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September 02, 2005

Non-Random Play Friday

  1. Black Bottom Stomp - Jelly Roll Morton: Born in New Orleans in 1890, Morton liked to claim he was the inventor of jazz.
  2. Killing Floor - Howlin' Wolf: Howlin' Wolf was born in Mississippi in 1910 but like many blues artists, didn't achieve fame until late in his life.
  3. Mardi Gras in New Orleans - Professor Longhair: The Professor's jazz and blues piano style was heavily influenced by Carribean and Latin American styles. He was born in Bogalusa, LA, in 1918.
  4. Walkin' the Boogie - John Lee Hooker: One of THE giants of the blues, Hooker's wandering electric guitar and footstomps are as distinctive as his voice. He was born in Clarksdale, MS, in 1916.
  5. Hellhound on my Trail - Robert Johnson: Born sometime between 1909 and 1912 in Hazelhurst, MS, Johnson's famous story of meeting the devil at the crossroads has been the inspiration for numerous films and songs from Eric Clapton to "O Brother Where Art Thou's" Tommy Johnson to Ralph Macchio.
  6. You Shook Me - Willie Dixon: A heavy and usually uncredited source for 50's and 60's rock and roll, Led Zeppelin's first album wouldn't have existed without his songs ("You Shook Me" and "I Can't Quit You Baby"). Dixon was born in Vicksburg, MS, in 1915.
  7. Cornet Chop Suey - Louis Armstrong: Louis Armstrong learned to play cornet after being sent to the New Orleans Home for Colored Waifs as a boy. His influence on American music is undeniable.
  8. Aunt Hagar's Blues - Joe "King" Oliver - One of the first New Orleans bandleaders and the main influence on Louis Armstrong's development as a musician.
  9. Armagnac Dreams - Wynton Marsalis - Probably the most influential and most recognized true jazz artist of the last couple decades. Born into a family of jazz musicians in New Orleans in 1961, he, his brothers Branford (sax), Delfeayo (trombone), Jason (drums) and his father, Ellis (piano) have heroically carried the torch of real jazz against the insidious influences of Kenny G. et al.
  10. Trouble of the World - Mahalia Jackson: Born in New Orleans in 1911, Mahalia is undoubtedly the queen of gospel music.
  11. Over the Hill - R.L. Burnside: Burnside was born in Mississippi in 1933 and died yesterday in Memphis. He gained great fame in the mid 90's when the Jon Spencer Blues Explosion appeared on his OK 1996 album "A Asspocket Full of Whiskey." His best stuff is when he's playing solo slide guitar in the true dirty Delta blues style as he does on his '94 album "Too Bad Jim."
This is only a small sampling of the influential musicians who came from Louisiana and Mississippi. It's safe to say American music as we know it would not exist without these people.

Posted by Half-Cocked at September 2, 2005 08:31 PM

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