CHICAGO/ The Blues Yesterday 17
Le chanteur et guitariste "Birmingham" George Conner (né le 25 mai 1934 à Reform,
Al) est encore actif, participant à des festivals dans son Alabama natal! Avant
de refaire surface dans les années 2000 auprès de son compatriote Willie King
et de la Music Maker Relief Foundation, George a vécu plus de trente ans à
Chicago où il tenait un club, "The Place". Il a enregistré deux 45t
que nous proposons ici sous les noms de George Corner (sic) et Birmingham
George, ce dernier en compagnie de Otis Rush et Lonnie Brooks! Il est retourné
vivre en Alabama dans les années 1980 et y a rouvert un club.
Bien qu'il ait substantiellement enregistré, un certain
mystère continue d'entourer le chanteur et guitariste Big Daddy Simpson, probablement Marcellus Simpson et non Melvin
comme généralement signalé. Il a vécu et joué dans les clubs de Gary, Indiana
en compagnie de John et Grace Brim (qui se trouvent peut-être présents sur
certains de ses disques). Il semble en outre que pour la dernière séance, ce
soit son fils Melvin Simpson qui chante, ayant remplacé au pied levé son père
malade dans les studios. L'harmonica sur plusieurs des disques de ces Simpsons
là est joué par le mystérieux Middle Walter (James Jones)! Melvin Simpson
participera plus tard à l'orchestre de Big Daddy Kinsey.
Enfin, G.L.
Crockett (George L. Crockett) est le plus connu de ce lot, ayant obtenu un
"hit" avec son formidable rockabilly, Look out Mabel en 1958. Crockett est né le 18 septembre 1928 à
Carrollton, Ms. Venu à Chicago durant la deuxième guerre mondiale, Crockett a
chanté avec divers groupes dans les clubs du West Side avant d'être amené dans
les studios par son ami Louis Myers qui joue la fabuleuse partie de guitare de
ce morceau. En 1965, Crockett a encore obtenu un certain succès avec le
savoureux It's a man down there qui
sera repris par Jimmy Reed et Sonny Boy Williamson (Rice Miller). Il est décédé
peu de temps après à Chicago le 15 février 1967.
Mille remerciements à Steve Wisner pour sa constante
générosité.
Gérard HERZHAFT
With
this 17th (!!!) volume of our "Chicago/ The blues Yesterday" series,
let's bring the spotlight once again upon three very lesser known Chicago
bluesmen who, anyway, also making their own contribution to this great style.
Singer
and guitarist "Birmingham"
George Conner (born 25 May 1934 at Reform, Alabama) is still performing on
festivals! Before being rediscovered in the 2000's and recording again thanks
to the Music Maker Relief Foundation (and with his friend Willie King), Conner
lived in Chicago for three decades, holding a blues club "The Place"
and recording two much sought after singles under the names George Corner (sic)
and Birmingham George, this last one backed by Otis Rush and Lonnie Brooks! George
has gone back to Alabama during the 1980's, opening again a club.
Although
he has substantially recorded, singer and guitarist Big Daddy Simpson (probably Marcellus Simpson and not Melvin as it
is generally told) is still shrouded in some mystery. Simpson has lived and
played in Gary, Indiana with John and Grace Brim (who might be on some of his
recordings), coming to Chicago for some gigs and recording sessions. It seems
that for at least the last session inhere it is his son Melvin Simpson who replaces
his father who went ill just before the studio. The harmonica on many of those
recordings is blown by another mysterious name, Middle Walter (sic), in fact
James Jones. Melvin will also play and record behind Big Daddy Kinsey.
G. L. Crockett (George Crockett) is
better known for his two "hits". Born in Carrollton, Ms on 18th
September 1928, Crockett came to Chicago at the end of Second World War and
began to sing with several West Side blues bands for whom he also composed
songs. This is his friend Louis Myers (who also plays the guitar) who brought
him in the studios in 1958 for the recording of the fabulous Rockabilly blues
tune, Look out Mabel. In 1965, G.L.
Crockett would again hit the Chicago charts with It's a man down there, a great blues that will also be recorded by
Jimmy Reed and Sonny Boy (Rice Miller). Unfortunately, George Crockett died
shortly afterwards in Chicago on 15th February 1967.
A lot of thanks,
once again, to Steve Wisner for sharing some of the rarest records over here.
Gérard HERZHAFT
George
Conner (as
George Corner), vcl/g; band. Chicago,
Ill. 1962
01. Morning love blues
02. You know you don't love me
03. Too hot to hold
George Conner (as Birmingham George), vcl/g; Billy Emerson, og; Otis Rush, g; Lonnie Brooks, g; bs; dms.
Chicago, Ill. 1965
04. Poor boy
05. Back in town
Big Daddy
Simpson (Marcellus
Simpson), vcl/g; band. Chicago, Ill.
1960
06. I love my baby
07. Try and understand
Big Daddy Simpson, vcl/g; Middle Walter (James Jones),
hca; band. Chicago, Ill. 14 janvier 1963
08. What can I do
09. You don't believe a word I
say
Big Daddy Simpson, vcl/g; Marcellus Simpson, vcls;
band. Chicago, Ill. octobre 1963
10. Give me back my ring
11. Let your hair down baby
12. Lonely man
Melvin Simpson, vcl/g; Middle Walter, hca; band.
Chicago, Ill. 1964
13. Someday baby
14. So hard I & II
15. Don't leave me
16. I'm in love with you
G. L.
Crockett (George
Crockett), vcl; Louis Myers, g; Henry
Gray, pno; bs; dms. Chicago, Ill. juin 1958
17. Look out Mabel I & II
18. Did you ever love somebody
I & II
G.L. Crockett, vcl; Louis Myers, g; Henry Gray, pno;
Lorenzo Smith, t-sax; Reggie Boyd, bs; dms. Chicago, Ill. 17 juin 1965
19. It's a man down there
20. Every hour every day
21. Every goodbye ain't gone
22. Watch my 32
G.L. Crockett, vcl; Louis Myers, g; Henry Gray, pno;
Lorenzo Smith, t-sax; Reggie Boyd, bs; dms. Chicago, Ill. janvier 1966
23. Think twice before I go
24. Gonna make you mine
