal style was influenced by such stylists as Charles Brown, Mayfield did not focus on the white market, unlike many West Coast bluesmen. Rather, he sang blues ballads, mostly his own songs, in a gentle vocal style. His most famous recording, "Please Send Me Someone to Love", a number one R&B hit single in 1950, was widely influential and recorded by many other singers.[3]
A 1952 automobile accident left Mayfield seriously injured, including a facial disfigurement that limited his performing. However, that did not stop his prolific songwriting. Mayfield continued to write and record for Specialty until 1954, and then recorded for Chess Records and Imperial Records. His career continued to flourish with songs like "Strange Things Happening", "Lost Love", "What a Fool I Was", "Prayin' for Your Return"' "Cry Baby", and "Big Question".[4]
In 1961, he came to the attention of Ray Charles with his song "Hit the Road Jack". Charles signed him to his Tangerine Records label, primarily as a songwriter; there he wrote "Hide Nor Hair", "At The Club", "Danger Zone", and "On the Other Hand, Baby".[2]
The period following the RCA recordings in the early 70's saw Percy Mayfield once again slip into obscurity and poverty; there was, however, one final chapter to his career. In the early 80's Bay Area blues musician Mark Naftalin discovered that Percy was living in the East Bay somewhere and was able to provide Percy with a band for live performances around several Marin County and East Bay clubs. The exposure also led to 1982 Timeless studio date with the excellent Phillip Walker Blues Band.
Death
When Mayfield died of a heart attack in 1984, the day before his 64th birthday,[5] he had fallen back into obscurity.[6]
Personal life
Percy Mayfield married three times. The identity of his first wife is unknown; his second wife was Willie Mae Atlas Mayfield; his third wife was Tina Mayfield. With his second wife, he had one child, daughter Pamela, and three grandchildren.
Career
Mayfield was born in Minden, the seat of Webster Parish in northwestern Louisiana. As a youth, his talent for poetry led him into songwriting and singing. He began his performing career in Texas, and then moved to Los Angeles, California in 1942; success as a singer continued to elude him. In 1947, a small record label, Swing Time, signed him to record his song "Two Years of Torture." The song sold steadily over the next few years, prompting Art Rupe to sign Mayfield to his label, Specialty Records in 1950.[2]
Although his vocal style was influenced by such stylists as Charles Brown, Mayfield did not focus on the white market, unlike many West Coast bluesmen. Rather, he sang blues ballads, mostly his own songs, in a gentle vocal style. His most famous recording, "Please Send Me Someone to Love", a number one R&B hit single in 1950, was widely influential and recorded by many other singers.[3]
A 1952 automobile accident left Mayfield seriously injured, including a facial disfigurement that limited his performing. However, that did not stop his prolific songwriting. Mayfield continued to write and record for Specialty until 1954, and then recorded for Chess Records and Imperial Records. His career continued to flourish with songs like "Strange Things Happening", "Lost Love", "What a Fool I Was", "Prayin' for Your Return"' "Cry Baby", and "Big Question".[4]
In 1961, he came to the attention of Ray Charles with his song "Hit the Road Jack". Charles signed him to his Tangerine Records label, primarily as a songwriter; there he wrote "Hide Nor Hair", "At The Club", "Danger Zone", and "On the Other Hand, Baby".[2]
The period following the RCA recordings in the early 70's saw Percy Mayfield once again slip into obscurity and poverty; there was, however, one final chapter to his career. In the early 80's Bay Area blues musician Mark Naftalin discovered that Percy was living in the East Bay somewhere and was able to provide Percy with a band for live performances around several Marin County and East Bay clubs. The exposure also led to 1982 Timeless studio date with the excellent Phillip Walker Blues Band.
Death
When Mayfield died of a heart attack in 1984, the day before his 64th birthday,[5] he had fallen back into obscurity.[6]
Personal life
Percy Mayfield married three times. The identity of his first wife is unknown; his second wife was Willie Mae Atlas Mayfield; his third wife was Tina Mayfield. With his second wife, he had one child, daughter Pamela, and three grandchildren.
Percy
Mayfield - Louisiana
Roy Gaines *12.08.1934
Der Blues-Gitarrist und Sänger wurde am 12. August 1937 in Waskom, Texas geboren. Als er sechs Jahre alt war zogen seine Eltern nach Houston. Ursprünglich lernte er das Klavierspiel fand aber später mehr Gefallen an der Gitarre.
Roy Gaines (born August 12, 1934)[1][2] is an American Texas blues and electric blues guitarist, singer and songwriter.[3] Gaines's recorded work includes his self-penned track, "A Hell of a Night", which first appeared on his 1982 album, Gainelining. He is the brother of another blues musician, Grady Gaines.
Gaines was born in Waskom, Texas, United States, and relocated with his family to Houston at the age of six.[4] Originally a piano devotee, Gaines moved to playing the guitar in his adolescence.[1] In his teens he was acquainted with his fellow budding guitarist, Johnny Copeland.[2] By the age of 14 he had performed onstage backing his hero, T-Bone Walker, and played in the Houston nightclubs before his move to Los Angeles, California.[1] In 1955, Gaines backing work appeared on recordings by Bobby Bland, Junior Parker and Big Mama Thornton.[2][4] He later backed Roy Milton and then Chuck Willis, and worked again with Walker.[2]
He released two low-key albums in 1956, and a couple more in the 1960s on small record labels.[2] In 1966, Gaines became part of Ray Charles' backing band.[4] Other backing work for Gaines included sessions with The Everly Brothers, The Supremes, Bobby Darin, Stevie Wonder, and Gladys Knight.[5]
His primary function was as a sideman, but he released his solo album, Gainelining in 1982. Further works followed such as New Frontier Lover (2000).[1] Also, Gaines had a small part in the 1985 film, The Color Purple.[5] In 2009, Gaines (billed as Roy Gaines & his Orchestra) released Tuxedo Blues, featuring a full big band. Selections included "Miss Celie's Blues (Sister)," which Gaines originally performed in The Color Purple. Also included was a cover of Michael Jackson's "Rock With You."
Gaines' co-composed song, "No Use Crying", has been recorded by George Jones and Ray Charles.-
Albie Donnelly *12.08.1947
Der in Liverpool geborene Saxofonist, Leadsänger und Bandleader startete seine Karriere als Studiomusiker in London bei Produktionen mit Bob Geldof, The Boomtown Rats, Graham Parker u.a. Nachdem er 1973 seine Band SUPERCHARGE gründete, ging er in England als Support Act für Chuck Berry, B.B. King, Fats Domino, Ray Charles und auch Queen auf Tour und trat im Hyde Park vor mehr als 100.000 begeisterten Zuschauern auf.Seitdem ist er in ganz Europa mit SUPERCHARGE erfolgreich. Zahlreiche Tourneen als Headliner, oftmals in Deutschland, aber auch in den Niederlanden, Spanien, Frankreich, Polen, Italien, Portugal, Finnland, Österreich, der Schweiz, Dänemark, Schweden und aktuell auch wieder in England belegen die außergewöhnliche Popularität der Band, deren Komponist und Texter er zugleich ist. Die meisten Stücke seiner Konzerte stammen aus seiner Feder. Als Frontman, dessen Stimme geprägt ist von britischem Rhythm and Blues, dessen Saxophonspiel Soulpower pur liefert, hat er die Tradition von Größen wie Junior Walker und King Curtis fortgesetzt und weiter entwickelt.
Ein Zitat von B.B. King: „SUPERCHARGE is the finest R&B-Band in Europe“.
Wenn das kein Kompliment ist!
Albie Donnelly (* 12. August 1947 in Liverpool, Großbritannien) ist ein britischer Saxofonist, Bandleader und Leadsänger der im Jahr 1973 gegründeten Gruppe Supercharge. Er war außerdem Studiomusiker u. a. für Bob Geldof und The Boomtown Rats. Seit 1992 hat er eine Vielzahl von CDs veröffentlicht. Neben seinem Engagement als „Mister Supercharge“ ist er mit seinem Projekt „The Big Thing“ unter Mitwirkung von Roy Herrington (Gitarre u. Gesang), Wolfgang Diekmann (Bass u. Gitarre) und Hardy Fischötter (Schlagzeug) auf Tournee. Seit Mitte der 1990er Jahre ist Albie Donnelly im niederbergischen Heiligenhaus ansässig.
ALBIE DONNELLY, Liverpool- born singer/saxophonist and bandleader began his career in London as a session musician playing on recordings by Bob Geldof and the Boomtown Rats, Graham Parker and many others.
In 1973 he formed the now legendary band SUPERCHARGE. The band’s blend of R. ‘n’ B. and Funk plus their wild on- (and off!) stage-show made them a sensation on the British 70’s live- club scene.
In the 80’s the band signed with Virgin Records and toured extensively in GB and all over Europe with such names as Ray Charles, Fats Domino, B. B. King, Chuck Berry and Queen – culminating in the Hyde Park concert in front of more than 100,000 people.
From then on ALBIE has led successful tours all over Europe (Germany, Netherlands, Spain, Portugal, France, Poland, Italy, Austria, Switzerland, Denmark, Sweden, Finland) and recently back home again in GB, confirming the bandleaders consistent popularity.
His soulful voice and unique horn-sound attest to his R. ‘n’ B. roots and his being steeped in the music of the all-time greats
Quote from B. B. King: “SUPERCHARGE is Europe’s finest Rhythm ‘n’ Blues Band.”
In 1973 he formed the now legendary band SUPERCHARGE. The band’s blend of R. ‘n’ B. and Funk plus their wild on- (and off!) stage-show made them a sensation on the British 70’s live- club scene.
In the 80’s the band signed with Virgin Records and toured extensively in GB and all over Europe with such names as Ray Charles, Fats Domino, B. B. King, Chuck Berry and Queen – culminating in the Hyde Park concert in front of more than 100,000 people.
From then on ALBIE has led successful tours all over Europe (Germany, Netherlands, Spain, Portugal, France, Poland, Italy, Austria, Switzerland, Denmark, Sweden, Finland) and recently back home again in GB, confirming the bandleaders consistent popularity.
His soulful voice and unique horn-sound attest to his R. ‘n’ B. roots and his being steeped in the music of the all-time greats
Quote from B. B. King: “SUPERCHARGE is Europe’s finest Rhythm ‘n’ Blues Band.”
1992 Juke - Albie Donnelly vocals - Caldonia
Herman Villere „Roscoe“ Ernest III *12.08.1951
Herman Villere „Roscoe“ Ernest III (* 12. August 1951; † 7. März 2011 in New Orleans[1]) war ein US-amerikanischer Rhythm-and-Blues-Schlagzeuger.
Leben und Wirken
Ernest war langjähriges Mitglied der Musikszene von New Orleans und begann seine Karriere in Funk-Gruppen; Mitte der 1970er Jahre spielte er bei Produktionen von Allen Toussaint wie Patti LaBelles Disco-Hit Lady Marmalade mit. Außerdem nahm er mit Lee Dorsey (Night People 1978), den Neville Brothers (Fiyo on the Bayou, 1981), Irma Thomas, Aaron Neville, Maceo Parker, Solomon Burke (A Change Is Gonna Come, 1986), Snooks Eaglin, Johnny Adams, Anders Osborne und Al „Carnival“ Johnson auf. Ernest war zwei Jahrzehnte lang Schlagzeuger bei Dr. John und wirkte an mehreren seiner Alben mit, etwa Dr. Johns Blue Note-Produktionen Duke Elegant (2000)´, Creole Moon und zuletzt 2006 auf dessen Johnny Mercer-Tributalbum Mercernary, bei dem Ernest die Einleitung zu Come Rain or Come Shine spricht. [1]
2004 nahm er mit Herlin Riley, Johnny Vidacovich und Earl Palmer eine Lehr-DVD auf. Noch 2009 trat er mit dem Jazztrompeter Jeremy Davenport und Kermit Ruffins auf (We’ll Dance Til Dawn), zuletzt 2010 auf dem New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. Er starb Anfang März 2011 nach einer langjährigen Krebserkrankung.
Leben und Wirken
Ernest war langjähriges Mitglied der Musikszene von New Orleans und begann seine Karriere in Funk-Gruppen; Mitte der 1970er Jahre spielte er bei Produktionen von Allen Toussaint wie Patti LaBelles Disco-Hit Lady Marmalade mit. Außerdem nahm er mit Lee Dorsey (Night People 1978), den Neville Brothers (Fiyo on the Bayou, 1981), Irma Thomas, Aaron Neville, Maceo Parker, Solomon Burke (A Change Is Gonna Come, 1986), Snooks Eaglin, Johnny Adams, Anders Osborne und Al „Carnival“ Johnson auf. Ernest war zwei Jahrzehnte lang Schlagzeuger bei Dr. John und wirkte an mehreren seiner Alben mit, etwa Dr. Johns Blue Note-Produktionen Duke Elegant (2000)´, Creole Moon und zuletzt 2006 auf dessen Johnny Mercer-Tributalbum Mercernary, bei dem Ernest die Einleitung zu Come Rain or Come Shine spricht. [1]
2004 nahm er mit Herlin Riley, Johnny Vidacovich und Earl Palmer eine Lehr-DVD auf. Noch 2009 trat er mit dem Jazztrompeter Jeremy Davenport und Kermit Ruffins auf (We’ll Dance Til Dawn), zuletzt 2010 auf dem New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. Er starb Anfang März 2011 nach einer langjährigen Krebserkrankung.
Herman Ernest III (August 12, 1951 – March 6, 2011), best known as Roscoe, was an American drummer in the New Orleans funk scene, and is best known for his drumming in Dr. John's band the Lower 911 for almost 30 years.[1] "Renowned for his larger-than-life personality Roscoe was both a powerful percussionist and steadfast individual."[2] He played drums on Dr. John's Trippin' Live, released on July 29, 1997, under the Wind-Up record label, which was recorded over a week in London in 1996 at Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club.
Herman Ernest with drum sticks
Early life and career
In 1971 he was hired as the drummer of King Floyd's new road band the Rhythm Masters. After a split from the singer they renamed the band World Blues and played gigs around New Orleans. Ernest was the primary drummer on the two Allen Toussaint produced Patti LaBelle albums (Nightbirds and Phoenix), most influentially in his contribution to the beat of "Lady Marmalade". After World Blues dwindled, Ernest formed another club band with Teddy Royal called Cypress. Ernest played for years at the Sea-Saint studios with Allen Toussaint among others. In 2005, before Hurricane Katrina he was working on Nine Lives with Paul Sanchez.
He began recording with Dr. John in the early 1990s, and became a member of the band after the recording of Trippin' Live in 1996. Shortly after that he became the bandleader and remained a key member until his death, providing a "sturdy foundation."[2] "Their rapport, honed over many years together and the result of a profound mutual respect, was obvious in Mr. Ernest’s humorous introductions and commentaries delivered from behind the drum kit. During a set at the 2010 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival presented by Shell, Mr. Ernest provided a play-by-play description of Rebennack’s zombie-like soft-shoe dance in "I Been Hoodooed"."[2]
Although he spent the majority of his time recording, Ernest was active in different areas of the New Orleans community. He was a deputy sheriff for the New Orleans Police Department and dedicated time during Mardi Gras and Thanksgiving to ensure peace was kept throughout the city. He was active in the Baptist Church. He played drums for his mother's church, the Greater Liberty Baptist Church, on Desire Street in New Orleans. He taught drumming techniques to children with Alonzo Bowens Jr. at the Louis Armstrong Summer Jazz Camp.[3]
Ernest lost his battle with cancer on March 6, 2011.[1] "He was a cat that always lived," Dr. John said. "He wasn't one of those guys that was a survivor. He was a guy that lived. We're going to celebrate the cat's life to the max."[citation needed]
To honor his commitment to music and the New Orleans culture, the New Orleans Musicians' Clinic started the NOMAF's Herman Ernest Memorial Interfaith Health Screening Initiative,[4] which will screen New Orleans residents, most specifically musicians for head and neck cancer.
