Willie Dixon

2016-11-10T17:07:28+00:00November 10th, 2016|

Widely regarded as the premier blues composer of the post-World War II era, Willie Dixon (born July 1, 1915, in Vicksburg, Mississippi) was also probably the single most influential figure in shaping the Chicago blues [...]

Lonnie Johnson

2016-11-10T17:07:28+00:00November 10th, 2016|

Every time a guitarist in blues, jazz, or rock plays a solo today, he carries on the legacy of one of the first virtuosos of the instrument, Lonnie Johnson. The predominant style of modern blues [...]

Double Trouble — Otis Rush (Cobra, 1958)

2016-11-10T17:07:27+00:00November 10th, 2016|

At the age of 23, Otis Rush was able to mine the essence of deep blues with his classic single 'Double Trouble' for the Cobra label of Chicago in 1958. The minor-key masterpiece depicted a [...]

My Babe — Little Walter (Checker, 1955)

2016-11-10T17:07:27+00:00November 10th, 2016|

My Babe' was a No. 1 rhythm & blues hit for Chicago blues singer-harmonica player Little Walter in 1955 on Chess Records' subsidiary Checker label. With Robert Jr. Lockwood's memorable guitar riffs propelling the arrangement, [...]

Boom Boom — John Lee Hooker (Vee-Jay, 1961)

2016-11-10T17:07:27+00:00November 10th, 2016|

Vee-Jay Records of Chicago came up with an unlikely formula to put John Lee Hooker on both the rhythm & blues and pop music charts with the catchy original version of his bad-man theme, 'Boom [...]

Members Only — Bobby Bland (Malaco, 1985)

2016-11-10T17:07:27+00:00November 10th, 2016|

Bobby Bland's first LP with Malaco Records provided him with his biggest hit of recent decades, the title track Members Only, written by Larry Addison. Bland, a model for company loyalty in the record business, [...]

I’m Jimmy Reed — Jimmy Reed (Vee-Jay, 1958)

2016-11-10T17:07:27+00:00November 10th, 2016|

Jimmy Reed was already making history in 1958 when Vee-Jay Records of Chicago released his first album, I'm Jimmy Reed. Not only had Reed already had ten singles on the national rhythm & blues charts [...]

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