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mardi 11 février 2020

DUKE HENDERSON/ Complete Recordings


DUKE HENDERSON/ Complete Recordings


           
Despite his quite important numbers of recordings, Sylvester C. Henderson aka Big Duke aka Studs Henderson or more often Duke Henderson is largely undocumented. Very few (if none?) articles in magazines, few researches, only mentions in some books... the blues shouter doesn't seem to have raised a big interest among blues and R&B circles.
            Born in Liberty, Mo. 5th April 1924, Sylvester whereabouts are not known. The facts are that Henderson was living in the Los Angeles area during the 1940's, singing in cabarets with several bands as a blues shouter a la Big Joe Turner. Duke was introduced to the Apollo label by Jack McVea in 1945, waxing a number of sessions for the label, backed by the cream of West Coast jazz and R&B musicians of the era (Jack McVea, Mingus, Gene Phillips...). Despite their high quality, those recordings were not commercially successful and Duke will have to wait almost two years before entering again in a studio, this time for Modern Records and backed by the Al "Cake" Wichard Sextette. Those once again great 78s must have been selling better because Henderson would be back in the studios quite often during the subsequent years. He recorded regularly for some of the best indies West Coast labels like Downbeat, Swing Time, Specialty, Imperial and until a final session for Flair in 1953. On all those records, Henderson displays a very "big" voice, emulating Turner for the better with strength, subtlety and drive.

            During the early 1950's, Big Duke turned himself into religion, putting down his blues shouter past. Under the name of Brother Henderson, he started a ministerial career, being a pastor of Bethany Apostle Community Church, preaching Gospel on several radio stations. At the end of his life, he was running a small record shop from where he was operating the Proverb label.
            Sylvester Henderson died at his Pacoima, Ca. home on 9 April 1973.
            This short article is largely based on Kirk Silsbee's liner notes and the essential book Blues/ A regional experience by Eric LeBlanc & Bob Eagle. Thanks also to bluesjumper 33 for providing us some of the rarest tracks here. Despite my efforts, I was still missing three titles by Big Duke. Thanks a lot to Mike & Mike from Australia for providing those three extremely rare tracks!
                                                                       Gérard HERZHAFT



CD1:  
Duke Henderson, vcl; Karl Georgen tpt; Jewell Grant, a-sax; Lucky Thompson, t-sax; Gene Porter, clt; Gene Phillips, g; Wilbert Baranco, pno; Charlie Mingus, bs; Lee Young, dms. Los Angeles, 28 november 1945
01. Don't keep me waiting
02. Mama bear blues
03. S.H. blues
04. Not worth a dime
05. Fool hearted woman
06. H.D. blues (Hot Dog blues)
Duke Henderson, vcl; Teddy Buckner, pno; Happy Johnson, tb; Wild Bill Moore, t-sax; Wilbert Baranco, pno; Gene Phillips, g; John H, bs; Rabon Tarrant, dms. Los Angeles, Ca. 4 december 1945
07. Let's get vootin'
08. Boogie man blues
09. Don't slam the door
10. Blues in the background I & II
11. Don't forget I'm a married man
12. Woman's blues I & II
13. Don't fall in love with me baby
14. Homecoming blues
Duke Henderson, vcl; Jesse Perdue, tpt; Marshall Royal, a-sax; Jack Mc Vea, t-sax/b-sax; Bob Mosley, pno; Gene Phillips, g; Frank Clarke, bs; Rabon Tarrant, dms. Los Angeles, Ca. 5 december 1945
15. Oo wee baby oo wee
16. Get your kicks
17. Lottery blues
18. Wiggle wiggle woogie
Duke Henderson, vcl; Tiny Webb, g; George Mason, pno; Orville Austin, bs. Los Angeles, Ca. mai 1946
G.I. blues
Leona of L.A.
Three extremely rare tracks (tose two above + Louse in the hen house) are now here. Thanks a lot to Mike & Mike from Australia for sharing.
Duke Henderson, vcl; Al Wichard, dms. Los Angeles, Ca. december 1946
19. Did you ever love a woman?
20. His Majesty's boogie
Duke Henderson, vcl; Maxie Ward, tpt; Ralph Bowden, tb; King Perry, a-sax; Earl Payton, pno; Ike Brown, bs; Al Wichard, dms. Los Angeles, Ca. december 1947
21. Leona's boogie
22. 18th Vine Street boogie
23. I am the blues
24. San Quentin quail
Duke Henderson, vcl; band. Los Angeles, Ca. november 1948
25. Get your mind outta the gutter
26. Blues in the morning
27. Old maid's prayer
28. Dr Duke boogie

