Monday 3 September 2018

Memphis Slim born 3 September 1915



Memphis Slim (September 3, 1915 – February 24, 1988) was an American blues pianist, singer, and composer. He led a series of bands that, reflecting the popular appeal of jump blues, included saxophones, bass, drums, and piano. A song he first cut in 1947, "Every Day I Have the Blues", has become a blues standard, recorded by many other artists. He made over 500 recordings.

An amazingly prolific artist who brought a brisk air of urban sophistication to his frequently stunning presentation, John "Peter" Chatman -- better known as Memphis Slim -- assuredly ranks with the greatest blues pianists of all time. He was smart enough to take Big Bill Broonzy's early advice about developing a style to call his own to heart, instead of imitating that of his idol, Roosevelt Sykes. Soon enough, other 88s pounders were copying Slim rather than the other way around; his thundering ivories attack set him apart from most of his contemporaries, while his deeply burnished voice possessed a commanding authority.

As befits his stage name, John "Peter" Chatman was born and raised in Memphis; a great place to commit to a career as a bluesman. Sometime in the late '30s, he resettled in Chicago and began recording as a leader in 1939 for OKeh, then switched over to Bluebird the next year. Around the same time, Slim joined forces with Broonzy, then the dominant force on the local blues scene. After serving as Broonzy's invaluable accompanist for a few years, Slim emerged as his own man in 1944.

After the close of World War II, Slim joined Hy-Tone Records, cutting eight tracks that were later picked up by King. Lee Egalnick's Miracle label reeled in the pianist in 1947; backed by his jumping band, the House Rockers (its members usually included saxists Alex Atkins and Ernest Cotton), Slim recorded his classic "Lend Me Your Love" and "Rockin' the House." The next year brought the landmark "Nobody Loves Me" (better known via subsequent covers by Lowell Fulson, Joe Williams, and B.B. King as "Everyday I Have the Blues") and the heartbroken "Messin' Around (With the Blues)."


                                

The pianist kept on label-hopping, moving from Miracle to Peacock to Premium (where he waxed the first version of his uncommonly wise down-tempo blues "Mother Earth") to Chess to Mercury before staying put at Chicago's United Records from 1952 to 1954. This was a particularly fertile period for the pianist; he 
recruited his first permanent guitarist, the estimable Matt Murphy, who added some serious fret fire to "The Comeback," "Sassy Mae," and "Memphis Slim U.S.A."

Before the decade was through, the pianist landed at Vee-Jay Records, where he cut definitive versions of his best-known songs with Murphy and a stellar combo in gorgeously sympathetic support (Murphy was nothing short of spectacular throughout).

Slim exhibited his perpetually independent mindset by leaving the country for good in 1962. A tour of Europe in partnership with bassist Willie Dixon a couple of years earlier had so intrigued the pianist that he permanently moved to Paris, where recording and touring possibilities seemed limitless and the veteran pianist was treated with the respect too often denied even African-American blues stars at home back then.

He appeared on television in numerous European countries, acted in several French films and wrote the score for À nous deux France (1970), and performed regularly in Paris, throughout Europe, and on return visits to the United States. In the last years of his life, he teamed up with the respected jazz drummer George Collier. The two toured Europe together and became friends. 
After Collier died in August 1987, Slim rarely appeared in public, 
although he reunited with Matt "Guitar" Murphy for a gig at Antone's in Austin in 1987.

Two years before his death, Slim was named a Commander in the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres by the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of France. In addition, the U.S. Senate honoured Slim with the title of Ambassador-at-Large of Good Will.

Memphis Slim died on February 24, 1988, of renal failure in Paris, France, at the age of 72. He is buried at Galilee Memorial Gardens in Memphis, Tennessee.  (Compiled and edited from All Music & Wikipedia)

3 comments:

boppinbob said...

For “Memphis Slim - The International Playboy of the Blues 1948-1960 - From Chicago to London – All the R&B Hits and More” go here:

https://www111.zippyshare.com/v/DQHK3ayB/file.html

1. MESSIN' AROUND
2. MIDNIGHT JUMP
3. FRISCO BAY
4. BLUE AND LONESOME
5. HELP ME SOME
6. ANGEL CHILD
7. NOBODY LOVES ME
8. THE GIRL I LOVE
9. MOTHER EARTH
10. REALLY GOT THE BLUES
11. TRAIN IS COMIN'
12. THE QUESTION
13. NO MAIL BLUES
14. GONNA NEED MY HELP SOME DAY
15. THE COMEBACK
16. STEPPIN' OUT
17. MY GAL KEEPS ME CRYING
18. SLIM'S BLUES
19. THE COMEBACK
20. WISH ME WELL
21. ROCKIN' THE BLUES
22. FATTENIN' FROGS FOR SNAKES
23. I FEEL SO GOOD
24. BLUES IN LONDON (Part 1& 2)
25 ROCKIN' THE HOUSE


Embracing the white college market like so many of his contemporaries Memphis Slim stepped into the international market and became a very famous ambassador for the blues around the world.

This 25 track set is littered with hits and classic songs including: 'Messin' Around', 'Frisco Bay', 'Blue and Lonesome', 'Help Me Some', 'Angel Child', 'Mother Earth' and 'The Comeback'. Also featured here is 'Nobody Loves Me' and although not a hit for Memphis it went on to be recorded by Lowell Fulson and B.B. King as 'Every Day I Have the Blues' eventually becoming a hit and a blues standard.

This modest selection of titles from the vast recorded legacy of Memphis Slim presents a vivid picture of the career path he followed from the juke joints of the South to the sophisticated bars of Paris, France and is a must for blues fans. (Jasmine Notes)

A big thank you to Xena Dress @ ACM2 blog for original link

Anton said...

Just Great ! Thank You !

M. Fox said...

Another musical gem. Thank you.