Associated acts
Ernest has played with many musicians including, Johnny Adams, Marcia Ball, Billy Branch, Solomon Burke, Josh Charles, Shemekia Copeland, Cowboy Mouth, Jeremy Davenport, Lee Dorsey, Snooks Eaglin, Carol Fran, Grady Gaines, Guitar Shorty, Jools Holland, Etta James, Earl King, Joe Krown, Patti LaBelle, Linda Lewis, Ramsey Lewis, John Mayall, Jimmy McCracklin, Larry McCray, The Meters, Maria Muldaur, Aaron Neville, The Neville Brothers, David "Fathead" Newman, Anders Osborne, Earl Palmer, Maceo Parker, Wardell Quezergue, Herlin Riley, Kermit Ruffins, Paul Sanchez, Irma Thomas, Allen Toussaint, Johnny Vidacovich, Phillip Walker, Carl Weathersby, Junior Wells and Marva Wright.
Herman Ernest with drum sticks
Early life and career
In 1971 he was hired as the drummer of King Floyd's new road band the Rhythm Masters. After a split from the singer they renamed the band World Blues and played gigs around New Orleans. Ernest was the primary drummer on the two Allen Toussaint produced Patti LaBelle albums (Nightbirds and Phoenix), most influentially in his contribution to the beat of "Lady Marmalade". After World Blues dwindled, Ernest formed another club band with Teddy Royal called Cypress. Ernest played for years at the Sea-Saint studios with Allen Toussaint among others. In 2005, before Hurricane Katrina he was working on Nine Lives with Paul Sanchez.
He began recording with Dr. John in the early 1990s, and became a member of the band after the recording of Trippin' Live in 1996. Shortly after that he became the bandleader and remained a key member until his death, providing a "sturdy foundation."[2] "Their rapport, honed over many years together and the result of a profound mutual respect, was obvious in Mr. Ernest’s humorous introductions and commentaries delivered from behind the drum kit. During a set at the 2010 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival presented by Shell, Mr. Ernest provided a play-by-play description of Rebennack’s zombie-like soft-shoe dance in "I Been Hoodooed"."[2]
Although he spent the majority of his time recording, Ernest was active in different areas of the New Orleans community. He was a deputy sheriff for the New Orleans Police Department and dedicated time during Mardi Gras and Thanksgiving to ensure peace was kept throughout the city. He was active in the Baptist Church. He played drums for his mother's church, the Greater Liberty Baptist Church, on Desire Street in New Orleans. He taught drumming techniques to children with Alonzo Bowens Jr. at the Louis Armstrong Summer Jazz Camp.[3]
Ernest lost his battle with cancer on March 6, 2011.[1] "He was a cat that always lived," Dr. John said. "He wasn't one of those guys that was a survivor. He was a guy that lived. We're going to celebrate the cat's life to the max."[citation needed]
To honor his commitment to music and the New Orleans culture, the New Orleans Musicians' Clinic started the NOMAF's Herman Ernest Memorial Interfaith Health Screening Initiative,[4] which will screen New Orleans residents, most specifically musicians for head and neck cancer.
Associated acts
Ernest has played with many musicians including, Johnny Adams, Marcia Ball, Billy Branch, Solomon Burke, Josh Charles, Shemekia Copeland, Cowboy Mouth, Jeremy Davenport, Lee Dorsey, Snooks Eaglin, Carol Fran, Grady Gaines, Guitar Shorty, Jools Holland, Etta James, Earl King, Joe Krown, Patti LaBelle, Linda Lewis, Ramsey Lewis, John Mayall, Jimmy McCracklin, Larry McCray, The Meters, Maria Muldaur, Aaron Neville, The Neville Brothers, David "Fathead" Newman, Anders Osborne, Earl Palmer, Maceo Parker, Wardell Quezergue, Herlin Riley, Kermit Ruffins, Paul Sanchez, Irma Thomas, Allen Toussaint, Johnny Vidacovich, Phillip Walker, Carl Weathersby, Junior Wells and Marva Wright.
Herman "Roscoe" Ernest III - New Orleans Drumming (part 1)
Richard Hagel *12.08.
Richard Hagel, Martin Siehoff, Andreas Müller, Thomas Hesse
http://www.peewee-bluesgang.de/
Die aus Iserlohn stammende...
Peewee Bluesgang gehört zu den dienstältesten Blues-Rockbands Deutschlands und ist seither eine der besten Blues-Rockbands Europas. Bereits im Jahr 1977, unter anderem von den Musikern Richard Hagel (Gesang, Perkussion) und Thomas Hesse (Gitarren, Gesang) gegründet, erschien im Jahr 1979 ihr erstes Album "Our Blues Side ".
Sänger Hagel und Gitarrist Hesse sind immer noch dabei, sie stellen über die Jahre hin auch die feste Konstante der Band dar.
Richard Hagel (vocals & maracas)
Peewee Bluesgang gehört zu den dienstältesten Blues-Rockbands Deutschlands und ist seither eine der besten Blues-Rockbands Europas. Bereits im Jahr 1977, unter anderem von den Musikern Richard Hagel (Gesang, Perkussion) und Thomas Hesse (Gitarren, Gesang) gegründet, erschien im Jahr 1979 ihr erstes Album "Our Blues Side ".
Sänger Hagel und Gitarrist Hesse sind immer noch dabei, sie stellen über die Jahre hin auch die feste Konstante der Band dar.
Richard Hagel (vocals & maracas)
Die PeeWee Bluesgang präsentiert das Beste aus 38 Jahren Blues & Rock. Mit 18 Alben zeigen sie: Blues ist Lebensart und Liebe zur Musik. Und das beweisen sie immer wieder.
Die aktuelle Besetzung ist:
Richard Hagel: Lead Vocal
Thomas Hesse: Guitar
Martin Siehoff: Drums
Andreas Müller: Bass
Rhythm & Blues
in reinster Form, kompromisslos und ehrlich in perfekter Darbietung, fernab von der distanzierten Art einer Studioaufnahme. Das ist es, was die PeeWee Bluesgang ihrem Publikum in ihrer sympathischen und offenen Art und Weise offeriert. Ihr Kontakt zu den Fans ist schon fast freundschaftlich und man merkt jedes Mal aufs Neue: bei den PeeWee’s kommt der Blues aus vollem Herzen.
Richard Hagel, der 2013 sein 50jähriges Bühnenjubiläum feierte, betont immer wieder: „Musik hält jung“ und ist dafür selbst der beste Beweis. Der charismatische Sänger und Frontmann hat nichts von seiner fantastischen Stimme und Bühnenpräsents eingebüßt.
Auch Thomas Hesse, ein herausragender Gitarrist, beweist, dass Musik die Lebensart beeinflusst; er lebt und liebt die Musik. Beide sind Neuem gegenüber offen, aber stehen auch für die Kontinuität der Ur-Stilistiken der Blues- und Rockmusik.
Thomas Hesse und Richard Hagel sind die Ur-PeeWee‘s. Seit Jahren werden sie von ihrem Schlagzeuger Martin Siehoff begleitet. Das jüngste Bandmitglied ist seit 2010 der legendäre Bassist Andreas Müller. Beide gelten zu Recht als eine der besten Rhythmusgruppen überhaupt.
Keyboarder Nico Kozuschek ist Gastmusiker. Obwohl jung an Jahren ist er schon ein alter Bühnenhaudegen. Ob Soul, Blues, Funk oder Rock, Nico bedient alle Stile perfekt. In ihrer langjährigen Geschichte hat die PeeWee Bluesgang tausende von Auftritten im In- und Ausland absolviert.
Die Band weiß nicht nur 80.000 Fans in Russland zu begeistern, sondern zeigte ihre musikalische Bandbreite auch auf Bluesfestivals und bei Konzerten mit dem Philharmonischen Orchester Südwestfalen.
Auch der legendäre Auftritt im Rockpalast 1982 sollte hier erwähnt werden. Die PeeWee’s ziehen die Menschen stets in ihren Bann. Heute ist die PeeWee Bluesgang, die 1977 als bluesige Coverband entstand, eine der ältesten Bluesbands in Deutschland. In den 70ern lernten Thomas Hesse & Co von Größen wie B.B. King, Hendrix, Clapton, Beck und Muddy Waters. Seitdem zeigen 18 Alben und CD‘s mit vorwiegend Eigenkompositionen, den Sound und das einzigartige Repertoire der PeeWee‘s.
Die aktuelle Besetzung ist:
Richard Hagel: Lead Vocal
Thomas Hesse: Guitar
Martin Siehoff: Drums
Andreas Müller: Bass
Rhythm & Blues
in reinster Form, kompromisslos und ehrlich in perfekter Darbietung, fernab von der distanzierten Art einer Studioaufnahme. Das ist es, was die PeeWee Bluesgang ihrem Publikum in ihrer sympathischen und offenen Art und Weise offeriert. Ihr Kontakt zu den Fans ist schon fast freundschaftlich und man merkt jedes Mal aufs Neue: bei den PeeWee’s kommt der Blues aus vollem Herzen.
Richard Hagel, der 2013 sein 50jähriges Bühnenjubiläum feierte, betont immer wieder: „Musik hält jung“ und ist dafür selbst der beste Beweis. Der charismatische Sänger und Frontmann hat nichts von seiner fantastischen Stimme und Bühnenpräsents eingebüßt.
Auch Thomas Hesse, ein herausragender Gitarrist, beweist, dass Musik die Lebensart beeinflusst; er lebt und liebt die Musik. Beide sind Neuem gegenüber offen, aber stehen auch für die Kontinuität der Ur-Stilistiken der Blues- und Rockmusik.
Thomas Hesse und Richard Hagel sind die Ur-PeeWee‘s. Seit Jahren werden sie von ihrem Schlagzeuger Martin Siehoff begleitet. Das jüngste Bandmitglied ist seit 2010 der legendäre Bassist Andreas Müller. Beide gelten zu Recht als eine der besten Rhythmusgruppen überhaupt.
Keyboarder Nico Kozuschek ist Gastmusiker. Obwohl jung an Jahren ist er schon ein alter Bühnenhaudegen. Ob Soul, Blues, Funk oder Rock, Nico bedient alle Stile perfekt. In ihrer langjährigen Geschichte hat die PeeWee Bluesgang tausende von Auftritten im In- und Ausland absolviert.
Die Band weiß nicht nur 80.000 Fans in Russland zu begeistern, sondern zeigte ihre musikalische Bandbreite auch auf Bluesfestivals und bei Konzerten mit dem Philharmonischen Orchester Südwestfalen.
Auch der legendäre Auftritt im Rockpalast 1982 sollte hier erwähnt werden. Die PeeWee’s ziehen die Menschen stets in ihren Bann. Heute ist die PeeWee Bluesgang, die 1977 als bluesige Coverband entstand, eine der ältesten Bluesbands in Deutschland. In den 70ern lernten Thomas Hesse & Co von Größen wie B.B. King, Hendrix, Clapton, Beck und Muddy Waters. Seitdem zeigen 18 Alben und CD‘s mit vorwiegend Eigenkompositionen, den Sound und das einzigartige Repertoire der PeeWee‘s.
Die Pee Wee Bluesgang (PeeWees) ist eine sechsköpfige Gruppe, die Bluesrock spielt.
1977 in Iserlohn gegründet, traten die Pee Wees mit vorwiegend eigenen Stücken auf. Ihre Mitglieder waren der Sänger und Frontman Richard Hagel, der Gitarrist Thomas Hesse, der Bassist Heribert Grothe; am Schlagzeug saß Martin Siehoff und das Saxophon spielte Karlos Boes.
Bandgeschichte
Ihren ersten Auftritt hatte die Band in der Balver Höhle bei einem Jazzfestival.
Sänger und Keyboarder war während der ersten zwei Jahre Reiner Hänsch von der Band Zoff. 1979 verließ Hänsch die PeeWees und Richard Hagel wurde Sänger. Am Keyboard saß nun Stefan Janke, welcher aber die Band bereits nach kurzer Zeit wieder verließ - nach einem Gig im "Onkel Pö" in Hamburg.
1980 mussten Piano-Spuren des damaligen Studio-Albums noch aufgenommen werden, wofür dann der Hamburger Keyboarder Thomas Waßkönig einsprang - zumal das Rehearsal der Plattenfirma für das Album unmittelbar bevorstand und Zeitnot herrschte. Nach diesen Aufnahmen, welche Richard Hagel und Hesse sehr gefielen, wurde Waßkönig von 1980 bis 1984 fester Bestandteil der Band, danach wechselte er (zurück) zu der Band Grobschnitt.
Zwei Jahre nach ihrer Gründung erschien die erste LP. Durch Teilnahme an Open-Air-Konzerten im Ausland wurde die Band über die Grenzen von Deutschland hinaus bekannt. Es gab Tourneen unter anderem zusammen mit Chicken Shack, Canned Heat, Jack Bruce und den Stray Cats. 1980 durfte man in Polen auftreten. Im Jahr danach spielte die Pee Wee Bluesgang im Rockpalast des WDR in Köln.
Anfang der 1980er Jahre waren die PeeWees auch Begleitband von Drafi Deutscher bei Live-Konzerten.[1]
Seit Mitte der 1990er Jahre ersetzte das Saxophon dann das Keyboard.
Am 31. Dezember 2008 löste sich die Gruppe, die bis dahin 15 Alben herausgebracht hatte, auf.
2010 feierte die Band ihr Comeback. Seit dem spielen die PeeWees in geänderter Besetzung. Andreas Müller ersetzte Heribert Grothe an der Bass-Gitarre. Neu hinzugekommen am Keyboard ist Nico Kozuschek.
1977 in Iserlohn gegründet, traten die Pee Wees mit vorwiegend eigenen Stücken auf. Ihre Mitglieder waren der Sänger und Frontman Richard Hagel, der Gitarrist Thomas Hesse, der Bassist Heribert Grothe; am Schlagzeug saß Martin Siehoff und das Saxophon spielte Karlos Boes.
Bandgeschichte
Ihren ersten Auftritt hatte die Band in der Balver Höhle bei einem Jazzfestival.
Sänger und Keyboarder war während der ersten zwei Jahre Reiner Hänsch von der Band Zoff. 1979 verließ Hänsch die PeeWees und Richard Hagel wurde Sänger. Am Keyboard saß nun Stefan Janke, welcher aber die Band bereits nach kurzer Zeit wieder verließ - nach einem Gig im "Onkel Pö" in Hamburg.
