First off, let us, at The Sound of Blue, offer our congratulations to the winners of the 2018 Blues Challenge hosted by the Northeast Ohio Blues Association (NEOBA, for short): in the Solo/Duo category-- Kristine Jackson, and in the Band category-- the Sam Hooper Group. Both of these acts have been at this for awhile and are deserving of their win. We wish them both well in Memphis in the January 2019 competition!
Some May Blues Births:
- May 4th.,1966-- Anders Osborne
- May 13th.,1976-- Ana Popovic
- May 26th.,1921-- Richard Leslie "Big Boy" Henry
Answer to the April 2018 Blues Question: The blues singer we were looking for is/ was Mozelle Alderson, born Mozelle Fagans, on November 20, 1904, in Bedford, Ohio. Next to nothing is known of her personal life, but what is known is that after she married, she moved to Chicago. She recorded six songs for Black Patti Records (for more relative info on Black Patti records see the July 2017 Blues Blog in the Trivia section) in 1927. She recorded two songs for Brunswick Records, also in 1927 that were released in 1930. While in Chicago she also recorded for the A R C and Vocalion labels. In 1931 she recorded with Big Bill Broonzy and Georgia Tom (Dorsey) , as the Harum Scarums, on the Paramount label, at their Grafton, Wisconsin headquarters. If you want more info on Goergia Tom Dorsey, see the December 2014 Blues Question and the January 2015 Blues Trivia sections of the Blues Blog. There are other recordings featuring her, under some of her "performing" names: "Kansas City Kitty" (usually done with Georgia Tom), Hannah May, Thelma Holmes, May Belle Lee, and/or Jane Lucas. She was widowed by 1941 and went on to marry John Slocum in 1943. She passed away on February 15, 1994, in Chicago.
Blues Question for May 2018: This bluesman was a self-taught guitarist, both acoustic and electric, and drummer by the age of eighteen. He recorded his first song, which many believe is the first rock & roll song, rather than Jackie Brenston/ Ike Turners' "Rocket 88". He wrote and recorded most of his early material on a local label. Later in his career, he quit performing/ recording because he was told that he was "too far ahead of himself". Any idea who this bluesman might be ??
Blues Song(s) and Artist(s) for May 2018: The song is "I Put A Spell On You", and the artist is Angelina Jordan (I believe she's from Norway). She was 10 years old when she recorded this. The original was done by "Screamin' Jay" Hawkins, as a ballad, on the Grand Records label, in 1955. The version you're probably familiar with was done in 1956, on the OKeh label (Columbia), when Hawkins and all the band members were drunk. Some say her version is second only to Screamin' Jays', while others say his version is second to hers. Some others who have recorded it are: Nina Simone, Creedence Clearwater Revival (C C R), Manfred Mann, Jeff Beck, Bette Midler, Annie Lennox, And Samantha Fish. Oddly, after I had a rough draft of this blog and had decided to list Angelinas' version, I had a young, aspiring guitarist, Chris Marcic, who is currently studying under the tutelage of Mike Lenz, come in to look at some vinyl. The two 45's he picked out were "I Put A Spell On You", by Screamin' Jay and "Stormy Monday", by Bobby Blue Bland. When I see young people like Angelina and Chris, I'm glad to have started this store, and I see that some youngsters are actually looking into the "old Blues", and really aren't interested in the 120 decibel, 100 m.p.h., guitar-driven "stuff" of today. This is why we need to encourage, teach, guide, or help in any way we can, the coming musicians to learn about the blues.
Blues Trivia for May 2018: I’m almost sure you've heard of Sam "Lightning" Hopkins, and possibly his two brothers, John Henry and Joel "Squatty" Hopkins (the three did an album together for Arhoolie Records). Did you know that Lightninin' has recorded more albums than any other bluesman, or that he was taught by his older, distant cousin, Alger "Texas" Alexander and Blind Lemon Jefferson? If you hear a band backing him on a recording, it most likely consists of Buster Pickens on piano, Donald Cooks on bass, and Spider Kilpatrick on drums. Some trivia: if you hear some harmonica work on his recordings, those dated up to 1969, it's by his cousin, Billy Bizor (sometimes shown as Bizer or Biser), a gifted, early style (basic notes) player who deserves wider recognition. Lightnin' performed at Blossom Music Center in 1969, and lastly, he also played, though infrequently, piano and/or organ. Just so you know, we stock the c.d. of the three Hopkins brothers performing together. We also carry one under Lightnins' name, which prominently features Billy Bizor and have on order another one which also includes the only album that Bizor recorded on his own.
Some May Blues Passings:
- May 4th.,1987-- Paul Vaughn Butterfield
- May 16th. (or 18th.),1985-- Robert William "Fud" Shaw
- May 26th.,1968-- William Edward "Little Willie" John
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