CD2:
Duke Henderson, vcl; horns; Jay Mc Shann, pno; Bill Davis, bs; Al Wichard, dms. Los Angeles, Ca. 11 december 1948
29. Gravels in my pillow
30. Trouble in mind
31. In the evening
Duke Henderson, vcl; band. Los Angeles, Ca. 23 december 1948
32. Low down dog
33. Bewildered
34. Proposition baby
35. K.C. boogie
36. I'm not fooling
37. Stud's boogie
Louse in the hen house
A lot of thanks to Mike & Mike for providing this extremely rare track
Duke Henderson, vcl; band. Los Angeles, Ca. 2 march 1949
38. I hung my head and cried
Duke Henderson, vcl; band. Los Angeles, Ca. june 1950
39. Rock me in your chair
40. Mama's clock stopped ticking
41. Situation blues
42. Worried and blue
Duke Henderson, vcl; Monroe Tucker, pno; band. Los Angeles, Ca. 6 december 1950
43. Live my own life I & II
44. Kinfolks
45. Ten days of agony
Duke Henderson, vcl; Pete Johnson, pno; bs; dms. Los Angeles, Ca. 1951
46. Hard luck women and strife
Duke Henderson, vcl; band. Los Angeles, Ca. 27 august 1952
47. Country girl
48. Lucy Brown
Duke Henderson, vcl; band. Los Angeles, Ca. 1953
49. Hey Dr Kinsey
50. Hello baby
51. Beggin' and pleading
52. Baby beat it

After he gave up R&B:, he recoirded as Brother Henderson's Spiritual Lambs:ca. 1955
I Made Up My Mind / Pass Me Not 



 A lot of thanks to Mike & Mike and Marv Goldberg for their help

28 commentaires:

  1. DUKE HENDERSON/ Complete Recordings
    CD1:
    https://mega.nz/#!KYoHEY6B!3zrgmItVNEdzw1wNStldrPpHns6F6tp-Ew9LGjREdL8

    CD2:
    https://mega.nz/#!GRhXWSoZ!k9Djvhds4P4t0SOE3qpODw-n0J9AjRs6P_3kCYAp0f4

    OK? And don't forget to give us feedback!

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  2. Mucho thanks for this fine offering Señor!

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  3. Fantastic collection. Merci, Gerard.

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  4. An absolutely unknown for me, thanks Sr.Herzhaft

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  5. Many thanks Gerard for another interesting collection of rare blues/R&B recordings. I've heard the name before but really can't recall if I've heard any of his recordings in the past, so I'm looking forward to having a close listen later today.

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  6. Thank you Gerard , much appreciated .


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  7. Lovely - thanks for posting, Gerard!

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  8. Thank-You Gerard,Big Duke Henderson is a much underrated west coast blues shouter, I've never heard many of these, so fantastic work man

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  9. Gerard,
    There are 2 live tracks by Duke Henderson on ' Hunter Hancock Presents Blues & Rhythm Midnight Matinee' on KIX 1200 from Jonas Bernholm. Low Down Dog and We're Gonna Rock. I'm sure you know this but great in a live context !

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  10. Not real familiar with Henderson-really looking forward to learning more about him-thank you

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  11. Thanks again, Gerard, for another fine collection by a lesser-known artist - and with excellent accompanists.

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  12. Excellent, Gerard, thank you very much!

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  13. merci pour ces faces RnB West Coast

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  14. Merci beaucoup. 32 autres chansons à ajouter au CD Delmark 668 (Apollo) que j'ai depuis sa première edition.

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  15. Hi Gerard, Thank you for the posting. All I knew were the Apollo tracks on the Jack McVea Delmark cd, But this is great, a real discovery. All the best!