1980 mussten Piano-Spuren des damaligen Studio-Albums noch aufgenommen werden, wofür dann der Hamburger Keyboarder Thomas Waßkönig einsprang - zumal das Rehearsal der Plattenfirma für das Album unmittelbar bevorstand und Zeitnot herrschte. Nach diesen Aufnahmen, welche Richard Hagel und Hesse sehr gefielen, wurde Waßkönig von 1980 bis 1984 fester Bestandteil der Band, danach wechselte er (zurück) zu der Band Grobschnitt.
Zwei Jahre nach ihrer Gründung erschien die erste LP. Durch Teilnahme an Open-Air-Konzerten im Ausland wurde die Band über die Grenzen von Deutschland hinaus bekannt. Es gab Tourneen unter anderem zusammen mit Chicken Shack, Canned Heat, Jack Bruce und den Stray Cats. 1980 durfte man in Polen auftreten. Im Jahr danach spielte die Pee Wee Bluesgang im Rockpalast des WDR in Köln.
Anfang der 1980er Jahre waren die PeeWees auch Begleitband von Drafi Deutscher bei Live-Konzerten.[1]
Seit Mitte der 1990er Jahre ersetzte das Saxophon dann das Keyboard.
Am 31. Dezember 2008 löste sich die Gruppe, die bis dahin 15 Alben herausgebracht hatte, auf.
2010 feierte die Band ihr Comeback. Seit dem spielen die PeeWees in geänderter Besetzung. Andreas Müller ersetzte Heribert Grothe an der Bass-Gitarre. Neu hinzugekommen am Keyboard ist Nico Kozuschek.
Richard Hagel feiert 50-jähriges Bühenjubiläum - Pee Wee Bluesgang - Tikki Bar Is Open
RICHARD HAGEL / THE FIFTY YEARS JUBILEE CONCERT
*The Voice of Pee Wee Bluesgang*
feiert sein 50-jähriges Bühnenjubiläum
Live in der Parkhalle in Iserlohn (Germany)
am Sa.23.11.2013
Song : Tikki Bar Is Open
Band:Pee Wee Bluesgang
Richard Hagel - vocals
Thomas Hesse - guitar, vocals
Andreas Müller - bass
Daniel Geist - keys
Martin Siehoff - drums
Carlos Boes - sax
*The Voice of Pee Wee Bluesgang*
feiert sein 50-jähriges Bühnenjubiläum
Live in der Parkhalle in Iserlohn (Germany)
am Sa.23.11.2013
Song : Tikki Bar Is Open
Band:Pee Wee Bluesgang
Richard Hagel - vocals
Thomas Hesse - guitar, vocals
Andreas Müller - bass
Daniel Geist - keys
Martin Siehoff - drums
Carlos Boes - sax
PeeWee Bluesgang Bach meets BLUES
one night in December !" Faszinierend,spektakulär,mitreißend ! Die einmalige Begegnung
von Classic und Blues in einer aufwendigen Musikshow mit beeindruckenden Lichteffekten!"
von Classic und Blues in einer aufwendigen Musikshow mit beeindruckenden Lichteffekten!"
PEEWEE BLUESGANG HEY JOE Hattingen 30.05. 2014
Mark Freuder Knopfler *12.08.1949
Mark Freuder Knopfler OBE (* 12. August 1949 in Glasgow) ist ein britischer Musiker. Der mehrfache Grammy-Gewinner war Kopf und Mitgründer der Rockgruppe Dire Straits, mit der er weltweite Bekanntheit erlangte. Mit insgesamt etwa 120 Millionen verkauften Tonträgern (Dire Straits und solo zusammen) zählt er zu den „best-selling music artists“ der Musikgeschichte.[5] Das Album Brothers in Arms allein wurde bislang über 30 Millionen Mal verkauft.[6] Mark Knopfler wird von vielen zu den besten E-Gitarristen der Welt gezählt.[7][8] Im Rahmen seiner Solokarriere schrieb er auch die Musik für mehrere Filme.
Leben
Mark Knopflers ungarisch-jüdischer Vater Erwin Knopfler war Architekt, seine Sympathien für die Kommunisten zwangen ihn 1939 zur Flucht aus dem faschistischen Ungarn. Knopflers Mutter Louisa Mary Knopfler, eine Lehrerin, war Engländerin. Geboren in Glasgow, zog Mark Knopfler im Alter von sieben Jahren mit seinen Eltern in das im Nordosten Englands gelegene Blyth, die Heimatstadt seiner Mutter. Als Teenager lernte er das Gitarrespielen und begann nach der Schulzeit für die Yorkshire Evening Post in Leeds zu schreiben. Zusammen mit gelegentlichen Auftritten in Clubs konnte er damit sein Journalistikstudium an der University of Leeds finanzieren, das er 1973 abschloss.[9] Später war Knopfler auch Dozent am Loughton College in Leeds. In London gründete er 1977 mit seinem Bruder David Knopfler, dem Bassisten John Illsley und dem Schlagzeuger Pick Withers die Band Dire Straits. Der Name der Gruppe (deutsch „ernste Notlage“) bezieht sich auf die damals schwierige finanzielle Situation der Band.
1978 erschien das Album Dire Straits, das mit Sultans of Swing auch gleich den ersten Hit enthielt. In den folgenden Jahren kristallisierte sich Mark Knopfler als Kopf der Band heraus. Bis auf Bassist Illsley wechselten die Bandmitglieder mehrfach. Wichtigster musikalischer Begleiter für Knopfler wurde Guy Fletcher, der 1985 Mitglied der Dire Straits geworden war und ihn bei seinem Nebenprojekt The Notting Hillbillies und allen Soloalben unterstützte.
Mit dem Soundtrack zu dem Film Local Hero veröffentlichte Knopfler 1983 sein erstes Soloalbum. Doch er blieb Mitglied der Dire Straits, die 1985 mit dem Album Brothers in Arms ihren größten Erfolg hatten. Ihr nächstes und zugleich letztes Studioalbum („On Every Street“) erschien erst 1991. Nach der anschließenden Tour konzentrierte sich Knopfler auf seine Solokarriere, mit der er nahtlos an die Erfolge mit Dire Straits anknüpfte.
Neben seinen Aufnahmen unter eigenem Namen bzw. mit den Dire Straits war Knopfler auch Gastmusiker und Produzent. Er arbeitete unter anderem mit bekannten Country-Musikern wie Chet Atkins, Emmylou Harris oder John Anderson, aber auch mit Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton, Van Morrison, Randy Newman und Sting zusammen. Für Tina Turner schrieb er die Single Private Dancer und verhalf ihr damit 1984 zu ihrem Comeback. Für Bob Dylan produzierte Knopfler 1983 das Album Infidels.
Mark Knopfler lebt heute relativ zurückgezogen mit seiner Frau Kitty Aldridge, einer englischen Schauspielerin, und den beiden gemeinsamen Töchtern in Notting Hill. In erster Ehe war er mit einer Jugendfreundin verheiratet. Aus seiner zweiten Ehe mit Lourdes Salomone stammen Zwillingssöhne.
Solokarriere
Nach den Jahren mit Dire Straits widmete sich Knopfler seiner Solokarriere. 1994 und 1995 nahm er in Dublin und London das Album Golden Heart auf, das seiner Frau Kitty Aldridge gewidmet ist. Spitzenmusiker wie der aus Chicago stammende Gitarrist Richard Bennett, Bassist Glenn Worf, Pianist Jim Cox und Schlagzeuger Chad Cromwell unterstützten ihn bei den Aufnahmen. Außerdem begleitete ihn sein Dire-Straits-Kollege Guy Fletcher. Später wurde diese Besetzung die „96ers“ genannt. Alle genannten Musiker spielen mindestens zwei Instrumente und haben sich in der Nashville-Szene, also eher im Country-Bereich, einen Namen gemacht. Auf dem Album Golden Heart hat Knopfler auch einige Titel mit irischen Folkmusikern, unter anderem Dónal Lunny, Liam O’Flynn, Seán Keane und Máirtin O’Connor, aufgenommen (beispielsweise das Intro von Darling Pretty, A Night in Summer Long Ago oder Done With Bonaparte). Anstatt einer ausgedehnten Tournee wie zu Dire-Straits-Zeiten folgte 1996 eine kleine Tour durch Europa.
Von 1996 bis 1998 tourte er mit den Notting Hillbillies wieder durch Großbritannien. Außerdem schrieb er in diesen Jahren die Soundtracks für die Filme Metroland und Wag the Dog. Im Gedenken an die Opfer des Schulmassakers in der schottischen Stadt Dunblane vom 16. März 1996, bei dem in der Dunblane Primary School 16 Schüler und ihr Lehrer getötet wurden, nahm Ted Christopher mit einem Schülerchor aus Dunblane und Mark Knopfler an der Sologitarre den Bob-Dylan-Klassiker Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door neu auf, bei der Christopher eine neue Strophe passend zur Tragödie schrieb. Mit dieser Aufnahme wurden gleichzeitig Spenden gesammelt, die einem neuen Gemeindezentrum der Stadt zugutekamen. Am 15. September 1997 fand in der Londoner Royal Albert Hall ein Benefizkonzert für die Insel Montserrat statt, wo Knopfler mit den Dire Straits ihr erfolgreichstes Album Brothers in Arms aufgenommen hatte. Knopfler spielte eigene Stücke und unterstützte andere Musiker wie Eric Clapton, Phil Collins, Sting und Paul McCartney an der Gitarre.
In den Jahren von 1998 bis 2000 nahm Knopfler Sailing to Philadelphia mit der Hitsingle What It Is in Nashville auf. Das Album war in den Hitparaden erfolgreich: in Österreich kam es auf Platz 2, in Deutschland auf Platz 1. Sailing to Philadelphia unterschied sich sehr von Knopflers zuvor erschienenen Alben. Bis auf wenige Ausnahmen wie What It Is oder Silvertown Blues sind die meisten Lieder vom Country-Stil geprägt. Auf dem Album finden sich auch Duette mit James Taylor und Van Morrison. 2001 folgte eine Tournee, die Knopfler erstmals nach Südamerika führte.
Im Jahr 2000 schrieb er den Soundtrack für den Film A Shot at Glory. Im selben Jahr zog sich Ed Bicknell als sein Manager (er war auch Manager der Dire Straits) zurück. Seine Aufgabe übernahm Paul Crockford. Im Juli 2002 gab Knopfler vier Wohltätigkeitskonzerte, bei denen er sich im ersten Teil der Auftritte mit den Notting Hillbillies wiedervereinte und im zweiten Teil mit Musikern der Dire Straits (John Illsley am Bass, Chris White am Saxophon und Danny Cummings am Schlagzeug) spielte. The Ragpicker’s Dream – wieder in Nashville aufgenommen – war noch stärker vom Country-Stil geprägt als der Vorgänger. 2003 musste Knopfler allerdings die Tournee für das Album wegen eines Motorradunfalls absagen.
Im Februar 2004 begann Knopfler in Los Angeles mit den Aufnahmen zu Shangri-La. Das Titelstück Our Shangri-La drückt Knopflers Dankbarkeit dafür aus, dass bei seinem Motorradunfall nichts Schlimmeres passiert war. Die Textzeile „This is all the heaven we’ve got, right here where we are“ soll uns daran erinnern, unser Leben zu schätzen und zu genießen. Eine limitierte DVD zeigt das "Making of" dieser CD mit Interviews der Band. 2005 folgte eine weitere große Tournee, die ihn erstmals seit 1992 wieder nach Australien führte.
In den Jahren 1999 bis 2005 hatte Mark Knopfler einige Titel mit der Country-Sängerin Emmylou Harris aufgenommen. Diese Lieder wurden zu einem Duett-Album mit dem Titel All the Roadrunning zusammengestellt, das im April 2006 veröffentlicht wurde. Danach gingen die beiden auf Tournee durch Europa und die USA. 2006 war Knopfler auch zweimal in Deutschland zu sehen. Im Rahmen seiner Konzertreise „An Evening of Duets“ mit Emmylou Harris spielte er am 28. Mai 2006 in der Color Line Arena in Hamburg und am 6. Juni 2006 in der Frankfurter Festhalle. Auf dieser Tour wurde er von Richard Bennett (Rhythmusgitarre), Glenn Worf (Bass und Backgroundgesang), Matt Rollings (Keyboards und Backgroundgesang), Guy Fletcher (Keyboards und Backgroundgesang), Danny Cummings (Schlagzeug) und Stuart Duncan (Fiddle, Mandoline und Akustikgitarre) begleitet. Zu dieser Tournee erschien im November 2006 eine Live-DVD und eine Live-CD mit dem Titel Real Live Roadrunning.
Am 20. September 2006 gab Knopfler ein Benefiz-Konzert in der amerikanischen Stadt Boothbay im Bundesstaat Maine für die Rettung des alten Opernhauses am Boothbay Harbor. Er spielte mit Guy Fletcher (Keyboards und Gitarre), Richard Bennett (Gitarre) und Glenn Worf (Bass) ohne Schlagzeuger. Dafür waren in dem knapp zwei Stunden langen Auftritt Titel von seinen Soloalben dabei, die Knopfler bis dahin nicht live gespielt hatte. Am 29. Mai 2007 wurde eine Neuaufnahme der Dire Straits Ballade Brothers in Arms veröffentlicht, die daran erinnern sollte, dass sich 2007 der Falklandkrieg zum 25. Mal jährte. Die Einnahmen unterstützten bedürftige Veteranen des Krieges. Knopfler nahm diese neue Version in den legendären Abbey Road Studios in London in einer „One-Take-Session“ auf.[10]
Im Winter 2006/2007 und Frühling 2007 arbeitete Mark Knopfler mit Guy Fletcher, Glenn Worf und Danny Cummings in London an seinem Soloalbum Kill to Get Crimson, das im September 2007 veröffentlicht wurde. Es ist ein ruhiges Album, das viele Texte mit Handlungen oder historischem Hintergrund präsentiert. Der Titelsong Let It All Go mit der Textzeile „kill to get crimson“ handelt beispielsweise von einem Maler, der Menschen töten will, um an die Farbe Purpur zu kommen. Auf dem Album sind unter anderem Akkordeon, Violine und Flöte zu hören. Auch Saxophonist Chris White war erneut mit von der Partie und ist bei dem Song In the Sky zu hören. Anschließend begab sich Knopfler auf Promotion-Tour für das neue Album. Bemerkenswert dabei war, dass er mit seiner Band nicht wie früher nur kurze Auftritte, sondern in kleinen Konzerthallen sogenannte „Showcases“ spielte und etwa eine Stunde Programm lieferte.
Die Tournee zum Album Kill to Get Crimson startete Ende März 2008 in Amsterdam. Die Setlist enthielt vom Album nur die Titel True Love Will Never Fade und The Fish and the Bird.
Im Winter 2008/2009 begab sich Mark Knopfler erneut ins Studio, um mit dem Team, mit dem er bereits Kill to Get Crimson eingespielt hatte, ein neues Album aufzunehmen. Es erschien im September 2009 unter dem Namen Get Lucky. Die anschließende Get Lucky Tour führte durch Nordamerika (28 Konzerte) und durch Europa (59 Konzerte). Sie startete am 8. April 2010 in Seattle (USA) und endete am 31. Juli 2010 in Gredos (Spanien).
