It's always sad to celebrate the birth date of somebody who has recently passed away.
Since her passing last week, there has been much written about Etta James, her unforgettable voice, and her distinct place within the development of modern American music, specifically blues, R&B, and jazz. I don't think that I can add anything significant to the praise that has been heaped upon her memory, but I can express my admiration and appreciation for her music.
I can think of no singer who could combine such soulful passion with a rich sense of warmth and comforting smoothness. Smoky or sweet, gentle or lush, dark or delightful, Etta James could wind the passions into her music with unrivalled skill, her voice resounding into the depths of our souls.
Etta James from the cover of At Last! (1960)
So, let us consider her legacy and give thanks for the beautiful music that she had given us over the decades.
Blues Icon B.B. King was born on September 16, 1925.
Wow!!! I nearly missed B.B. King's birthday. Most of the great blues legends have passed away, but we're lucky enough to still have "Blues Boy" with us. So here's wishes for a Happy 86th Birthday to the King.
B.B. King's influence within the blues tradition cannot be overstated, but it should also be noted that his innovations in guitar playing techniques extends well beyond the confines of the blues and into classic rock performance styles. He is frequently regarded as one of the greatest guitarists of all time. It is a reputation that he has properly earned with a long career of brilliant playing.
B.B. King, Master of the Blues Guitar
Don't take my word for it. Let's listen to some music and you can decide for yourself.
Memphis Slim (birth name: John Len Chatman) was born on September 3, 1915.
We can't let the day pass without celebrating the music of blues great, Memphis Slim. He is associated with the jump blues, a style that utilizes a small swing band featuring horns. His music became highly influential among later generations of blues performers. He even had an R&B chart topping hit with "Messing Around" in 1948.
He was inducted posthumously into the Blues Hall of Fame in 1989.
I don't post as much blues music as I should. So, let's remedy the situation by celebrating the birth date of John Lee Hooker, born on this date in 1917. He's probably my favorite blues performer, with a mellow and easy style that conveys rich emotional depth. From energetic lustiness to crushing sorrow, the emotions of his music are delivered with "talkin' blues" coolness.
In terms of musical style, Hooker has an old-fashioned Delta blues feel loosely worked into an electric Chicago blues technique. Especially in his older performances, he creates a transitional sound that spans a wide range of evocative imagery and traditions, from the rural South of the early 20th century to the industrial Midwest of the mid-20th. Hooker remained a vital part of the blues scene up into the '90s and his influence can be felt still in contemporary performances and recording, a decade after his passing.
That's enough verbiage from me. Let's get to the music.
Devil at the Crossroads by Bill Sienkiewicz (1991)
Today marks the hundred years anniversary since the birth of Blues legend Robert Johnson. His music had a great influence upon the development of the Blues and, by extension, Rock & Roll. Sadly, his career was a short one. He died at the age of 27, supposedly by drinking some whiskey laced with strychnine.
Aside from his music, another aspect of Johnson's career that has lived long after his brief life is the legend of the Crossroads. According to this story, Johnson viewed musical greatness as the route by which he could escape the crushing poverty of his life in rural Mississippi. So, he went out one night to the Crossroads and called forth the Devil, with whom he made a Faustian deal for mastery of the Blues.
Johnson would make comments about his "deal with the devil" but that was probably just in reference to the view within the Black community that any secular singer was "doing the devil's work." It was a pervasive attitude. If were were not singing spirituals or Gospel, then you were singing in sin. Moreover, any style of music that encouraged close dancing was de facto diabolical.
In any case, Johnson lived a rough and wild life and died young. His music is powerful and haunting. These facts tie into the Crossroads legend perfectly. The story may have absolutely no basis in reality, but it rings true in our subconscious where these archetypes of existence hold validity. The Crossroads catch our imagination.
