Bobby Blue Bland, the blues and soul singer, was born 85 years old today. Bland was an original member of the Beale Streeters, and is sometimes referred to as the Lion of the Blues. Along with such artists as Sam Cooke, Ray Charles and Junior Parker, Bland developed a sound that mixed gospel with the blues and R&B. Born in the small town of Rosemark, Tennessee, he later moved to Memphis with his mother. Bland started singing with local gospel groups there and began frequenting the citys famous Beale Street where he became associated with an ad hoc circle of aspiring musicians named the Beale Streeters. In 1956, Bland began touring with Junior Parker. Initially, he doubled as valet and driver, a role he reportedly fulfilled for B. B. King and Rosco Gordon. Simultaneously, Bland began asserting his characteristic vocal style. Melodic big-band blues singles, including Farther Up the Road (1957) and Little Boy Blue (1958) reached the U.S. R&B Top 10, but Bland’s craft was most clearly heard on a series of early 1960s releases including Cry Cry Cry, I Pity The Fool and the sparkling Turn On Your Love Light, which became a much-covered standard. Until his death, Bland continued to record new albums, perform occasional tours alone, with guitarist/producer Angelo Earl and also with B.B. King. He also plus appearances at blues and soul festivals worldwide. Van Morrison was an early adherent of Bland (he covered Aint Nothing You Cant Do on his 1974 live album Its Too Late to Stop Now) and on occasion had Bland as a guest singer at his concerts. He also included a previously unreleased version of a March 2000 duet of Morrison and Bland singing Tupelo Honey on his 2007 compilation album, The Best of Van Morrison Volume 3. Bland died on June 23, 2013, at his home in Germantown, Tennessee, a suburb of Memphis, after what family members described as an ongoing illness. He was 83. After his death, his son told the news media that Bland had recently discovered that musician James Cotton was his half-brother. Here, Bland performs “Ain’t No Sunshine When She’s Gone.”
Posted on: Tue, 27 Jan 2015 05:59:08 +0000
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