Am 6. Oktober 2011 begann Mark Knopfler in Dublin mit Bob Dylan eine gemeinsame Europatournee. Beide Musiker spielten mit ihrer Band jeweils ihre eigenen Konzerte nacheinander. Je weiter die Tour fortschritt, umso mehr arbeitete Knopfler sich in das Programm von Dylan ein, so dass Knopfler als Höhepunkt des Abends gemeinsam mit Dylan auf der Bühne stand und einige von Dylans Songs auf der Gitarre begleitete.
Am 31. August 2012 wurde das Doppel-CD Privateering, veröffentlicht.[11] Die begleitende Europa-Tournee begann am 25. April 2013 in Bukarest und endete am 31. Juli 2013 im spanischen Calella de Palafrugell. Im Oktober 2013 folgten vier Konzerte in den USA.[12][13]
Das achte Soloalbum, Tracker, erschien am 16. März 2015. In Dublin, Irland, startete am 15. Mai 2015 die Promotiontour mit 85 Konzerten in Europa und Nordamerika.[14]
Musikalische Einflüsse und Stil
Knopfler ist Linkshänder, spielt seine Gitarre aber wie Paul Simon mit rechts.[15]
Musikalisch wurde Knopfler in seiner Jugend, wie er im Oktober 2004 in einem Interview mit dem österreichischen Radiosender Ö3 erzählte, stark von dem Gitarristen der Band The Shadows, Hank Marvin, beeinflusst. Da dieser eine rote Fender Stratocaster spielte, musste Knopflers erste Gitarre auch rot sein. Der Vergleich der Gitarre bei dem Song Atlantis von den Shadows mit den Stücken Our Shangri-La und Everybody Pays auf Knopflers Album Shangri-La zeigt, wie sehr ihn Marvins Sound inspiriert hat. Der US-amerikanische Musiker J. J. Cale zählt ebenfalls zu seinen Einflussquellen. Zu seinen Lieblingsmusikern gehören aber auch Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix, Gillian Welch und Van Morrison.
Charakteristisch, neben seiner rauchigen Stimme, ist seine Art Gitarrenspiel, bei dem die Saiten der E-Gitarre mit den Fingern angeschlagen oder gezupft werden. Mark Knopfler zählt zu einer Minderheit von E-Gitarristen, die (fast) ohne Plektrum spielen. Für „Notfälle“ hat er, wie er sagt, ein Plektrum dabei, das er dann für ein sogenanntes Hybridpicking einsetzt. Ein charakteristisches Merkmal seiner Gitarrensoli ist das bewusste „Stolpern auf dem Griffbrett“ – ein sehr schnelles und kontrolliertes, stark asynkopisches Versetzen einzelner Töne innerhalb der Melodie, ohne dabei aus dem Takt zu geraten. Ein weiteres Merkmal ist, beim Anschlag der Saite den Lautstärkeknopf aufzudrehen.
Für gewöhnlich spielt Knopfler eine Fender Stratocaster. Fender widmete ihm ein eigenes rotes Signature-Modell names „Hot Rod Red“.[16] Daneben spielt Knopfler auch andere Gitarren wie Gibson Les Paul, National Style O, Schecter, Gretsch oder Rickenbacker, auf der Shangri-La-Tournee 2005 auch Instrumente von Danelectro und Silvertone. Eine seiner bevorzugten Live-Gitarren ist die MK-II aus dem Hause Pensa. Die „zweitliebste Gitarre“ eine 1937 National Style “O” guitar, die er etwa für das Stück „Romeo and Juliet“ verwendete.[17]
Der typische Knopfler-Sound setzt sich aus filigranem Fingerpicking (ohne Plektrum) und einem besonders reinen scharfen Ton zusammen; dafür verantwortlich zeichnet oft Knopflers Stratocaster-Gitarre, die mit drei Fender-Single-Coil-Tonabnehmern vom Typ Texas Special und einem Fünf-Weg-Tonabnehmerwahlschalter ausgestattet ist.
Leben
Mark Knopflers ungarisch-jüdischer Vater Erwin Knopfler war Architekt, seine Sympathien für die Kommunisten zwangen ihn 1939 zur Flucht aus dem faschistischen Ungarn. Knopflers Mutter Louisa Mary Knopfler, eine Lehrerin, war Engländerin. Geboren in Glasgow, zog Mark Knopfler im Alter von sieben Jahren mit seinen Eltern in das im Nordosten Englands gelegene Blyth, die Heimatstadt seiner Mutter. Als Teenager lernte er das Gitarrespielen und begann nach der Schulzeit für die Yorkshire Evening Post in Leeds zu schreiben. Zusammen mit gelegentlichen Auftritten in Clubs konnte er damit sein Journalistikstudium an der University of Leeds finanzieren, das er 1973 abschloss.[9] Später war Knopfler auch Dozent am Loughton College in Leeds. In London gründete er 1977 mit seinem Bruder David Knopfler, dem Bassisten John Illsley und dem Schlagzeuger Pick Withers die Band Dire Straits. Der Name der Gruppe (deutsch „ernste Notlage“) bezieht sich auf die damals schwierige finanzielle Situation der Band.
1978 erschien das Album Dire Straits, das mit Sultans of Swing auch gleich den ersten Hit enthielt. In den folgenden Jahren kristallisierte sich Mark Knopfler als Kopf der Band heraus. Bis auf Bassist Illsley wechselten die Bandmitglieder mehrfach. Wichtigster musikalischer Begleiter für Knopfler wurde Guy Fletcher, der 1985 Mitglied der Dire Straits geworden war und ihn bei seinem Nebenprojekt The Notting Hillbillies und allen Soloalben unterstützte.
Mit dem Soundtrack zu dem Film Local Hero veröffentlichte Knopfler 1983 sein erstes Soloalbum. Doch er blieb Mitglied der Dire Straits, die 1985 mit dem Album Brothers in Arms ihren größten Erfolg hatten. Ihr nächstes und zugleich letztes Studioalbum („On Every Street“) erschien erst 1991. Nach der anschließenden Tour konzentrierte sich Knopfler auf seine Solokarriere, mit der er nahtlos an die Erfolge mit Dire Straits anknüpfte.
Neben seinen Aufnahmen unter eigenem Namen bzw. mit den Dire Straits war Knopfler auch Gastmusiker und Produzent. Er arbeitete unter anderem mit bekannten Country-Musikern wie Chet Atkins, Emmylou Harris oder John Anderson, aber auch mit Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton, Van Morrison, Randy Newman und Sting zusammen. Für Tina Turner schrieb er die Single Private Dancer und verhalf ihr damit 1984 zu ihrem Comeback. Für Bob Dylan produzierte Knopfler 1983 das Album Infidels.
Mark Knopfler lebt heute relativ zurückgezogen mit seiner Frau Kitty Aldridge, einer englischen Schauspielerin, und den beiden gemeinsamen Töchtern in Notting Hill. In erster Ehe war er mit einer Jugendfreundin verheiratet. Aus seiner zweiten Ehe mit Lourdes Salomone stammen Zwillingssöhne.
Solokarriere
Nach den Jahren mit Dire Straits widmete sich Knopfler seiner Solokarriere. 1994 und 1995 nahm er in Dublin und London das Album Golden Heart auf, das seiner Frau Kitty Aldridge gewidmet ist. Spitzenmusiker wie der aus Chicago stammende Gitarrist Richard Bennett, Bassist Glenn Worf, Pianist Jim Cox und Schlagzeuger Chad Cromwell unterstützten ihn bei den Aufnahmen. Außerdem begleitete ihn sein Dire-Straits-Kollege Guy Fletcher. Später wurde diese Besetzung die „96ers“ genannt. Alle genannten Musiker spielen mindestens zwei Instrumente und haben sich in der Nashville-Szene, also eher im Country-Bereich, einen Namen gemacht. Auf dem Album Golden Heart hat Knopfler auch einige Titel mit irischen Folkmusikern, unter anderem Dónal Lunny, Liam O’Flynn, Seán Keane und Máirtin O’Connor, aufgenommen (beispielsweise das Intro von Darling Pretty, A Night in Summer Long Ago oder Done With Bonaparte). Anstatt einer ausgedehnten Tournee wie zu Dire-Straits-Zeiten folgte 1996 eine kleine Tour durch Europa.
Von 1996 bis 1998 tourte er mit den Notting Hillbillies wieder durch Großbritannien. Außerdem schrieb er in diesen Jahren die Soundtracks für die Filme Metroland und Wag the Dog. Im Gedenken an die Opfer des Schulmassakers in der schottischen Stadt Dunblane vom 16. März 1996, bei dem in der Dunblane Primary School 16 Schüler und ihr Lehrer getötet wurden, nahm Ted Christopher mit einem Schülerchor aus Dunblane und Mark Knopfler an der Sologitarre den Bob-Dylan-Klassiker Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door neu auf, bei der Christopher eine neue Strophe passend zur Tragödie schrieb. Mit dieser Aufnahme wurden gleichzeitig Spenden gesammelt, die einem neuen Gemeindezentrum der Stadt zugutekamen. Am 15. September 1997 fand in der Londoner Royal Albert Hall ein Benefizkonzert für die Insel Montserrat statt, wo Knopfler mit den Dire Straits ihr erfolgreichstes Album Brothers in Arms aufgenommen hatte. Knopfler spielte eigene Stücke und unterstützte andere Musiker wie Eric Clapton, Phil Collins, Sting und Paul McCartney an der Gitarre.
In den Jahren von 1998 bis 2000 nahm Knopfler Sailing to Philadelphia mit der Hitsingle What It Is in Nashville auf. Das Album war in den Hitparaden erfolgreich: in Österreich kam es auf Platz 2, in Deutschland auf Platz 1. Sailing to Philadelphia unterschied sich sehr von Knopflers zuvor erschienenen Alben. Bis auf wenige Ausnahmen wie What It Is oder Silvertown Blues sind die meisten Lieder vom Country-Stil geprägt. Auf dem Album finden sich auch Duette mit James Taylor und Van Morrison. 2001 folgte eine Tournee, die Knopfler erstmals nach Südamerika führte.
Im Jahr 2000 schrieb er den Soundtrack für den Film A Shot at Glory. Im selben Jahr zog sich Ed Bicknell als sein Manager (er war auch Manager der Dire Straits) zurück. Seine Aufgabe übernahm Paul Crockford. Im Juli 2002 gab Knopfler vier Wohltätigkeitskonzerte, bei denen er sich im ersten Teil der Auftritte mit den Notting Hillbillies wiedervereinte und im zweiten Teil mit Musikern der Dire Straits (John Illsley am Bass, Chris White am Saxophon und Danny Cummings am Schlagzeug) spielte. The Ragpicker’s Dream – wieder in Nashville aufgenommen – war noch stärker vom Country-Stil geprägt als der Vorgänger. 2003 musste Knopfler allerdings die Tournee für das Album wegen eines Motorradunfalls absagen.
Im Februar 2004 begann Knopfler in Los Angeles mit den Aufnahmen zu Shangri-La. Das Titelstück Our Shangri-La drückt Knopflers Dankbarkeit dafür aus, dass bei seinem Motorradunfall nichts Schlimmeres passiert war. Die Textzeile „This is all the heaven we’ve got, right here where we are“ soll uns daran erinnern, unser Leben zu schätzen und zu genießen. Eine limitierte DVD zeigt das "Making of" dieser CD mit Interviews der Band. 2005 folgte eine weitere große Tournee, die ihn erstmals seit 1992 wieder nach Australien führte.
In den Jahren 1999 bis 2005 hatte Mark Knopfler einige Titel mit der Country-Sängerin Emmylou Harris aufgenommen. Diese Lieder wurden zu einem Duett-Album mit dem Titel All the Roadrunning zusammengestellt, das im April 2006 veröffentlicht wurde. Danach gingen die beiden auf Tournee durch Europa und die USA. 2006 war Knopfler auch zweimal in Deutschland zu sehen. Im Rahmen seiner Konzertreise „An Evening of Duets“ mit Emmylou Harris spielte er am 28. Mai 2006 in der Color Line Arena in Hamburg und am 6. Juni 2006 in der Frankfurter Festhalle. Auf dieser Tour wurde er von Richard Bennett (Rhythmusgitarre), Glenn Worf (Bass und Backgroundgesang), Matt Rollings (Keyboards und Backgroundgesang), Guy Fletcher (Keyboards und Backgroundgesang), Danny Cummings (Schlagzeug) und Stuart Duncan (Fiddle, Mandoline und Akustikgitarre) begleitet. Zu dieser Tournee erschien im November 2006 eine Live-DVD und eine Live-CD mit dem Titel Real Live Roadrunning.
Am 20. September 2006 gab Knopfler ein Benefiz-Konzert in der amerikanischen Stadt Boothbay im Bundesstaat Maine für die Rettung des alten Opernhauses am Boothbay Harbor. Er spielte mit Guy Fletcher (Keyboards und Gitarre), Richard Bennett (Gitarre) und Glenn Worf (Bass) ohne Schlagzeuger. Dafür waren in dem knapp zwei Stunden langen Auftritt Titel von seinen Soloalben dabei, die Knopfler bis dahin nicht live gespielt hatte. Am 29. Mai 2007 wurde eine Neuaufnahme der Dire Straits Ballade Brothers in Arms veröffentlicht, die daran erinnern sollte, dass sich 2007 der Falklandkrieg zum 25. Mal jährte. Die Einnahmen unterstützten bedürftige Veteranen des Krieges. Knopfler nahm diese neue Version in den legendären Abbey Road Studios in London in einer „One-Take-Session“ auf.[10]
Im Winter 2006/2007 und Frühling 2007 arbeitete Mark Knopfler mit Guy Fletcher, Glenn Worf und Danny Cummings in London an seinem Soloalbum Kill to Get Crimson, das im September 2007 veröffentlicht wurde. Es ist ein ruhiges Album, das viele Texte mit Handlungen oder historischem Hintergrund präsentiert. Der Titelsong Let It All Go mit der Textzeile „kill to get crimson“ handelt beispielsweise von einem Maler, der Menschen töten will, um an die Farbe Purpur zu kommen. Auf dem Album sind unter anderem Akkordeon, Violine und Flöte zu hören. Auch Saxophonist Chris White war erneut mit von der Partie und ist bei dem Song In the Sky zu hören. Anschließend begab sich Knopfler auf Promotion-Tour für das neue Album. Bemerkenswert dabei war, dass er mit seiner Band nicht wie früher nur kurze Auftritte, sondern in kleinen Konzerthallen sogenannte „Showcases“ spielte und etwa eine Stunde Programm lieferte.
Die Tournee zum Album Kill to Get Crimson startete Ende März 2008 in Amsterdam. Die Setlist enthielt vom Album nur die Titel True Love Will Never Fade und The Fish and the Bird.
Im Winter 2008/2009 begab sich Mark Knopfler erneut ins Studio, um mit dem Team, mit dem er bereits Kill to Get Crimson eingespielt hatte, ein neues Album aufzunehmen. Es erschien im September 2009 unter dem Namen Get Lucky. Die anschließende Get Lucky Tour führte durch Nordamerika (28 Konzerte) und durch Europa (59 Konzerte). Sie startete am 8. April 2010 in Seattle (USA) und endete am 31. Juli 2010 in Gredos (Spanien).
