TEXAS BLUES Volume 4

TEXAS BLUES Volume 4

           

Ce 4ème volume de notre série consacrée au Texas blues s'ouvre sur un personnage bien connu de le scène du R&B de Houston, Gladys Hill (née à De Quincy, La c. 1931- † Houston, Tx en 1976) qui, outre la poignée de 45t qu'elle a enregistrés sous divers noms, a été une des principales DJ's des stations de radio KZEY à Tyler (Tx) avant de participer à KYOK et KCOH à Houston, sous les noms de Dizzy Lizzy, Hotsy Totsy, Zing Zang... ou Grandma Gee Gee. Gladys avait aussi été la chanteuse de l'orchestre de B.B. King en 1953-54, enregistrant alors ses premiers titres. C'est aussi elle qui a mis le pied à l'étrier au bluesman texan Johnny Copeland qui l'accompagne sur plusieurs morceaux. Nous avons réussi à rassembler presque tous (?) les disques qu'elle a gravés autant sous son nom que ceux de Jannie Williams ou Grandma Gee Gee (avec Clifton Chenier).

           

Mildred Jones, (1933-2003) a aussi été la chanteuse de l'orchestre de B.B. King durant plusieurs années à partir de 1958, participant même à la tournée de B.B. en Union Soviétique en 1979. Elle n'a enregistré sous son nom qu'une poignée de 45t mais a été constamment présente dans les clubs chics de Houston et, à l'instar de Gladys Hill, a encouragé de nombreux talents du R&B et du jazz de la ville, tels Louie Carrington, Sonny Freeman, John Browning, Leon Warren et beaucoup d'autres.

            Ola V. Harper n'est jusqu'à présent connue que par un unique et excellent 45t, gravé en 1968 à Houston avec le guitariste Johnny Copeland et produit par Peppermint Harris. Toutes informations la concernant seront les bienvenues.

            Tout aussi mystérieuses, Joe Ann Mitchell et Betty Jean Washington ont aussi enregistré elles aussi de fort bons disques à Houston en 1950 et 1958. Pour elles aussi, toute information serait le bienvenue!

            Enfin, le guitariste/ harmoniciste et chanteur (blanc) de San Antonio Joe Wilson a dirigé les Sabres, un groupe de R&B très populaire durant les années 1958-65 qui a tourné sans discontinuer au Texas et en Oklahoma avec quantité de grands noms du R&B. Nous proposons ici une sélection de ses titres les plus blues.

            Merci pour son aide à Jose Yrrabera.

                                                                       Gérard HERZHAFT

            The well known Houston character Gladys Hill (born De Quincy, La c. 1931 - † Houston, Tx 1976) opens this 4th Volume of our Texas blues series with the handful of 45s she recorded under several names (Gladys Hill, Jannie Williams, Grandma Gee Gee...). But her reputation lied mostly thanks to her numerous pioneering "black" radio programmes she hosted on many Texas radio stations like KZEY at Tyler or KYOK and KCOH at Houston under the DJ nicknames of Dizzy Lizzy, Hotsy Totsy, Zing Zang or Grandma Gee Gee. Gladys had started her musical career being the female singer of B.B. King's band in 1953-54, waxing then her first titles. She also was instrumental in launching the career of many jazz and R&B Houston acts like guitar ace Johnny Copeland who backs her on some of her recordings.

            Mildred Jones (1933-2003) has also been the female singer of B.B. King's band for several years from 1958 to 1979 when she was part of B.B.'s Soviet Union tour. She also recorded only a few tracks under her name but was constantly singing at Houston's best jazz clubs. Mildred - like Gladys Hill - helped a lot of Houston young jazz and R&B talents like Louie Carrington, Sonny Freeman, John Browning, Leon Warren and many others.

            Ola V. Harper, Betty Jean Washington and Joe Anne Mitchell still stand as just names despite the very good singles they have each recorded in Houston. Harper was in the studios in 1968 backed by Johnny Copeland for two titles produced by Peppermint Harris. Joe Ann Mitchell recorded in 1958 for Don Robey. And Betty Jean waxed her only issued single with Pee Wee Crayton. She moved to Los Angeles later and appears on one live track with Chuck Norris on a Route 66 LP. Any infos about them would be most appreciated!

           

And at last we have San Antonio's white R&B singer, guitarist, harp player and bandleader Joe Wilson (with The Sabres) who was extremely popular in Northern Texas and Oklahoma during the years 1958-65, touring constantly with his band and also with a lot of major R&B names. We have selected some of his most bluesy tracks.

            Thanks for his help to Jose Yrrabera.

                                                                       Gérard HERZHAFT

TEXAS BLUES/ Volume 4

GLADYS HILL, vcl; Paul Monday, pno; Joe Scott, tpt; Al Grey, tb; Johnny Board, t-sax; Ray Johnson, bs; Ellis Bartee, dms. Houston, Tx. 1953

01. Please don't touch my bowl

Prison bound

Gladys Hill (as Janie Williams), vcl; Johnny Copeland, g; band. Houston, Tx. 1963

02. I've been true

03. Get up off your knees

Gladys Hill (as Grandma Gee Gee), vcl; Clifton Chenier, acc/vcl; Elmore Nixon, pno; Cleveland Keyes, g; Joe Morris, bs; Robert St Julien, dms. Houston, Tx. 1967

04. Grandma knows best

05. Just keep on scratching

Gladys Hill, vcl; band. Houston, Tx.

06. Gotta have you right now

Talking about love

JOE ANN MITCHELL, vcl; Onzie Horn Orchestra. Houston, Tx. 1956

07. Bad shape blues

08. I'll make it up to you

I'm walking out on you

OLA V. HARPER, vcl; Johnny Copeland, g; band. Houston, Tx. 1968

09. I wanna weep

10. Resisting

MILDRED JONES, vcl; Bill Harvey, t-sax; Joe Scott, tpt; Frank Dominguez, a-sax; Fred Ford, b-sax; Paul Ponday, pno; Johnny Parker, bs; Richie Goldberg, dms. Houston, Tx. 1951

11. It's been a long time

Lovesick girl

Mildred Jones, vcl; Jimmy Vincent, tpt; Pluma Davis, tb; Bob Lasefield, t-sax; Allen Clark, b-sax; Bert Kendrick, pno; Carl Lott, bs; Duke Barker, dms. Houston, Tx. 25 may 1954

12. I'm a business woman

13. Mr Thrill

14. Misused woman

Mildred Jones, vcl; band. Houston, Tx. march 1959

15. Business woman

Almost like being in love

BETTY JEAN WASHINGTON, vcl; Pee Wee Crayton, g; George Sanford's Orchestra. Houston, Tx. 1950

16. Betty Jean's blues

17. Why did you let me go

JOE WILSON, vcl/g/hca; The Sabres, band. San Antonio, Tx. 1960

18. Baby

19. Lost in a dream

20. Fast Slow

21. Fannie Mae

Joe Wilson, vcl/g; The Sabres, band. Dallas, Tx. 1963

22. Summertime

23. Tequila