Re: [Harp-L] 3 little known, old-school Chicago blues harpists

[David Brown <nonidesign@xxxxxxxxx>]

One of the albums I studied intensely as a kid was the Chicago Slim Blues
Band's "Love Me or I'll Kill Ya". The instrumental "Harpsucker"  kicks it.
I doubt it is available other than on vinyl, but if you can find it....git
it.


On Sat, Jun 29, 2013 at 1:09 PM, Mick Zaklan <mzaklan@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:

>    I think I'm on record here as stating that the first really good
> amplified harp player I ever saw live was Bill Lupkin, back around 1969 or
> 1970.  Bill had the enviable gig of playing and recording with one of the
> world's greatest bluesmen, the late Jimmy Rogers. I'm tickled to see that
> Mr. Lupkin is still doing his thing 40+ years later:
> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rJKVZjWRMac.
>    It's also great to see Ron Sorin back in action after a decade long
> lay-off:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tBrQCNbzyig.  Ron, in my opinion,
> nullifies the argument that you can't sound good playing the blues unless
> you tongue-block.  He's been a pucker player all his life and sounds just
> fine here.
>    Reaching back into the archives, the late slide guitarist and harpist
> Chicago Slim was one of the earliest white guys to play in black Chicago
> blues clubs.  You never hear about him because his temper and violent
> behavior alienated a lot of people, including folks who could have helped
> his career.  I used to catch him quite a bit in the old days, and his harp
> style kind of reflects that personality:
> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tG2wjyM_V9I.  At various times; Slim
> collected and sold clown paintings by serial killer John Wayne Gacy, went
> to court because he dumped a gallon of paint over a paint salesman's head,
> and once allegedly seized Bette Midler's manager by collar and dragged the
> man out of his seat and across his desk while threatening him.  In the end,
> there was no money to bury Slim and the body laid unclaimed for
> quite awhile before someone finally stepped forward with the cash.
>
> Mick Zaklan
>