Am 6. Oktober 2011 begann Mark Knopfler in Dublin mit Bob Dylan eine gemeinsame Europatournee. Beide Musiker spielten mit ihrer Band jeweils ihre eigenen Konzerte nacheinander. Je weiter die Tour fortschritt, umso mehr arbeitete Knopfler sich in das Programm von Dylan ein, so dass Knopfler als Höhepunkt des Abends gemeinsam mit Dylan auf der Bühne stand und einige von Dylans Songs auf der Gitarre begleitete.
Am 31. August 2012 wurde das Doppel-CD Privateering, veröffentlicht.[11] Die begleitende Europa-Tournee begann am 25. April 2013 in Bukarest und endete am 31. Juli 2013 im spanischen Calella de Palafrugell. Im Oktober 2013 folgten vier Konzerte in den USA.[12][13]
Das achte Soloalbum, Tracker, erschien am 16. März 2015. In Dublin, Irland, startete am 15. Mai 2015 die Promotiontour mit 85 Konzerten in Europa und Nordamerika.[14]
Musikalische Einflüsse und Stil
Knopfler ist Linkshänder, spielt seine Gitarre aber wie Paul Simon mit rechts.[15]
Musikalisch wurde Knopfler in seiner Jugend, wie er im Oktober 2004 in einem Interview mit dem österreichischen Radiosender Ö3 erzählte, stark von dem Gitarristen der Band The Shadows, Hank Marvin, beeinflusst. Da dieser eine rote Fender Stratocaster spielte, musste Knopflers erste Gitarre auch rot sein. Der Vergleich der Gitarre bei dem Song Atlantis von den Shadows mit den Stücken Our Shangri-La und Everybody Pays auf Knopflers Album Shangri-La zeigt, wie sehr ihn Marvins Sound inspiriert hat. Der US-amerikanische Musiker J. J. Cale zählt ebenfalls zu seinen Einflussquellen. Zu seinen Lieblingsmusikern gehören aber auch Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix, Gillian Welch und Van Morrison.
Charakteristisch, neben seiner rauchigen Stimme, ist seine Art Gitarrenspiel, bei dem die Saiten der E-Gitarre mit den Fingern angeschlagen oder gezupft werden. Mark Knopfler zählt zu einer Minderheit von E-Gitarristen, die (fast) ohne Plektrum spielen. Für „Notfälle“ hat er, wie er sagt, ein Plektrum dabei, das er dann für ein sogenanntes Hybridpicking einsetzt. Ein charakteristisches Merkmal seiner Gitarrensoli ist das bewusste „Stolpern auf dem Griffbrett“ – ein sehr schnelles und kontrolliertes, stark asynkopisches Versetzen einzelner Töne innerhalb der Melodie, ohne dabei aus dem Takt zu geraten. Ein weiteres Merkmal ist, beim Anschlag der Saite den Lautstärkeknopf aufzudrehen.
Für gewöhnlich spielt Knopfler eine Fender Stratocaster. Fender widmete ihm ein eigenes rotes Signature-Modell names „Hot Rod Red“.[16] Daneben spielt Knopfler auch andere Gitarren wie Gibson Les Paul, National Style O, Schecter, Gretsch oder Rickenbacker, auf der Shangri-La-Tournee 2005 auch Instrumente von Danelectro und Silvertone. Eine seiner bevorzugten Live-Gitarren ist die MK-II aus dem Hause Pensa. Die „zweitliebste Gitarre“ eine 1937 National Style “O” guitar, die er etwa für das Stück „Romeo and Juliet“ verwendete.[17]
Der typische Knopfler-Sound setzt sich aus filigranem Fingerpicking (ohne Plektrum) und einem besonders reinen scharfen Ton zusammen; dafür verantwortlich zeichnet oft Knopflers Stratocaster-Gitarre, die mit drei Fender-Single-Coil-Tonabnehmern vom Typ Texas Special und einem Fünf-Weg-Tonabnehmerwahlschalter ausgestattet ist.
Mark Freuder Knopfler, OBE (born 12 August 1949) is a British singer, songwriter, guitarist, record producer and film score composer. He is best known as the lead guitarist, lead singer and songwriter for the rock band Dire Straits, which he co-founded with his younger brother, David Knopfler, in 1977.
Since Dire Straits disbanded in 1995, Knopfler has recorded and produced eight solo albums, and, as with his previous band, produced many hit songs.[1] He has composed and produced film scores for nine films, including Local Hero (1983), Cal (1984), The Princess Bride (1987), Wag the Dog (1997) and Altamira (2016).[2]
In addition to his work with Dire Straits and as a solo artist and composer, Knopfler has recorded and performed with many prominent musicians, including B.B.King, Chet Atkins, Chris Botti, John Anderson, the Chieftains, Eric Clapton, Bob Dylan, Elton John, Bryan Ferry, George Jones, Emmylou Harris, Jools Holland, Sonny Landreth, Phil Lynott, Van Morrison, Steely Dan, Sting, and James Taylor, sometimes working as a session musician. He has produced albums for Tina Turner, Bob Dylan, and Randy Newman.
Knopfler is a fingerstyle guitarist and was ranked 27th on Rolling Stone magazine's list of 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time.[3] Knopfler and Dire Straits have sold in excess of 120 million albums to date.[4][5] A four-time Grammy Award winner, Knopfler is the recipient of the Edison Award, the Steiger Award and the Ivor Novello Award, as well as holding three honorary doctorate degrees in music from universities in the United Kingdom.[6][7]
Early life (1949–1976)
Mark Freuder Knopfler was born on 12 August 1949 in Glasgow, Scotland, to an English mother, Louisa Mary, and a Hungarian-Jewish father, Erwin Knopfler.[8][9][10][11] His mother was a teacher and his father was an architect and a chess player whose anti-fascist sympathies and Jewish parentage[12] forced him to flee from his native Hungary in 1939. Knopfler later described his father as a Marxist agnostic.[13]
The Knopflers originally lived in the Glasgow area and Mark Knopfler's younger brother David was also born there, on 27 December 1952. The family re-settled in Knopfler's mother's home town of Blyth, Northumberland, in North East England when he was seven years old. Mark had attended Bearsden Primary school in Scotland for two years, but both brothers attended Gosforth Grammar School.
Inspired by his uncle Kingsley's harmonica and boogie-woogie piano playing, Mark wanted to buy an expensive Fiesta Red Fender Stratocaster just like Hank Marvin's, but had to settle for a £50 twin-pick-up Höfner Super Solid.[14]
During the 1960s, he formed and joined schoolboy bands and listened to singers like Elvis Presley and guitarists Chet Atkins, Scotty Moore, B.B King, Django Reinhardt, Hank Marvin, and James Burton. At 16, he made a local television appearance as part of a harmony duo, with his classmate Sue Hercombe.[14]
In 1968, after studying journalism for a year at Harlow College,[14][15] Knopfler was hired as a junior reporter in Leeds for the Yorkshire Evening Post.[16] Two years later, he decided to further his studies, and went on to graduate with a degree in English at the University of Leeds.[17] In April 1970, while living in Leeds, Knopfler recorded a demo disk of an original song he had written, "Summer's Coming My Way". The recording included Knopfler (guitar and vocals), Steve Phillips (second guitar), Dave Johnson (bass), and Paul Granger (percussion). Johnson, Granger, and vocalist Mick Dewhirst played with Knopfler in a band called Silverheels.
On graduation in 1973, Knopfler moved to London and joined a High Wycombe-based band called Brewers Droop, appearing on the album The Booze Brothers. One night, while spending time with friends, the only guitar available was an old acoustic with a badly warped neck that had been strung with extra-light strings to make it playable. Even so, he found it impossible to play unless he finger-picked it. He said in a later interview, "That was where I found my 'voice' on guitar." After a brief stint with Brewers Droop, Knopfler took a job as a lecturer at Loughton College in Essex — a position he held for three years. Throughout this time, he continued performing with local pub bands, including the Café Racers.[18] He also formed a duo with long-time associate bluesman Steve Phillips called The Duolian String Pickers.[19]
By the mid-1970s, Knopfler devoted much of his musical energies to his group, the Café Racers. His brother David moved to London, where he shared a flat with John Illsley, a guitarist who changed over to playing bass guitar. In April 1977, Mark gave up his flat in Buckhurst Hill and moved in with David and John. The three began playing music together, and soon Mark invited John to join the Café Racers.[20]
Dire Straits (1977–1995)
Dire Straits' first demos were done in three sessions during 1977, with Pick Withers as drummer, David Knopfler as rhythm guitarist, and John Illsley on bass guitar. On 27 July 1977 they recorded the now famous demo tapes of five songs: "Wild West End," "Sultans of Swing," "Down to the Waterline," "Sacred Loving" (a David Knopfler song), and "Water of Love." They later recorded "Southbound Again," "In the Gallery," and "Six Blade Knife" for BBC Radio London—and, finally, on 9 November, made demo tapes of "Setting Me Up," "Eastbound Train," and "Real Girl." Many of these songs reflect Knopfler's experiences in Newcastle, Leeds, and London, and were featured on their first album, the eponymous Dire Straits, which was released in the following year: "Down to the Waterline" recalled images of life in Newcastle; "In The Gallery" is a tribute to a Leeds sculptor and artist named Harry Phillips (father of Steve Phillips); and "Lions," "Wild West End," and "Eastbound Train" were all drawn from Knopfler's early days in the capital. On its initial release, Dire Straits received little fanfare in the UK, but when "Sultans of Swing" was released as a single, it became a chart hit in the Netherlands and album sales took off — first across Europe, and then in the United States and Canada, and finally the UK. The group's second album, Communiqué, produced by Jerry Wexler and Barry Beckett, followed in 1979, reaching number one in France while the first album was still at number three.
There were frequent personnel changes within Dire Straits after the release of their third album, Making Movies, with Mark Knopfler remaining a constant member. Released in 1980, Making Movies moved towards more complex arrangements and production, which continued for the remainder of the group's career. The album included many of Mark Knopfler's most personal compositions, most notably "Romeo and Juliet" and "Tunnel of Love."
The studio album which followed was Love Over Gold, released in 1982. This featured the tracks "Private Investigations," "Telegraph Road," "Industrial Disease," "It Never Rains," and the title track to the same album.
With Love Over Gold still in the albums charts, the band released a four-song EP titled ExtendedancEPlay in early 1983. Featuring the hit single "Twisting by the Pool", this was the first output by the band that featured new drummer Terry Williams, (formerly of Rockpile), who had replaced Pick Withers in November 1982. An eight-month-long world tour followed, which finished in July 1983 with two sold out concerts at London's Hammersmith Odeon, and in March 1984 the double album Alchemy Live was released, which documented the recordings of these final two live shows. It was also released in VHS video and reached number three in the UK Albums Chart.
During 1983 and 1984, Knopfler was involved with other projects as well, including writing and producing the music score to the film Local Hero, which was a great success,[21] and it was followed in 1984 by his scores for the films Cal and Comfort and Joy. Also during this time Knopfler produced Bob Dylan's Infidels album, as well as Knife by Aztec Camera. He also wrote the song "Private Dancer" for Tina Turner's comeback album of the same name.
Knopfler performing in Dublin, 1981
Dire Straits' biggest studio album by far was their fifth, Brothers in Arms, recorded at Air Studios Montserrat and released in May 1985. It became an international blockbuster that has now sold more than 30 million copies worldwide, and is the fourth best selling album in UK chart history.[22][23] Brothers in Arms spawned several chart singles including the US # 1 hit "Money for Nothing", which was the first video played on MTV in Britain. It was also the first compact disc to sell a million copies and is largely credited for launching the CD format as it was also one of the first DDD[24] CDs ever released. Other successful singles were "So Far Away", "Walk of Life", and the album's title track. The band's 1985–86 world tour of over 230[14] shows was immensely successful.
After the Brothers in Arms tour Dire Straits ceased to work together for some time, Knopfler concentrating mainly on film soundtracks. Knopfler joined the charity ensemble Ferry Aid on "Let It Be" in the wake of the Zeebrugge ferry disaster. The song reached No. 1 on the UK singles chart in March 1987. Knopfler wrote the music score for the film The Princess Bride, released at the end of 1987.
Mark Knopfler also took part in a comedy skit (featured on the French and Saunders Show) titled The Easy Guitar Book Sketch with comedian Rowland Rivron and fellow British musicians David Gilmour, Lemmy from Motörhead, Mark King from Level 42, and Gary Moore. Phil Taylor explained in an interview that Knopfler used Gilmour's guitar rig and managed to sound like himself when performing in the skit.[25]
Dire Straits regrouped for 11 June 1988 Nelson Mandela 70th Birthday Tribute concert at Wembley Stadium, in which they were the headline act, and were accompanied by Elton John and Eric Clapton,[26] who by this time had developed a strong friendship with Knopfler. Shortly after this, drummer Terry Williams left the band. In September 1988 Mark Knopfler announced the official dissolution of Dire Straits, saying that he "needed a rest".[27] In October 1988, a compilation album, Money for Nothing, was released and reached number one in the United Kingdom.[28]
In 1989, Knopfler formed the Notting Hillbillies,[14] a band at the other end of the commercial spectrum. It leaned heavily towards American roots music – folk, blues and country music. The band members included keyboardist Guy Fletcher, with Brendan Croker and Steve Phillips. For both the album and the tour Paul Franklin was added to the line-up on pedal steel. The Notting Hillbillies sole studio album, Missing...Presumed Having a Good Time was released in 1990, and Knopfler then toured with the Notting Hillbillies for the remainder of that year. He further emphasised his country music influences with his 1990s collaboration with Chet Atkins, Neck and Neck, which won three Grammy awards. The Hillbillies toured the UK in early 1990 with a limited number of shows. In this low-key tour the band packed out smaller venues such as Newcastle University.
Knopfler with Dire Straits performing in Belgrade, 10 May 1985
In 1990, Knopfler, John Illsley, and Alan Clark performed as Dire Straits at Knebworth, joined by Eric Clapton, Ray Cooper, and guitarist Phil Palmer (who was at that time part of Eric Clapton's touring band), and in January the following year, Knopfler, John Illsley and manager Ed Bicknell decided to reform Dire Straits. Knopfler, Illsley, Alan Clark, and Guy Fletcher set about recording what turned out to be their final studio album accompanied by several part-time sidemen, including Phil Palmer, pedal steel guitarist Paul Franklin, percussionist Danny Cummings and Toto drummer Jeff Porcaro.
The follow-up to Brothers in Arms was finally released in September 1991. On Every Street was nowhere near as popular as its predecessor, and met with a mixed critical reaction, with some reviewers regarding the album as an underwhelming comeback after a six-year break. Nonetheless, the album sold well and reached No. 1 in the UK. A gruelling world tour to accompany the album followed, which lasted until the end of 1992. This was to be Dire Straits' final world tour; it was not as well received as the previous Brothers in Arms tour, and by this time Mark Knopfler had had enough of such huge operations. This drove the band into the ground, and ultimately led to the group's final dissolution in 1995.[29]
Following the tour, Knopfler took some time off from the music business. In 1993, he received an honorary music doctorate from the University of Newcastle upon Tyne.[30] Two more Dire Straits albums were released, both live albums. On the Night, released in May 1993, documented Dire Straits' final world tour. In 1995, following the release of Live at the BBC (a contractual release to Vertigo Records), Mark Knopfler quietly dissolved Dire Straits and launched his career as a solo artist.
