Lucille Bogan
Lucille Bogan recorded some of the most memorable blues songs of the pre-World War II era, including some that were landmarks in blues and some that continue to sensationalize her reputation decades after her death. [...]
Little Willie John
The meteoric rise and tragic fall of William Edward “Little Willie” John, who died in prison at the age of 30, is one of the most dramatic chapters in rhythm & blues history. A “singer’s [...]
Johnnie Taylor
Johnnie Taylor liked to emphasize that he could sing more than blues, as he amply proved when performing gospel and soul, but among African-American audiences, he reigned as the top headliner of his era at [...]
Mary Katherine Aldin
Few people have done as much behind the scenes to support blues and folk music over the past 60 years as Mary Katherine Aldin. Always intent on shining the spotlight on the performers and not [...]
Otis Blackwell
Otis Blackwell was a struggling blues singer in New York City when he struck gold on a different path—writing songs for others to sing, and in particular, Elvis Presley. A fortunate meeting with a music [...]
Bo Diddley – Bo Diddley (Chess/Checker, 1958)
Bo Diddley was the stage name of Ellas McDaniel and the title of both his debut single and this, his first LP, which compiled 12 sides from the groundbreaking singles on Chess Records’ Checker subsidiary [...]
“Eyesight to the Blind” – Sonny Boy Williamson No. 2 (Trumpet, 1951)
Rock fans may recognize “Eyesight to the Blind” as the only song from The Who’s rock opera Tommy that was not written by the band. This paean to a woman who could bring eyesight to [...]
“Farther Up the Road” – Bobby “Blue” Bland (Duke, 1957)
Though famed for soft, romantic blues ballads, Bobby “Blue” Bland could wail hard-hitting blues, too, as he did in 1957 with the Bill Harvey Orchestra on “Farther Up the Road.” Guitarist Pat Hare’s menacing fills and sizzling solo push the intensity even [...]
“Good Rocking Tonight” – Roy Brown (DeLuxe, 1947)
A contender for the title of first rock ‘n’ roll record—or at least one that paved the way to rock, “Good Rocking Tonight” was a product of Cosimo Matassa’s legendary New Orleans studio where blues [...]
“Rock Me Baby” – B.B. King (Kent, c. 1964)
Many blues have been recorded on the “rock me” theme, but it was B.B. King’s 1964 single that climbed the charts and solidified the song as a standard in the blues canon. King’s other hits [...]