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  16. R&B author and resarcher Marv Goldberg sent me some discographical corrections about Duke Henderson's disco:
    This is from the CD track listing you gave, with some notes:
    APOLLO - Los Angeles, 28 November 1945
    01. Don't Keep Me Waiting ?????
    02. Mama Bear Blues ?????
    03. S.H. Blues S1148
    04. Not Worth A Dime ?????
    two numbers missing here
    05. Fool Hearted Woman S1151
    06. H.D. Blues S1152
    APOLLO - Los Angeles, 4 December 1945
    07. Let's Get Vootin' S1153 (He's saying "vooted")
    08. Boogie Man Blues S1154
    09. Don't Slam The Door S1155
    10. Blues In The Background S1156
    11. Don't Forget I'm A Married Man S1157
    12. Women's Blues, part 1 S1158 It's "women's", not "woman's"
    Women's Blues, part 2 S1159
    13. Don't Fall In Love With Me Baby S1160
    14. Home Coming Blues S1161 "Home Coming" is two words
    APOLLO - Los Angeles, 5 December 1945 APOLLO
    15. Oo' Wee Baby, Oo' WeeS1163
    16. Get Your KicksS1164
    17. Lottery Blues S1165
    18. Wiggle Wiggle Woogie S1166
    GLOBE - Los Angeles, ca. April 1946
    G.I. Blues 10A
    Leona Of L.A. 10B
    MODERN - Los Angeles, Ca. December 1946
    19. Did You Ever Love A Woman? 130A
    20. His Majesty's Boogie 786
    EXCELSIOR - Los Angeles, Ca. December 1947
    december 1947 is much too late; early spring 1947 is more likely. ex 504 was from 3/47
    21. Leona's Boogie
    22. 18th & Vine St. Blues
    23. I Am The Blues
    24. San Quentin Quail
    MODERN - Los Angeles, Ca. 11 December 1948
    29. Gravel In My PillowHe says 'gravel', not "gravels"
    30. Trouble In Mind 879
    31. In The Evening When The Sun Goes Down 880
    DOWN BEAT - Los Angeles, Ca. November 1948
    25. Get Your Mind Outta The Gutter
    26. Blues In The Morning
    27. Old Maid's Prayer 147A
    28. Dr. Dukes Boogie label has no apostrophe147B
    CAPITOL - Los Angeles, Ca. 23 December 1948 AS STUDS HENDERSON
    32. Low Down Dog3551
    33. Bewildered 3552
    34. Proposition Baby 3554
    35. K.C. Boogie
    36. I'm Not Fooling
    37. Studs' Boogie 3821 FROM A DIFFERENT SESSION
    xx Louse In The Hen House
    ??? Los Angeles, Ca. 2 March 1949 WHO WAS THIS RECORDED FOR???
    38. I Hung My Head And Cried
    LONDON - Los Angeles, Ca. June 1950
    39. Rock Me In Your Chair
    40. Mama's Clock Stopped Ticking
    41. Situation Blues
    42. Worried And Blue
    IMPERIAL - Los Angeles, Ca. 6 December 1950
    43. Live My Own Life I & II
    44. Kinfolks IM-239
    45. Ten Days Of AgonyIM-240
    ???? Los Angeles, Ca. 1951 WHO WAS THIS RECORDED FOR???
    46. Hard Luck Women And Strife
    SPECIALTY - Los Angeles, Ca. 27 August 1952
    47. Country Girl
    48. Lucy Brown
    FLAIR - Los Angeles, Ca. 1953
    49. Hey Dr Kinsey FL141
    50. Hello Baby FL142
    51. Beggin' And Pleadin' FL159 Separate sessions
    52. Baby Beat It FL160

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  17. Brilliant. thanks for sharing. I am a big fan of Duke Henderson. Several Tracks here hearing for the first time. pity about the missing track Louse in the Hen House. Do you have a copy of that?

    Appreciate this
    Dave

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  18. Gerard, there are two tracks that does not appear in the above compilation - Low Down Dog & We’re Gonna Rock. They were released on Route 66 KIX 1200 (Hunter Hancock Presents Blues & Rhythm Midnight Matinee 1951).
    The 1st track is Cecil "Count" Carter and Hos Orchestra, and the 2nd, with Maxwell Davis and His Orchestra. Both were recorded at the Olympic Auditorium in Los Angeles, the 1st on 29 September 1951 and the 2nd on 6 October 1951.
    I have both tracks if you want them.
    PS. The three tracks that were missing in your original post is not available when I click the links. Are you able to post them again when it's convenient?

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    Réponses
    1. Thanks Ballas. But I usually don't include the "live" recordings on my comp.
      The three extra tracks by Duke Henderson that were on my ex-YouTube channel are now here:
      https://www.mediafire.com/file/sy80qkhn3w7iuni/Duke+Henderson+3+missing+tracks.zip/file

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  19. Thank you very much Gerard - I appreciate it very much.

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  20. There are only 2 kinds of Dukes: The true ones and the shitty ones. This one sure is 1 Real!
    SZ.

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