Since the break-up of Dire Straits, Knopfler has shown no interest in reforming the group. However, keyboardist Guy Fletcher has been associated with almost every piece of Knopfler's solo material to date, while Danny Cummings has also contributed frequently, playing on three of Knopfler's most recent solo album releases All the Roadrunning (with Emmylou Harris), Kill to Get Crimson, and Get Lucky. In October 2008 Knopfler declined a suggestion by John Illsley that the band should reform. Illsley said that a reunion would be "entirely up to Mark"; however, he also observed that Knopfler was enjoying his success as a solo artist.[31] When asked about a possible reunion, Knopfler responded, "Oh, I don't know whether to start getting all that stuff back together again", and that the global fame Dire Straits achieved in the 1980s "just got too big".[31]
Solo career (since 1996)
Mark Knopfler's first solo album, Golden Heart, was released in March 1996. It featured the UK single "Darling Pretty". The album's recording sessions helped create Knopfler's backing band, which is also known as The 96ers. It features Knopfler's old bandmate Guy Fletcher on keyboards. This band's main line-up has lasted much longer than any Dire Straits line-up. Also in 1996, Knopfler recorded guitar for Ted Christopher's Dunblane massacre tribute cover, Knocking on Heaven's Door.
In 1997, Knopfler recorded the soundtrack for the movie Wag the Dog. During that same year Rolling Stone magazine listed Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame's 500 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll, which included Sultans of Swing, Dire Straits' first hit. 2000 saw the release of Knopfler's next solo album, Sailing to Philadelphia. This has been his most successful to date, possibly helped by the number of collaborators to the album like Van Morrison. On 15 September 1997, Knopfler appeared at the Music for Montserrat concert at the Royal Albert Hall, London, performing alongside artists such as Sting, Phil Collins, Elton John, Eric Clapton and Paul McCartney.[32]
In 2002, Knopfler gave four charity concerts with former Dire Straits members John Illsley, Chris White, Danny Cummings and Guy Fletcher, playing old material from the Dire Straits years. The concerts also featured The Notting Hillbillies with Brendan Croker and Steve Phillips. At these four concerts (three of the four were at the Shepherd's Bush, the fourth at Beaulieu on the south coast) they were joined by Jimmy Nail, who provided backing vocals for Knopfler's 2002 composition Why Aye Man.
Also in 2002, Knopfler released his third solo album, The Ragpicker's Dream. However, in March 2003 he was involved in a motorbike crash in Grosvenor Road, Belgravia and suffered a broken collarbone, broken shoulder blade and seven broken ribs.[33] The planned Ragpicker's Dream tour was subsequently cancelled, but Knopfler recovered and returned to the stage in 2004 for his fourth album, Shangri-La.
Shangri-La was recorded at the Shangri-La Studio in Malibu, California, in 2004, where the Band had made recordings years before for their documentary/movie, The Last Waltz. In the promo for Shangri-La on his official website, he said his current line-up of Glenn Worf (bass), Guy Fletcher (keyboards), Chad Cromwell (drums), Richard Bennett (guitar), and Matt Rollings (piano) "...play Dire Straits songs better than Dire Straits did." The Shangri-La tour took Knopfler to countries such as India and the United Arab Emirates for the first time. In India, his concerts at Mumbai and Bangalore were well received, with over 20,000 fans at each concert.
In November 2005 a compilation, Private Investigations: The Best of Dire Straits & Mark Knopfler was released, consisting of material from most of Dire Straits' studio albums and Knopfler's solo and soundtrack material. The album was released in two editions, as a single CD (with a grey cover) and as a double CD (with the cover in blue), and was well received. The only previously unreleased track on the album is All the Roadrunning, a duet with country music singer Emmylou Harris, which was followed in 2006 by an album of duets of the same name.
Released in April 2006, All the Roadrunning reached No. 1 in Denmark and Switzerland, No. 2 in Norway and Sweden, No. 3 in Germany, The Netherlands and Italy, No. 8 in Austria and UK, No. 9 in Spain, No. 17 in the United States (Billboard Top 200 Chart), No. 25 in Ireland, and No. 41 in Australia. All the Roadrunning was nominated for "Best Folk Rock/Americana Album" at the 49th Grammy Awards (11 February 2007) but lost out to Bob Dylan's nomination for Modern Times.
Joined by Emmylou Harris, Knopfler supported All the Roadrunning with a limited—15 concerts in Europe, 1 in Canada, and 8 in the United States—but highly successful tour of Europe and North America. Selections from the duo's performance of 28 June at the Gibson Amphitheatre, Universal City, California, were released as a DVD entitled Real Live Roadrunning on 14 November 2006. In addition to several of the compositions that Harris and Knopfler recorded together in the studio, Real Live Roadrunning features solo hits from both members of the duo, as well as three tracks from Knopfler's days with Dire Straits.
A charity event in 2007 went wrong: a Fender Stratocaster guitar signed by Knopfler, Clapton, Brian May, and Jimmy Page, which was to be auctioned for £20,000 to raise the money for a children's hospice, was lost when being shipped. It "...vanished after being posted from London to Leicestershire, England." Parcelforce, the company responsible, agreed to pay US$30,000 for its loss.[34]
Knopfler released his fifth solo studio-album Kill to Get Crimson on 14 September 2007 in Germany, 17 September in the UK and 18 September in the United States. During the autumn of 2007 he played a series of intimate 'showcases' in various European cities to promote the album. A tour of Europe and North America followed in 2008.
Continuing a pattern of high productivity through his solo career, Knopfler began work on his next studio album, entitled Get Lucky, in September 2008 with long-time band mate Guy Fletcher, who again compiled a pictorial diary of the making of the album on his website.[35] The album was released on 14 September the following year and Knopfler subsequently undertook an extensive tour across Europe and America. The album met with moderate success on the charts (much of it in Europe) reaching No. 1 only in Norway but peaking in the Top 5 in most major European countries (Germany, Italy, The Netherlands). The album peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard European Album chart and at No. 5 on the Billboard Rock Album chart.[36]
Knopfler performing in Zwolle, Netherlands, 2013
Knopfler's solo live performances can be characterised as relaxed—almost workmanlike. He uses very little stage production, other than some lighting effects to enhance the music's dynamics. He has been known to sip tea on stage during live performances. Richard Bennett, who has been playing with him on tour since 1996, has also joined in drinking tea with him on stage. On 31 July 2005, at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre in Vancouver, BC, the tea was replaced with whisky as a "last show of tour" sort of joke.[37]
In February 2009, Knopfler gave an intimate solo concert at the Garrick Club in London. Knopfler had recently become a member of the exclusive gentlemen's club for men of letters.[38]
In 2010, Knopfler appeared on the newest Thomas Dolby release, the EP Amerikana. Knopfler performed on the track 17 Hills.[39]
In February 2011, Knopfler began work on his next solo album, Privateering, once again working with Guy Fletcher.
In July 2011, it was announced that Knopfler would take time out from recording his new album to take part in a European tour with Bob Dylan during October and November.[40] The next year Knopfler covered a Bob Dylan song, "Restless Farewell", for an Amnesty International 50th Anniversary celebration record.[41]
On 3 September 2012, Knopfler's seventh solo album, Privateering, was released.[42] This was Knopfler's first double album solo release and contained 20 new songs. After a further tour with Bob Dylan in the US during October and November,[43] the Privateering tour of Europe followed in Spring/Summer 2013.[44] A short run of five shows were played in the US that Autumn.[45]
Knopfler began work on another studio album in September 2013, again at his British Grove Studios in London with Guy Fletcher co-producing.[46] On 16 September 2014, it was announced that this new album would be entitled Tracker, and that it would see a release in early 2015. European tour dates were also announced for Spring/Summer 2015.[47]
Country music
Knopfler performing in Chicago with Emmylou Harris, 2006
In addition to his work in Dire Straits and solo, Mark Knopfler has made several contributions to country music. In 1988 he formed country-focused band the Notting Hillbillies,[14] with Guy Fletcher, Brendan Croker and Steve Phillips. The Notting Hillbillies sole studio album, Missing...Presumed Having a Good Time was released in 1990 and featured the minor hit single "Your Own Sweet Way". Knopfler further emphasised his country music influences with his collaboration with Chet Atkins, Neck and Neck, which was also released in 1990. "Poor Boy Blues", taken from that collaboration, peaked at No. 92.
Knopfler's other contributions include writing and playing guitar on John Anderson's 1992 single "When It Comes to You" (from his album Seminole Wind). In 1993 Mary Chapin Carpenter also released a cover of the Dire Straits song The Bug. Randy Travis released another of Knopfler's songs, "Are We in Trouble Now", in 1996. In that same year, Knopfler's solo single "Darling Pretty" reached a peak of No. 87.
Knopfler collaborated with George Jones on the 1994 The Bradley Barn Sessions album, performing guitar duties on the classic J.P. Richardson composition "White Lightnin'".
Knopfler is featured on Kris Kristofferson's album The Austin Sessions, (on the track "Please Don't Tell Me How The Story Ends") released in 1999 by Atlantic Records.
In 2006, Knopfler and Emmylou Harris made a country album together titled All the Roadrunning, followed by a live CD-DVD titled Real Live Roadrunning. Knopfler also charted two singles on the Canadian country music singles chart.
Again in 2006, Knopfler contributed the song "Whoop De Doo" to Jimmy Buffett's Gulf and Western style album Take the Weather with You. In 2013, he wrote and played guitar on the song "Oldest Surfer on the Beach" to Buffett's album Songs From St. Somewhere.
Personal life
Mark Knopfler has been married three times, first to Kathy White, his long-time girlfriend from school days. They separated before Knopfler moved to London to join Brewers Droop in 1973.[14] In November 1983, Knopfler married Lourdes Salomone. Their marriage produced twin sons, Benji and Joseph (born 1987), both of whom are aspiring musicians, according to Knopfler.[26] His marriage to Salomone ended in 1993.[29] On Valentine's Day 1997 in Barbados, Knopfler married British actress and writer Kitty Aldridge, whom he had known for three years.[48] They have two daughters.[14]
Knopfler has a collection of classic cars which he races and exhibits at shows, including a Maserati 300S and an Austin-Healey 100S.[49][50] Knopfler is left-handed, but plays the guitar right-handed.
Since Dire Straits disbanded in 1995, Knopfler has recorded and produced eight solo albums, and, as with his previous band, produced many hit songs.[1] He has composed and produced film scores for nine films, including Local Hero (1983), Cal (1984), The Princess Bride (1987), Wag the Dog (1997) and Altamira (2016).[2]
In addition to his work with Dire Straits and as a solo artist and composer, Knopfler has recorded and performed with many prominent musicians, including B.B.King, Chet Atkins, Chris Botti, John Anderson, the Chieftains, Eric Clapton, Bob Dylan, Elton John, Bryan Ferry, George Jones, Emmylou Harris, Jools Holland, Sonny Landreth, Phil Lynott, Van Morrison, Steely Dan, Sting, and James Taylor, sometimes working as a session musician. He has produced albums for Tina Turner, Bob Dylan, and Randy Newman.
Knopfler is a fingerstyle guitarist and was ranked 27th on Rolling Stone magazine's list of 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time.[3] Knopfler and Dire Straits have sold in excess of 120 million albums to date.[4][5] A four-time Grammy Award winner, Knopfler is the recipient of the Edison Award, the Steiger Award and the Ivor Novello Award, as well as holding three honorary doctorate degrees in music from universities in the United Kingdom.[6][7]
Early life (1949–1976)
Mark Freuder Knopfler was born on 12 August 1949 in Glasgow, Scotland, to an English mother, Louisa Mary, and a Hungarian-Jewish father, Erwin Knopfler.[8][9][10][11] His mother was a teacher and his father was an architect and a chess player whose anti-fascist sympathies and Jewish parentage[12] forced him to flee from his native Hungary in 1939. Knopfler later described his father as a Marxist agnostic.[13]
The Knopflers originally lived in the Glasgow area and Mark Knopfler's younger brother David was also born there, on 27 December 1952. The family re-settled in Knopfler's mother's home town of Blyth, Northumberland, in North East England when he was seven years old. Mark had attended Bearsden Primary school in Scotland for two years, but both brothers attended Gosforth Grammar School.
Inspired by his uncle Kingsley's harmonica and boogie-woogie piano playing, Mark wanted to buy an expensive Fiesta Red Fender Stratocaster just like Hank Marvin's, but had to settle for a £50 twin-pick-up Höfner Super Solid.[14]
During the 1960s, he formed and joined schoolboy bands and listened to singers like Elvis Presley and guitarists Chet Atkins, Scotty Moore, B.B King, Django Reinhardt, Hank Marvin, and James Burton. At 16, he made a local television appearance as part of a harmony duo, with his classmate Sue Hercombe.[14]
In 1968, after studying journalism for a year at Harlow College,[14][15] Knopfler was hired as a junior reporter in Leeds for the Yorkshire Evening Post.[16] Two years later, he decided to further his studies, and went on to graduate with a degree in English at the University of Leeds.[17] In April 1970, while living in Leeds, Knopfler recorded a demo disk of an original song he had written, "Summer's Coming My Way". The recording included Knopfler (guitar and vocals), Steve Phillips (second guitar), Dave Johnson (bass), and Paul Granger (percussion). Johnson, Granger, and vocalist Mick Dewhirst played with Knopfler in a band called Silverheels.
On graduation in 1973, Knopfler moved to London and joined a High Wycombe-based band called Brewers Droop, appearing on the album The Booze Brothers. One night, while spending time with friends, the only guitar available was an old acoustic with a badly warped neck that had been strung with extra-light strings to make it playable. Even so, he found it impossible to play unless he finger-picked it. He said in a later interview, "That was where I found my 'voice' on guitar." After a brief stint with Brewers Droop, Knopfler took a job as a lecturer at Loughton College in Essex — a position he held for three years. Throughout this time, he continued performing with local pub bands, including the Café Racers.[18] He also formed a duo with long-time associate bluesman Steve Phillips called The Duolian String Pickers.[19]
By the mid-1970s, Knopfler devoted much of his musical energies to his group, the Café Racers. His brother David moved to London, where he shared a flat with John Illsley, a guitarist who changed over to playing bass guitar. In April 1977, Mark gave up his flat in Buckhurst Hill and moved in with David and John. The three began playing music together, and soon Mark invited John to join the Café Racers.[20]
Dire Straits (1977–1995)
Dire Straits' first demos were done in three sessions during 1977, with Pick Withers as drummer, David Knopfler as rhythm guitarist, and John Illsley on bass guitar. On 27 July 1977 they recorded the now famous demo tapes of five songs: "Wild West End," "Sultans of Swing," "Down to the Waterline," "Sacred Loving" (a David Knopfler song), and "Water of Love." They later recorded "Southbound Again," "In the Gallery," and "Six Blade Knife" for BBC Radio London—and, finally, on 9 November, made demo tapes of "Setting Me Up," "Eastbound Train," and "Real Girl." Many of these songs reflect Knopfler's experiences in Newcastle, Leeds, and London, and were featured on their first album, the eponymous Dire Straits, which was released in the following year: "Down to the Waterline" recalled images of life in Newcastle; "In The Gallery" is a tribute to a Leeds sculptor and artist named Harry Phillips (father of Steve Phillips); and "Lions," "Wild West End," and "Eastbound Train" were all drawn from Knopfler's early days in the capital. On its initial release, Dire Straits received little fanfare in the UK, but when "Sultans of Swing" was released as a single, it became a chart hit in the Netherlands and album sales took off — first across Europe, and then in the United States and Canada, and finally the UK. The group's second album, Communiqué, produced by Jerry Wexler and Barry Beckett, followed in 1979, reaching number one in France while the first album was still at number three.
