Believe it or not, there was a time when women ruled the Blues. Ma Rainey's name may be the most popular but , she was by no means a solitary success. The roaring 20's was fertile ground for the bold and bodacious black women of the Blues.
Mamie Smith ( no relation to Bessie) became the first Blues artist to sell 1,million records in one year. The hit song "Crazy Blues" earned Mamie a contract with Okeh records. Mamie was a singer, dancer, actress and pianist performing in vaudeville and recording throughout the 1920's. The unprecedented success of "Crazy Blues" prompted other record companies to sign on African American blues women.
This was the time when women ruled the Blues. When most women were hoping a man would take care of them, these women were bringing home the bacon and frying it too.
The demand for African American blues women would continue into the the next decade. However, the advent of radio would force them to adapt to the current trends and styles. This helped to bring Blues to a wider audience.
Muddy Waters, made the lyrics his own throughout his performing life,however these in your face lyrics, arrangement and style are the work of Willie Dixon. In the film Cadillac Records, Willie Dixon was the narrator of the story. Unfortunately, the film failed to inform us about the sheer genius of this self made songwriter, producer,arranger. Imagine coming from the Mississippi delta ; six siblings, no money, no education, and a criminal record for such crimes as "hoboing". He must have gotten his ambition from his mother who ran a restaurant next to a barrel-house in VIcksburg.
Vicksburg located on the Mississippi river between New Orleans and Memphis has a very strong musical community. Willie was exposed to dixieland and ragtime musicians that performed around town on the street, at picnics, clubs and juke joints. At the young age of twelve Willie was incarcerated for stealing fixtures from a torn down house ( architectural findings) and later arrested in Clarksdale for "hoboing" and sent to the County Farm near the infamous Parchman Farm prison.
No wonder, when Dixon first arrived in Chicago he tried his hands at boxing which won him the 1937 Illinois Golden Gloves. Fortunately for Blues fan he was suspended from boxing. He refused to be drafted into the armed services because he felt Blacks were exploited enough; not unlike Muhammad Ali decades later.
Having performed with Union Jubilee Singers ( gospel) back in Vicksburg he formed a group called the Five Breezes which allowed hm to be recorded vinyl for the first time. Later he would form the Big Three Trio which played in large show clubs rather than local bars and rooms like other blues men of the day (Muddy Waters, Howlin Wolf). Once the BIg Three Trio disbanded Willie Dixon became a full time employee of Chess Records. His name was put on the charts when Muddy Waters first recorded Hoochie Coochie Man in 1954.
One hit after another ; I Just Wanna Make Love to You and I'm Ready topped the charts in 1954. Chess Records was quickly becoming the headquarters for blues and R & B which evolved from the Chicago blues style. Dixon wrote "My Babe" which became a number one hit with Little Walter and would eventually be covered by Everly Brothers, Elvis Presley, Righteous Brothers, Rickey Nelson,IKe &Tina,John Lee Hooker, Bo Diddley and Lightnin' Hopkins.
Eventually Willie left Chess due to disputes over royalties and contracts and signed on with Cobra Records where he produced Otis Rush, Buddy Guy and Magic Sam. It was during this period that the "West Side Sound" was developed; this style emphasized the guitar as lead instrument which modernized the Delta sound. It is most likely that the lead guitar helped to earn the title of "devils music" because it sent young women into hysteria, sensual convulsions and strangers bedrooms.
Of course this was of little consequence when the kundalini was aroused in Black folk after all, what can you expect from those heathens. My grandmother of African descent never failed to inform me about heathen ways( a couple of decades later). She must have seen it coming. However, when this wanton behavior began showing amongst civilized white people in the burbs; well now there's a problem. A serious problem that got Chuck Berry locked up, while Jerry Lee Lewis and Elvis married nubile cousins.
