Wilbert “Junkyard Dog” Arnold
1955 – December 26, 2008
Wilbert “Junkyard Dog” Arnold was a respected New Orleans drummer who played with Walter “Wolfman” Washington’s band the Roadmasters for over 20 years. He was 53 when he passed away on December 26, 2008 following a long illness.
Robert Ward
October 15, 1938 – December 25, 2008
Robert Ward was a respected blues and R&B guitarist who came to prominence during the ’60s. After moving to Dayton, Ohio from his home in Georgia, Ward formed a group called the Ohio Untouchables which eventually morphed into the popular funk group, the Ohio Players. He later moved to Detroit where he collaborated with many of R&B’s greatest acts, including Wilson Pickett and the Temptations. Ward released several albums of his own as well. They include Fear No Evil, Hot Stuff, and New Role Soul. Robert Ward was 70 when he passed away in his home on December 25, 2008. He had been suffering from a variety of ailments.
Thanks to Craig Rosen at Number 1 Albums for the assist.
Norman “Dutch” Mason
February 19, 1938 – December 23, 2006
Dutch Mason was a Canadian musician and singer who fans dubbed, the Prime Minister of the Blues. Mason began his music career during the ’50s in rock ‘n roll and rockabilly, but switched to the blues during the ’60s. By the ’70s, he was one of the most popular touring acts throughout Canada. Over the course of his career, he released over a dozen albums and was nominated for at least two Juno Awards, Canada’s version of the Grammys. He also hosted his own yearly blues festival where performers from all over the world came to play. Dutch Mason, 68, passed away from health related issues on December 23, 2006.
Gertrude “Ma” Rainey
September, 1882 or April 26, 1886 – December 22, 1939
Called the Mother of the Blues, Ma Rainey was one of it’s earliest stars as well as one of it’s first generation to record. She was a direct influence on Bessie Smith and no doubt, countless more. She began her music career as a vaudeville performer at just 14. Several years later, Smith joined that same troupe as a dancer and soon learned to sing the blues from Rainey. In 1923, Rainey made her first recording, and over the next five years, she recorded more than 100 songs, including “C.C. Rider” (better known as “See See Rider”), “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom,” and “Bo Weevil Blues.” Over the years, she was backed by such musicians as Louis Armstrong, Coleman Hawkins, and Fletcher Henderson. With the music of blues’ first generation falling out of favor by the early ’30s, Rainey retired to run a couple of theaters in her hometown in 1932. On December 22, 1939, Ma Rainey died of a heart attack.
Albert King
April 25, 1923 – December 21, 1992
Albert King was a singer and electric guitarists who is considered one of the all-time greats of the blues. What distinguished him from the others is that he was left-handed but played a right-handed guitar upside-down. He also prefered to play what is called a “flying V” guitar that is usually played by metal guitarists. King scored a few minor hits during the early days of his career, but after signing with Stax Records in 1966, he found himself being backed by Booker T. and the MGs on what would become numerous influential records. His hits included “Crosscut Saw” and “Born Under a Bad Sign,” which has since become a blues standard. King has been cited as a direct influence on the likes of Gary Moore, Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, Joe Walsh, and Stevie Ray Vaughan. Albert King died of a heart attack on December 21, 1992. He was 69 years old.
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