There were frequent personnel changes within Dire Straits after the release of their third album, Making Movies, with Mark Knopfler remaining a constant member. Released in 1980, Making Movies moved towards more complex arrangements and production, which continued for the remainder of the group's career. The album included many of Mark Knopfler's most personal compositions, most notably "Romeo and Juliet" and "Tunnel of Love."
The studio album which followed was Love Over Gold, released in 1982. This featured the tracks "Private Investigations," "Telegraph Road," "Industrial Disease," "It Never Rains," and the title track to the same album.
With Love Over Gold still in the albums charts, the band released a four-song EP titled ExtendedancEPlay in early 1983. Featuring the hit single "Twisting by the Pool", this was the first output by the band that featured new drummer Terry Williams, (formerly of Rockpile), who had replaced Pick Withers in November 1982. An eight-month-long world tour followed, which finished in July 1983 with two sold out concerts at London's Hammersmith Odeon, and in March 1984 the double album Alchemy Live was released, which documented the recordings of these final two live shows. It was also released in VHS video and reached number three in the UK Albums Chart.
During 1983 and 1984, Knopfler was involved with other projects as well, including writing and producing the music score to the film Local Hero, which was a great success,[21] and it was followed in 1984 by his scores for the films Cal and Comfort and Joy. Also during this time Knopfler produced Bob Dylan's Infidels album, as well as Knife by Aztec Camera. He also wrote the song "Private Dancer" for Tina Turner's comeback album of the same name.
Knopfler performing in Dublin, 1981
Dire Straits' biggest studio album by far was their fifth, Brothers in Arms, recorded at Air Studios Montserrat and released in May 1985. It became an international blockbuster that has now sold more than 30 million copies worldwide, and is the fourth best selling album in UK chart history.[22][23] Brothers in Arms spawned several chart singles including the US # 1 hit "Money for Nothing", which was the first video played on MTV in Britain. It was also the first compact disc to sell a million copies and is largely credited for launching the CD format as it was also one of the first DDD[24] CDs ever released. Other successful singles were "So Far Away", "Walk of Life", and the album's title track. The band's 1985–86 world tour of over 230[14] shows was immensely successful.
After the Brothers in Arms tour Dire Straits ceased to work together for some time, Knopfler concentrating mainly on film soundtracks. Knopfler joined the charity ensemble Ferry Aid on "Let It Be" in the wake of the Zeebrugge ferry disaster. The song reached No. 1 on the UK singles chart in March 1987. Knopfler wrote the music score for the film The Princess Bride, released at the end of 1987.
Mark Knopfler also took part in a comedy skit (featured on the French and Saunders Show) titled The Easy Guitar Book Sketch with comedian Rowland Rivron and fellow British musicians David Gilmour, Lemmy from Motörhead, Mark King from Level 42, and Gary Moore. Phil Taylor explained in an interview that Knopfler used Gilmour's guitar rig and managed to sound like himself when performing in the skit.[25]
Dire Straits regrouped for 11 June 1988 Nelson Mandela 70th Birthday Tribute concert at Wembley Stadium, in which they were the headline act, and were accompanied by Elton John and Eric Clapton,[26] who by this time had developed a strong friendship with Knopfler. Shortly after this, drummer Terry Williams left the band. In September 1988 Mark Knopfler announced the official dissolution of Dire Straits, saying that he "needed a rest".[27] In October 1988, a compilation album, Money for Nothing, was released and reached number one in the United Kingdom.[28]
In 1989, Knopfler formed the Notting Hillbillies,[14] a band at the other end of the commercial spectrum. It leaned heavily towards American roots music – folk, blues and country music. The band members included keyboardist Guy Fletcher, with Brendan Croker and Steve Phillips. For both the album and the tour Paul Franklin was added to the line-up on pedal steel. The Notting Hillbillies sole studio album, Missing...Presumed Having a Good Time was released in 1990, and Knopfler then toured with the Notting Hillbillies for the remainder of that year. He further emphasised his country music influences with his 1990s collaboration with Chet Atkins, Neck and Neck, which won three Grammy awards. The Hillbillies toured the UK in early 1990 with a limited number of shows. In this low-key tour the band packed out smaller venues such as Newcastle University.
Knopfler with Dire Straits performing in Belgrade, 10 May 1985
In 1990, Knopfler, John Illsley, and Alan Clark performed as Dire Straits at Knebworth, joined by Eric Clapton, Ray Cooper, and guitarist Phil Palmer (who was at that time part of Eric Clapton's touring band), and in January the following year, Knopfler, John Illsley and manager Ed Bicknell decided to reform Dire Straits. Knopfler, Illsley, Alan Clark, and Guy Fletcher set about recording what turned out to be their final studio album accompanied by several part-time sidemen, including Phil Palmer, pedal steel guitarist Paul Franklin, percussionist Danny Cummings and Toto drummer Jeff Porcaro.
The follow-up to Brothers in Arms was finally released in September 1991. On Every Street was nowhere near as popular as its predecessor, and met with a mixed critical reaction, with some reviewers regarding the album as an underwhelming comeback after a six-year break. Nonetheless, the album sold well and reached No. 1 in the UK. A gruelling world tour to accompany the album followed, which lasted until the end of 1992. This was to be Dire Straits' final world tour; it was not as well received as the previous Brothers in Arms tour, and by this time Mark Knopfler had had enough of such huge operations. This drove the band into the ground, and ultimately led to the group's final dissolution in 1995.[29]
Following the tour, Knopfler took some time off from the music business. In 1993, he received an honorary music doctorate from the University of Newcastle upon Tyne.[30] Two more Dire Straits albums were released, both live albums. On the Night, released in May 1993, documented Dire Straits' final world tour. In 1995, following the release of Live at the BBC (a contractual release to Vertigo Records), Mark Knopfler quietly dissolved Dire Straits and launched his career as a solo artist.
Since the break-up of Dire Straits, Knopfler has shown no interest in reforming the group. However, keyboardist Guy Fletcher has been associated with almost every piece of Knopfler's solo material to date, while Danny Cummings has also contributed frequently, playing on three of Knopfler's most recent solo album releases All the Roadrunning (with Emmylou Harris), Kill to Get Crimson, and Get Lucky. In October 2008 Knopfler declined a suggestion by John Illsley that the band should reform. Illsley said that a reunion would be "entirely up to Mark"; however, he also observed that Knopfler was enjoying his success as a solo artist.[31] When asked about a possible reunion, Knopfler responded, "Oh, I don't know whether to start getting all that stuff back together again", and that the global fame Dire Straits achieved in the 1980s "just got too big".[31]
Solo career (since 1996)
Mark Knopfler's first solo album, Golden Heart, was released in March 1996. It featured the UK single "Darling Pretty". The album's recording sessions helped create Knopfler's backing band, which is also known as The 96ers. It features Knopfler's old bandmate Guy Fletcher on keyboards. This band's main line-up has lasted much longer than any Dire Straits line-up. Also in 1996, Knopfler recorded guitar for Ted Christopher's Dunblane massacre tribute cover, Knocking on Heaven's Door.
In 1997, Knopfler recorded the soundtrack for the movie Wag the Dog. During that same year Rolling Stone magazine listed Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame's 500 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll, which included Sultans of Swing, Dire Straits' first hit. 2000 saw the release of Knopfler's next solo album, Sailing to Philadelphia. This has been his most successful to date, possibly helped by the number of collaborators to the album like Van Morrison. On 15 September 1997, Knopfler appeared at the Music for Montserrat concert at the Royal Albert Hall, London, performing alongside artists such as Sting, Phil Collins, Elton John, Eric Clapton and Paul McCartney.[32]
In 2002, Knopfler gave four charity concerts with former Dire Straits members John Illsley, Chris White, Danny Cummings and Guy Fletcher, playing old material from the Dire Straits years. The concerts also featured The Notting Hillbillies with Brendan Croker and Steve Phillips. At these four concerts (three of the four were at the Shepherd's Bush, the fourth at Beaulieu on the south coast) they were joined by Jimmy Nail, who provided backing vocals for Knopfler's 2002 composition Why Aye Man.
Also in 2002, Knopfler released his third solo album, The Ragpicker's Dream. However, in March 2003 he was involved in a motorbike crash in Grosvenor Road, Belgravia and suffered a broken collarbone, broken shoulder blade and seven broken ribs.[33] The planned Ragpicker's Dream tour was subsequently cancelled, but Knopfler recovered and returned to the stage in 2004 for his fourth album, Shangri-La.
Shangri-La was recorded at the Shangri-La Studio in Malibu, California, in 2004, where the Band had made recordings years before for their documentary/movie, The Last Waltz. In the promo for Shangri-La on his official website, he said his current line-up of Glenn Worf (bass), Guy Fletcher (keyboards), Chad Cromwell (drums), Richard Bennett (guitar), and Matt Rollings (piano) "...play Dire Straits songs better than Dire Straits did." The Shangri-La tour took Knopfler to countries such as India and the United Arab Emirates for the first time. In India, his concerts at Mumbai and Bangalore were well received, with over 20,000 fans at each concert.
In November 2005 a compilation, Private Investigations: The Best of Dire Straits & Mark Knopfler was released, consisting of material from most of Dire Straits' studio albums and Knopfler's solo and soundtrack material. The album was released in two editions, as a single CD (with a grey cover) and as a double CD (with the cover in blue), and was well received. The only previously unreleased track on the album is All the Roadrunning, a duet with country music singer Emmylou Harris, which was followed in 2006 by an album of duets of the same name.
Released in April 2006, All the Roadrunning reached No. 1 in Denmark and Switzerland, No. 2 in Norway and Sweden, No. 3 in Germany, The Netherlands and Italy, No. 8 in Austria and UK, No. 9 in Spain, No. 17 in the United States (Billboard Top 200 Chart), No. 25 in Ireland, and No. 41 in Australia. All the Roadrunning was nominated for "Best Folk Rock/Americana Album" at the 49th Grammy Awards (11 February 2007) but lost out to Bob Dylan's nomination for Modern Times.
Joined by Emmylou Harris, Knopfler supported All the Roadrunning with a limited—15 concerts in Europe, 1 in Canada, and 8 in the United States—but highly successful tour of Europe and North America. Selections from the duo's performance of 28 June at the Gibson Amphitheatre, Universal City, California, were released as a DVD entitled Real Live Roadrunning on 14 November 2006. In addition to several of the compositions that Harris and Knopfler recorded together in the studio, Real Live Roadrunning features solo hits from both members of the duo, as well as three tracks from Knopfler's days with Dire Straits.
A charity event in 2007 went wrong: a Fender Stratocaster guitar signed by Knopfler, Clapton, Brian May, and Jimmy Page, which was to be auctioned for £20,000 to raise the money for a children's hospice, was lost when being shipped. It "...vanished after being posted from London to Leicestershire, England." Parcelforce, the company responsible, agreed to pay US$30,000 for its loss.[34]
Knopfler released his fifth solo studio-album Kill to Get Crimson on 14 September 2007 in Germany, 17 September in the UK and 18 September in the United States. During the autumn of 2007 he played a series of intimate 'showcases' in various European cities to promote the album. A tour of Europe and North America followed in 2008.
Continuing a pattern of high productivity through his solo career, Knopfler began work on his next studio album, entitled Get Lucky, in September 2008 with long-time band mate Guy Fletcher, who again compiled a pictorial diary of the making of the album on his website.[35] The album was released on 14 September the following year and Knopfler subsequently undertook an extensive tour across Europe and America. The album met with moderate success on the charts (much of it in Europe) reaching No. 1 only in Norway but peaking in the Top 5 in most major European countries (Germany, Italy, The Netherlands). The album peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard European Album chart and at No. 5 on the Billboard Rock Album chart.[36]
Knopfler performing in Zwolle, Netherlands, 2013
Knopfler's solo live performances can be characterised as relaxed—almost workmanlike. He uses very little stage production, other than some lighting effects to enhance the music's dynamics. He has been known to sip tea on stage during live performances. Richard Bennett, who has been playing with him on tour since 1996, has also joined in drinking tea with him on stage. On 31 July 2005, at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre in Vancouver, BC, the tea was replaced with whisky as a "last show of tour" sort of joke.[37]
In February 2009, Knopfler gave an intimate solo concert at the Garrick Club in London. Knopfler had recently become a member of the exclusive gentlemen's club for men of letters.[38]
In 2010, Knopfler appeared on the newest Thomas Dolby release, the EP Amerikana. Knopfler performed on the track 17 Hills.[39]
In February 2011, Knopfler began work on his next solo album, Privateering, once again working with Guy Fletcher.
In July 2011, it was announced that Knopfler would take time out from recording his new album to take part in a European tour with Bob Dylan during October and November.[40] The next year Knopfler covered a Bob Dylan song, "Restless Farewell", for an Amnesty International 50th Anniversary celebration record.[41]
On 3 September 2012, Knopfler's seventh solo album, Privateering, was released.[42] This was Knopfler's first double album solo release and contained 20 new songs. After a further tour with Bob Dylan in the US during October and November,[43] the Privateering tour of Europe followed in Spring/Summer 2013.[44] A short run of five shows were played in the US that Autumn.[45]
Knopfler began work on another studio album in September 2013, again at his British Grove Studios in London with Guy Fletcher co-producing.[46] On 16 September 2014, it was announced that this new album would be entitled Tracker, and that it would see a release in early 2015. European tour dates were also announced for Spring/Summer 2015.[47]
Country music
Knopfler performing in Chicago with Emmylou Harris, 2006
In addition to his work in Dire Straits and solo, Mark Knopfler has made several contributions to country music. In 1988 he formed country-focused band the Notting Hillbillies,[14] with Guy Fletcher, Brendan Croker and Steve Phillips. The Notting Hillbillies sole studio album, Missing...Presumed Having a Good Time was released in 1990 and featured the minor hit single "Your Own Sweet Way". Knopfler further emphasised his country music influences with his collaboration with Chet Atkins, Neck and Neck, which was also released in 1990. "Poor Boy Blues", taken from that collaboration, peaked at No. 92.
Knopfler's other contributions include writing and playing guitar on John Anderson's 1992 single "When It Comes to You" (from his album Seminole Wind). In 1993 Mary Chapin Carpenter also released a cover of the Dire Straits song The Bug. Randy Travis released another of Knopfler's songs, "Are We in Trouble Now", in 1996. In that same year, Knopfler's solo single "Darling Pretty" reached a peak of No. 87.
Knopfler collaborated with George Jones on the 1994 The Bradley Barn Sessions album, performing guitar duties on the classic J.P. Richardson composition "White Lightnin'".
Knopfler is featured on Kris Kristofferson's album The Austin Sessions, (on the track "Please Don't Tell Me How The Story Ends") released in 1999 by Atlantic Records.