Fortunately, Willie Dixon to busy writing, producing arranging and performing to get carried away with his environment, which is common with genius. During the 60's he formed the Chicago Blues All Stars and toured Europe where he introduced MUddy Waters and others to European audiences. His material was covered by; "Hoochie Coochie Man" Muddy Waters, Eric Burdon, Steppenwolf,Motorhead, Jimi Hendrix; "I'm Ready" Muddy Waters, Aerosmith, Buddy Guy, Eric Burdon, Albert King; "Little Red Rooster" Sam Cooke, Howlin Wolf, Rolling Stones, Yardbirds, Grateful Dead, Doors, Big Mama Thornton, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers; "Let Me Love You Baby" Stevie Ray Vaughn, Buddy Guy, Jeff Beck, B.B. King, Muddy Waters and the list goes on.
Before Mr. Dixonpassed away in 1992 he managed to sue Chess Records for back royalties and Led Zepplin for copyright infringement and won. He also established Blues Heaven Foundation to help musicians secure rights to their songs, and provide scholarships and musical instruments to poorly funded schools. During the last five years of his life he received a Grammy 1988 for "Hidden Charms", nominated 1989 for "Ginger Ale Afternooons" soundtrack, performed "Don't Tell Me Nothin" in "The Color of Money."
Imagine two of the greatest guitarist that ever lived playing together , just for you. That's how I felt when I happened upon this tribute song by Marc Cole (of UK.) and Sons of the Delta. He channels the spirits of Hendrix and Vaughn. So, much that I had to stop everything and upload this video for you to experience. Nothing can replace the feeling of listening to Hendrix when I was about twelve, soaking in the sense of freedom and ecstasy he was able to emanate from his instruments; body and guitar.
When Jimi Hendrix left the planet for a new adventure, I was devastated, certain that my heart would never recover from the loss. Decades went by before I discovered Stevie Ray Vaughn, approximately one year after his fatal plane crash. The first time I heard him on a Hampton Roads (VA.) station I was enraptured . Who was that magician on those strings? SRV, another mojo man with a guitar.
To have the fortune of experiencing such passion, pain and joy is miraculous. This may seem overstated for some but, this Blues , this alchemy is what assures me that " every thing, every thing gonna be alright yea."
Bernard Purdie is the worlds most prolific drummer with about 4,000 albums under his belt. Who can mess with that. He has come a very long way from rural Elkton, Maryland and the cotton fields of North Carolina. When I emailed him about having a conversation on Yazbowe Blues Cafe; I held my breath. About six weeks ago Mike Clark (drummer) and I had coffee and I told him about the radio show I was producing on Blog Talk Radio and he said " Yaz you better talk to Purdie, cause he played with all those cats." Yeah, Mike still uses words like "cats".
I confessed to Mike that I hadn't spoken to Purdie for a very long time, so he promised to send me his digits. Within 24 hrs after emailing Purdie, I received a phone call from the man himself. We met for dinner between shows (HAIR) at the Hirschfeld. I have to admit I was a little nervous, but he greeted me with open arms. It is not everyday that we eat sushi with a living legend. Dinner was quite lively since, several members of the band joined us.
Bernard was clearly the godfather; the visionary at the table watching and listening to all the voices around him, taking it all in, making an occasional comment between sips of green tea. He looks into me with those penetrating eyes and reassures me that he will fit my interview into his schedule. For more than two weeks I scoured the net for everything Bernard Purdie. What I discovered merely whet my appetite for our upcoming conversation. The list of questions compiled made me realize that the subject (Bernard Purdie) would require much more than a half hour interview.
The Purdie Shuffle, is the best known test for aspiring drummers such as auditions for P.Diddy'sMaking His Band; one which very few can pass. Anyone who loves music ; R & B, jazz, Blues, rock, funk etc.. has got to love Bernard Purdie. If you listen to some of the iconic tracks i.e. Rock Steady( Aretha), Deacon Blues( Steely Dan), The Thrill is Gone(BB King), Bitches Brew( Miles Davis), you realize what musical genius is. His story is a true American dream story and one that needs to be told. I hope you have the pleasure of meeting Bernard "Pretty" Purdie on my show this Sunday @ 6:30pm.
Without hesitation, I would open the coolest Blues Cafe & Gallery, that my friends, artists, art lovers and musicians would call a home away from home. It would provide the space to enjoy my passion for Blues, art and food. It cannot get better than that. This is probably my underlying motivation for creating a Blues blog and radio show. As Mike Dooley always says " Do your best with where you are."
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