Hoo Wee Sweet Daddy!

Well music lovers, it has been a terrible and awakening year for so many in so much of the world. We have talked many times here about what one of the United States most important exports to the world is. Our African American musical artists. Make no mistake, we have taken so much from them, and hope here to create a path and attention to the wonderful contribution by these Black artists to American society and the globe... This magnificent music.

Once again, all roads seem to lead to Chicago, where Arbee Stidham called home for many years. Arbee’s father was a member of the Jimmie Lunceford band, and his uncle, Earnest Stidham, was the lead member of the Memphis Jug band. We kick off Volume 5 of Blues with a Rhythm with this side about domestic bliss on ABCO records, “Meet me halfway.” If you have no reference for the Chicago style blues guitar sound, here is a master class by Earl Hooker.

This Kip Anderson side was released by Derrick records and Vee-Jay records in the States simultaneously. Guitar here is by the fantastic Mickey Baker. Kip touched the top 40 in the R&B charts late in his career with a FAME studios recorded side on Excello. Here we give you his first side, “I wanna’ be the only one.”

Dossie “Thunderbird” Terry gets his nickname from the strong corner liquor store brew labeled Thunderbird. It was cheap and did the job of intoxicating quickly... Dossie gives us this wonderful side of Mercury's subsidiary AMP records. “Fool Mule.”

This late recording by Paul Gayten, “Nervous boogie” was recorded during his years at Chess records in Chicago. At Chess, Gayten was a talent scout, producer, songwriter and recording artist. This was penned ten years after he had a number one hit on the R&B charts for Regal. His talent as an extraordinary pianist is all here…

Earl Gilliam talks tough with ‘Wrong doing woman” on Texas label SARG. Gilliam at eighteen years old was among the giants of Texas piano along with Amos Milburn. Gilliam was known later for his legendary jam session BBQ parties. The parties were announced on local blues radio with a coded message. If you knew, you knew… He is also a master of the Texas gulf coast sound.

The Five Fleets round out the A side with this doo whopper on Felsted, which licenced and distributed American records in the UK.

Katie Webster, a Houston, Texas born pianist, may be best known for her side work on the Excello and Goldband labels. She was also Otis Redding's touring pianist...what a beautiful gig to have...Here she is with our title track on Zynn.

Billy Lamont tells us, “I got a rock and roll gal” on New York’s Savoy label. Sammy Price is on piano and Kenny Burrell on guitar.

The unstoppable blues shouter Roy Brown gives us, “Rocking all the time.” Brown had trouble selling his “Good rockin’ tonight” to none other than Wynonie Harris. Cecil Grant heard him sing the song and insisted he call the president of DeLuxe records that instant. It just happened to be at 4 or 5 in the morning. Jules Braun picked up the phone and Brown sang it to him over the line. He was signed to a recording contract on the spot. It pays to answer the phone when Roy Brown calls!

“A looka A looka” by Larry Hart is up next. Dig those back-up singers. This was released on Okey records produced by Carl Davis.

Known for his risque blues numbers thanks to New Orleans own Dave Bartholomew, Billy Bland sends us with, “Grandmaw gave a party” on Old Town records, and our volume rounds out with “Troublin’ mind” from Big John Demarcos…

Again, we thank our producers at Farewell records for giving these amazing artists the ability to shout!

James Ventrella
Chicago, Illinois