In 2006, Knopfler and Emmylou Harris made a country album together titled All the Roadrunning, followed by a live CD-DVD titled Real Live Roadrunning. Knopfler also charted two singles on the Canadian country music singles chart.
Again in 2006, Knopfler contributed the song "Whoop De Doo" to Jimmy Buffett's Gulf and Western style album Take the Weather with You. In 2013, he wrote and played guitar on the song "Oldest Surfer on the Beach" to Buffett's album Songs From St. Somewhere.
Personal life
Mark Knopfler has been married three times, first to Kathy White, his long-time girlfriend from school days. They separated before Knopfler moved to London to join Brewers Droop in 1973.[14] In November 1983, Knopfler married Lourdes Salomone. Their marriage produced twin sons, Benji and Joseph (born 1987), both of whom are aspiring musicians, according to Knopfler.[26] His marriage to Salomone ended in 1993.[29] On Valentine's Day 1997 in Barbados, Knopfler married British actress and writer Kitty Aldridge, whom he had known for three years.[48] They have two daughters.[14]
Knopfler has a collection of classic cars which he races and exhibits at shows, including a Maserati 300S and an Austin-Healey 100S.[49][50] Knopfler is left-handed, but plays the guitar right-handed.
Mark Knopfler - Silvertown Blues ᴴᴰ
Mark Knopfler & Emmylou Harris Real Live Roadrunning (dvdrip)
Eric Clapton & Mark Knopfler - LAYLA
Eric Clapton with Mark Knopfler Same Old Blues
Clapton with Mark Knopfler,Jools Holland,Phil Collins,Pino Palladino,Ray Cooper etc
R.I.P.
Luther Allison +12.8.1997
Luther Allison (* 17. August 1939 in Widener, Arkansas; † 12. August 1997 in Madison, Wisconsin) war ein US-amerikanischer Blues-Gitarrist.In seiner Kindheit wuchs er mit Gospelmusik auf. 1951 zog Allisons Familie nach Chicago, wo er sich der Gospelgruppe Southern Travellers anschloss. Durch den Einfluss seines Bruders Ollie Lee verschob sich sein Interesse zunehmend zum Blues und von 1954 an spielte er in der Bluesband seines Bruders. 1957 verließ er sie und gründete eine Band mit seinem Bruder Grant, die zuerst The Rolling Stones hieß und später in Four Jivers umbenannt wurde. Bereits zuvor hatte er in den Chicagoer Clubs als Sideman für Musiker wie Magic Sam, Otis Rush und Freddie King gearbeitet.
1965 nahm er seine erste Single auf, gefolgt von seinem ersten Album Love Me Mama 1967. 1969 hatte er einen umjubelten Auftritt auf dem "Ann Arbor Blues Festival". Zugleich wurde sein Stil rocklastiger, wodurch seine Karriere einen Popularitätsschub erhielt.
Nach etlichen Tourneen in den Staaten ging Allison Mitte der 1970er auch in Europa auf Tour. 1977 zog er nach Frankreich, wo er 15 Jahre lang lebte. 1994 hatte Allison mit dem Album Soul Fixin' Man ein bemerkenswertes Comeback in Amerika. Sowohl er selbst als auch das Album gewannen je vier Handy Awards. Auch in den folgenden Jahren wurde Allison vielfach ausgezeichnet, so z. B. mit dem Living Blues Award 1995 als bester Liveact. 1996 erhielt er den Award in fünf Kategorien, darunter als bester männlicher Blueskünstler und wieder als bester Liveperformer. 1997 wurde er in drei Kategorien mit dem Preis ausgezeichnet und 1998 erhielt er ihn als bester Gitarrist und Bluessänger.
Während einer Tour im Sommer 1997 wurde bei Luther Allison Lungenkrebs diagnostiziert. Er starb am 12. August 1997, fünf Tage vor seinem 58. Geburtstag. Posthum wurde er 1998 in die Blues Hall of Fame aufgenommen.
Sein Sohn Bernard Allison ist ebenfalls ein begabter Blues-Gitarrist.
http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luther_Allison
Luther Allison (August 17, 1939 – August 12, 1997)[1] was an American blues guitarist. He was born in Widener, Arkansas, and moved with his family, at the age of twelve, to Chicago in 1951.[2] He taught himself guitar and began listening to blues extensively. Three years later he began hanging outside blues nightclubs with the hopes of being invited to perform. He played with Howlin' Wolf's band and backed James Cotton.
Career
His big break came in 1957 when Howlin' Wolf invited Allison to the stage. Freddie King took him under his wing and after King got his big record deal, Allison took over King's house-band gig on Chicago's west side. He worked the club circuit throughout the late 1950s and early 1960s and recorded his first single in 1965. He was signed to the Delmark Records label in 1967 and released his debut album, Love Me Mama, the following year. A well-received set at the 1969 Ann Arbor Blues Festival resulted in his being asked to perform there each of the next three years.[2] He also toured nationwide and, in 1972, was signed to Motown Records, one of the few blues artists to do so.[3] By the mid 1970s he began touring Europe and moved to France in 1977.[3] Allison was known for his powerful concert performances, lengthy soulful guitar solos and crowd walking with his Gibson Les Paul. Allison lived briefly during this period in Peoria, Illinois, where he signed briefly with Rumble Records, resulting in two live recordings, "Gonna Be a Live One in Here Tonight", produced by Bill Knight, and "Power Wire Blues", produced by George Faber and Jeffrey P. Hess. Allison played the "bar circuit" in the USA during this period, spending eight months per year in Europe at high-profile venues, including the Montreux Jazz Festival. In 1992, he played as a duo with legendary French rock'n'roll star Johnny Hallyday for 18 shows in Paris, also playing during the intermission.
Allison's manager, and European agent, Thomas Ruf, founded the label Ruf Records in 1994. Signing with Ruf Records, Allison launched a comeback in association with Alligator Records. Alligator founder Bruce Iglauer convinced Allison to return to the United States. The album Soul Fixin' Man was recorded and released in 1994, and Allison toured the U.S. and Canada. He won four W.C. Handy Awards in 1994. With the James Solberg Band backing him, non-stop touring and the release of Blue Streak (featuring song "Cherry Red Wine"), Allison continued to earn more Handys and gain wider recognition. He scored a host of Living Blues Awards and was featured on the cover pages of major blues publications.
In the middle of his summer of 1997 tour, Allison checked into a hospital for dizziness and loss of coordination. It was discovered that he had a tumor on his lung that had metastasized to his brain.[4] In and out of a coma, Allison died on August 12, 1997, five days before his 58th birthday, in Madison, Wisconsin.[2] His album Reckless had just been released. His son Bernard Allison, at one time a member of his band, is now a solo recording artist.
He was posthumously inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame in 1998. In 2000, the Chicago Sun-Times called him "The Bruce Springsteen of the blues".[5] He was a chief influence on many young Blues guitarists such as Chris Beard[6] and Reggie Sears.[7]
Allison is buried at Washington Memory Gardens Cemetery in Homewood, Illinois.
Career
His big break came in 1957 when Howlin' Wolf invited Allison to the stage. Freddie King took him under his wing and after King got his big record deal, Allison took over King's house-band gig on Chicago's west side. He worked the club circuit throughout the late 1950s and early 1960s and recorded his first single in 1965. He was signed to the Delmark Records label in 1967 and released his debut album, Love Me Mama, the following year. A well-received set at the 1969 Ann Arbor Blues Festival resulted in his being asked to perform there each of the next three years.[2] He also toured nationwide and, in 1972, was signed to Motown Records, one of the few blues artists to do so.[3] By the mid 1970s he began touring Europe and moved to France in 1977.[3] Allison was known for his powerful concert performances, lengthy soulful guitar solos and crowd walking with his Gibson Les Paul. Allison lived briefly during this period in Peoria, Illinois, where he signed briefly with Rumble Records, resulting in two live recordings, "Gonna Be a Live One in Here Tonight", produced by Bill Knight, and "Power Wire Blues", produced by George Faber and Jeffrey P. Hess. Allison played the "bar circuit" in the USA during this period, spending eight months per year in Europe at high-profile venues, including the Montreux Jazz Festival. In 1992, he played as a duo with legendary French rock'n'roll star Johnny Hallyday for 18 shows in Paris, also playing during the intermission.
Allison's manager, and European agent, Thomas Ruf, founded the label Ruf Records in 1994. Signing with Ruf Records, Allison launched a comeback in association with Alligator Records. Alligator founder Bruce Iglauer convinced Allison to return to the United States. The album Soul Fixin' Man was recorded and released in 1994, and Allison toured the U.S. and Canada. He won four W.C. Handy Awards in 1994. With the James Solberg Band backing him, non-stop touring and the release of Blue Streak (featuring song "Cherry Red Wine"), Allison continued to earn more Handys and gain wider recognition. He scored a host of Living Blues Awards and was featured on the cover pages of major blues publications.
In the middle of his summer of 1997 tour, Allison checked into a hospital for dizziness and loss of coordination. It was discovered that he had a tumor on his lung that had metastasized to his brain.[4] In and out of a coma, Allison died on August 12, 1997, five days before his 58th birthday, in Madison, Wisconsin.[2] His album Reckless had just been released. His son Bernard Allison, at one time a member of his band, is now a solo recording artist.
He was posthumously inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame in 1998. In 2000, the Chicago Sun-Times called him "The Bruce Springsteen of the blues".[5] He was a chief influence on many young Blues guitarists such as Chris Beard[6] and Reggie Sears.[7]
Allison is buried at Washington Memory Gardens Cemetery in Homewood, Illinois.
Luther Allison - Live in East-Berlin 1987
Michel Carras - Keyboards
Vincent Daune - Drums
"Fast Frank" Rabasté - Guitar
Zox - Bass
Vincent Daune - Drums
"Fast Frank" Rabasté - Guitar
Zox - Bass
B.B King, Gary Moore, Luther Allison - LIVE 1996
Hosea Leavy +12.08.2008
It’s the end of an era for the Fresno Blues scene. Hosea Leavy the self-proclaimed “Grand Daddy of the Blues” died on August 12,2008 at the U.S. Veterans Hospital in Fresno,CA after a short bout with cancer. He was 80 years old.
Hosea was born in Altheimer, Arkansas on November 26,1927. One of 15 children,Hosea learned the guitar from his father and older brother. In the mid 1940′s he started playing in a combo that would play in and around Little Rock with instruments rented from a local pawnbroker.
In 1950 Hosea was drafted into the Army and saw some combat action in Korea. It was in the army’s USO clubs that Hosea picked up his bass skills which served him well throughout his musical career. After being discharged from the service in 1954 Hosea and his younger brother Calvin formed group that eventually made history.
“We played so much together we knew what to do and how to do it.I could feel Calvin,he could feel me,when you feels the guys you are playing with you know what they are gonna do.You hits that groove and playing the Blues is like taking candy from a baby.”
The rapport between the Leavy brothers was enough to make a massive hit record out of ‘Cummins Prison Farm’ on the Soul Beat label. The song detailed the sub-human conditions at Cummins. The prisons human rights expose was later made into a film titled ‘Brubaker’ starring Robert Redford.
The song hit at #40 on the Billboard R&B charts in 1970 and stayed there for 5 weeks after Shelby Singleton’s Blue Fox label picked it up. The song has had a firm position in the canon of the modern Blues repertoire ever since,and is a favorite of Southern Blues audiences.
Hosea wrote and recorded one single in 1969 for Soul Beat titled ‘It’s Too Early in the Morning b/w You Cant Lose What You Never Had’ the Muddy Waters original.In 1969 he also made a single for Riceland that was produced by Willie Cobbs titled ‘Oo-Wee Baby b/w When I was a Little Boy’.
The brothers rode the ‘Cummins’ wave for a few years and made countless appearances throughout the south and elsewhere.
“There was only three of us but we could really blow and we made some pretty good money.”
Eventually the Leavy brothers broke up and started their own bands. Hosea moved to California and started a combo with Johnny ‘Da-Doo’ Wilson on bass and Warren Milton on drums. This trio play a small joint in West Fresno called ‘Wagners’ every weekend for at least 5 years. The band would start around 10 in the evening and go until 5 in the morning or until the cops showed up.
“There would be 60 people standing and I kept it full because they said I got a style of playing guitar that makes people pat their feet and when they are patting their feet I feels good and I can really soul that guitar down”.
In 1993 Hosea recorded a cassette titled ‘Greasy Greens’ for the debut of Fedora Records. The tape was noticed by ‘Blues and Rhythm’ who in turn published an article by Mike Rainsford which got Hosea some good festival work in Europe and elsewhere. Hosea recorded a CD for Fedora ‘You Gotta Move’ in 1997 and co-starred with Harmonica Slim AKA Riley(or Richard) Riggins titled ‘Cold Tacos and Warm Beer.’
Hosea loved to hunt and fish when he wasn’t gigging or hanging out at ‘The Barrel’ in West Fresno. Hosea was father to 26 children, 4 of whom are named Hosea Leavy,Jr. Hosea was a fine performer and a strict band leader. He was respected by the local musicians and he mentored many of the area’s best Blues musicians.
His last major gig was the 2007 San Francisco Blues Festival. Hosea was still performing at a very high level only weeks before he drove his old Chrysler to the V.A. and checked himself in. In his last days at the hospice Hosea was very lucid and enjoyed visits with his friends and family.
“I love music … You can pay if you want to, if you dont I don’t care, I’ll just enjoy myself. I’m gonna play to the day I die”.
Hosea Leavy - Searchin'
Birleanna Blanks +12.08.1968
Birleanna Blanks was born in Iowa on February 18, 1899, of African American/Native American descent. Her parents soon moved to East St. Louis, IL. where she attended school and college and was a schoolteacher up until around 1912. She then appeared with her sister Arsceola as a singing/dancing act as "The Blanks Sisters" playing vaudeville in theaters. Birleanna then went out on her own as a singer/actress appearing in many productions in New York City, Chicago, as well as Jersey City, and Newark, N.J. including "They're Off", "Derby Day In Dixie" and as the role of Mae Barnes in the "Lucky Sambo Revue", from 1919 until 1927. In 1922-1923 she was a member of The Three Dixie Songbirds along with Amanda Randolph & Hilda Perkins, with the act playing club dates in Chicago. Birleanna left the business in 1928 and later married baseball player Chesley Cunningham. Birleanna passed away in New York City at the Florence Nightingale Nursing Home from cancer on August 12, 1968 and is buried near Woodlawn Cemetery in The Bronx. Despite her credentials in the theater, Birleanna Blanks only recorded two songs during her career. This recording is the sole survivor. There's probably only one copy of the record that is known to exist, and the other side "Potomac River Blues" was too destroyed to duplicate due to drop-outs and distortion. Unless a playable copy ever turns up, we'll never hear it. "Mason-Dixon Blues" was previously recorded by Mattie Hite, Hazel Meyers, and Rosa Henderson. As a note, that is Birleanna pictured on the right-hand side of the CD cover.
Singer who recorded two songs for Paramount in 1923 with Fletcher Henderson accompanying at piano. . Her entertainment career was in singing andndancing in revues and theaters, usually with her sister Arsceola Blanks. She left show business around 1928, and worked outside of music in New York City.
"Encyclopedia of the blues / Edward Komara, editor."
Birleanna Blanks and Fletcher Henderson Mason-Dixon Blues (1923)
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