Born on this day, anymore?

1937 Tom Paxton (US folk singer)
1944 Kinky Freidman (country singer/bandleader)
1961 Larry Mullen (U2)
1963 Johnny Marr (Smiths)
1965 Annabella Luin (Bow Wow Wow)
1966 Ad Rock (Adam Horowitze – Beastie Boys)
1968 Alistair McErlaine (Texas)
1970 Linn Berggren (Ace Of Base)

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On this day in 1914 Sonny Boy Williamson was born.

Sonny Boy was a hugely influential blues harmonica player. Arguably all the present blues harmonica players have been influenced to a greater or lesser extent. None more so than Sonny Boy Williamson.

In fact Sonny Boy Williamson was so influential that Sonny Boy Williamson copied Sonny Boy Williamson.

Confused? Don’t worry many avid blues fans have been, and still are, confused by just who is playing when they listen to Sonny Boy Williamson.

Let me explain. The Sonny Boy Williamson born today in 1914 was the original and his birth name was John Lee Curtis Williamson in Jackson Tennessee. He died on 1st June 1948 after being mugged in Chicago. In between he forged a harmonica style that has changed the world of music. He also wrote performed some of the seminal blues songs of the 20th century. His biggest selling song was a massive race record hit (remember, before the 60s in the States the blues and rhythm and blues were thought not to be fit for white people) was “Good Morning Little Schoolgirl”

Good Morning Little Schoolgirl has been recorded by John Lee Hooker, Lightnin’ Hopkins, Mississippi Fred McDowell, Muddy Waters, Doctor Ross, The Grateful Dead, Ten Years After, Johnny Winter, Yardbirds, Rolling Stones among many, many more.

Back to the point of this blog…….

So, Sonny Boy was hugely popular and living and recording in Chicago. Over in Arkansas There was harmonica player called Rice Miller (although he may have been born as Aleck Ford, or Rice Ford, or Aleck Miller, no one is really sure and as to his date of birth just don’t get me started….) Rice Miller appeared on the radio and played in a similar style to Sonny Boy. The radio shows sponsors was King Biscuits.

Arkansas is quite a way away from Chicago and though Sonny Boy’s recoreds were popular there was little chance that he would come to Arkansas to play. To King Biscuit it seemed obvious, call Rice Miller Sonny Boy Williamson and pretend (or least not deny) that it was the real Sonny Boy on their radio show! Strangely, it worked. Sonny Boy never sued over the hijacking of his name (but then Rice Miller did not record as Sonny Boy while Sonny Boy was alive – if you see what I mean). They both just got on with it. After Sonny Boy died Rice Miller recorded as Sonny Boy Williamson II. The trouble is that there are still compilations out there that get the 2 mixed up.

Look on the bright side, they were both great harmonica players, just enjoy the music!

People are still getting them mixed up. This is Rice Miller (Sonny Boy Williamson II) with the song thatgave a great band its name.

With Muddy Waters “Got My Mojo Working”

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On this day in 1924 one of the best blues performers ever was born.

Slim Harpo was born James Moore in Lobdel, Louisiana and was the eldest in an orphaned family.  He worked as a longshoreman and builder during the 30s.  He began performing in Baton Rouge as Harmonica Slim.  Later he backed his brother in Law Lightnin’ Hopkins (another blues great).

he was given the name Slim Harpo by his producer Jay Miller, a reference to his mastery of the harmonica.  His solo debut was amazing coupling “I’m a King Bee” with “I Got Love if You Want It”.  A string of hits followed.  His songs were covered by many in the British Blues boom of the 60s including The Stones, Yardbirds, Them, Pretty Things – infact, almost anyone playing in British clubs at the time.

His lazy delivery cooupled with understated but effective electric backing ensured his place in the pantheon of blues greats.

The Sons of The Delta with King Bee

Slim’s Original

The Immortal Muddy’s Version (turn this one up)

Stone’s version 1966

2 for the Price of One! The Wonderful Bonnie Raitt Singing ‘Coming Home’ and Steve Tyler with King Bee!

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Born on this day, any more?

1938 Troy Seals (James Brown’s backing band)
1938 Toni Brown (Joy of Cooking)
1949 Patti Santos (It’s a Beautiful Day)
1962 Mani (The Stone Roses)

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Born this day, any more?

1941 Tom Fogerty (Creedence Clearwater Revivial)
1943 Lee Graziano (American Breed)
1948 Joe Bauchard (Blue Oyster Cult)
1944 Phil May (Pretty Things)
1969 Pepa (Salt and Pepa)

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Born on this day, any more?

1916 Ray Conniff (orchestra leader)
1933 Joseph Pope (Tams)
1937 Eugene Pitt (The Jive Five)
1938 P.J. Proby (Hold Me)
1942 Doug Sahm (Sir Douglas Quintet)
1947 George Young (Easybeats)
1948 Glenn Frey (Eagles)
1950 Chris Glen (Sensational Alex Harvey Band)

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1942 Art Garfunkel (Simon and Garfunkel)
1946 Gram Parsons (Grievous Angel)
1946 Peter Noone (Herman’s Hermits)
1948 Pete Hammill (Van der Graaf Generator)
1948 Don McDougall (Guess Who)
1957 Mike Score (A Flock Of Seagulls)
1959 Bryan Adams
1961 David Bryson (Counting Crows)
1971 Jon Greenwood (Radiohead)

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Born today, any more?

1946 Rick Grech (Family, Blind Faith)
1951 Ronald Bell (Kool and the Gang)
1959 Eddie Macdonald (Alarm)
1962 Mags Kuruholmen (A-Ha)
1962 Anthony Kiedis (Red Hot Chili Peppers)

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