July Blues question answer: The man we were looking for is Henry “Little Henry” Gray, born January 19, 1925 in Kenner, Louisiana. He taught himself the piano at age 8. He settled in Chicago in around 1946, after a stint in the U. S. Army. He worked with or recorded with Little Walter, Jimmy Rogers, Junior Wells, Morris Pejoe, Howlin’ Wolf, Dusty Brown, Jimmy Reed, Billy Boy Arnold, and others. His main influences were Roosevelt Sykes and “Big Maceo” Meriwether. He is still active today.
Some August births
August Blues question: This bluesman, born in Texas, recorded on at least 5 different labels, playing either organ or piano. At one time he owned a record store, a candy store, and a cafe. He shared the same nickname with a noted Chicago harmonica player. Any idea who this man is?
- August 3, 1915 – Mercy Dee Walton
- August 13, 1943 – Walter “Mississippi Slim” Horn
- August 29, 1924 – Dinah Washington
August Blues question: This bluesman, born in Texas, recorded on at least 5 different labels, playing either organ or piano. At one time he owned a record store, a candy store, and a cafe. He shared the same nickname with a noted Chicago harmonica player. Any idea who this man is?
August Blues trivia: If you are a fan of the “lap steel” guitar sound you should look into Harding “Hop (Poppa Hop) Wilson. He learned / played guitar and harmonica as a boy. He was one of about 13 children, born in Grapeland Texas April 27, 1921. I say about 13 because the record keeping around the time and area of his birth was not the greatest. The “Hop” nickname came from harp, the shortened version of harmonica. He worked outside of the music field from roughly 1946 through 1955 in Crockett Texas. He recorded on the Goldband label in Houston and Lake Charles, Louisiana, and also on the Ivory label in Houston. He often teamed up with Ivory Lee Semien to play dates in Texas and Louisiana. He was an influence on Johnny Winter and Jimmy Vaughn. He entered the VA Hospital and passed away there of brain disease. He is buried in the Mount Zion Cemetery in Grapeland Texas. The trivia part is that he seems to have had better luck in dealing with the VA than others have lately, even though it didn’t / couldn’t prevent his passing.
Some August Blues passing’s
Thank you for “tuning in” I / we hope you enjoy!
Some August Blues passing’s
- August 4, 2012 – Johnnie Bassett
- August 17, 1972 – Charles Henry “Baby” Tate
- August 27, 1975 – Harding “Hop” Wilson
Thank you for “tuning in” I / we hope you enjoy!
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