Died On This Date (June 23, 2013) Bobby Blue Bland / Blues Great

Bobby “Blue” Bland
January 27, 1930 – June 23, 2013

bobby-blue-blandKnown as the “Lion of the Blues” as well as the “Frank Sinatra of the Blues,”  Bobby “Blue” Bland was an influential singer who successfully blurred the lines between soul, Gospel, and R&B, and by doing so, found himself years later resting at #44 of Rolling Stone‘s 100 Greatest Singers of All Time.  Born at the southeastern most tip of Tennessee, Bland eventually moved with his mother to Memphis where he began singing with local Gospel groups.  He soon started hanging out in the storied Beale Street clubs where he joined up with a loose group of local aspiring singers and musicians sometimes referred to as the Beale Streeters who counted B.B. King and Johnny Ace as members.  After an early ’50s stint in the U.S. Army, Bland returned to Memphis and began making records in 1954.  The early ones received little notice, but in the late ’50s and early ’60s, his records like “Farther Up The Road,” “Little Boy Blue,” and “I Pity The Fool” started showing up on the R&B charts.  By the late ’60s, he had no fewer than 23 Top Ten R&B hits and was later listed at #13 on a list of the best-selling R&B artists of all time.  In all, Bland released nearly 30 albums, his most recent being 2003’s Blues At Midnight.  Over the course of his career, Bland recorded or performed with B.B. King, Ray Charles, Sam Cooke, Van Morrison, Junior Parker, and many more.  In 1981, he was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame, and in 1992, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.  Bobby “Blue” Bland was 83 when he passed away on June 23, 2013.

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Died On This Date (January 21, 1999) Charles Brown / Beloved Blues Singer

Charles Brown
September 13, 1922 – January 21, 1999

Photo By Billy Vera
Photo By Billy Vera

Charles Brown was a smooth blues singer and pianist who is best remembered by his hits, “Driftin’ Blues” and “Merry Christmas Baby.”  He was partially responsible for bringing a softer tone and more relaxed feel to the blues.  Brown was signed to Aladdin Records in 1945 and began releasing what would become a string of hit R&B recordings.  He became a mainstay along Los Angeles’ storied Central Avenue scene, and is said to have influenced the likes of Ray Charles, Ivory Joe Hunter and Johnny Ace.   When rock ‘n roll showed up, Brown’s music became out of style with the young crowds, so he all but retired from music for the next couple of  decades.  During the ’80s however, Bonnie Raitt, shined the spotlight on him and helped him mount a comeback tour which lead to more critically acclaimed recordings.  On January 21, 1999, Charles Brown died of congestive heart failure.  He was 76.

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The Best of Charles Brown: Driftin' Blues (Remastered) - Charles Brown

Died On This Date (December 25, 1954) Johnny Ace / ’50s R&B Star

Johnny Ace (Born John Alexander)
June 9, 1929 – December 25, 1954

johnny-ace

Johnny Ace was a popular R&B singer during the early ’50s.  Ace became a professional musician after he served in the Korean War.  His first gig of prominence came when he joined B.B. King’s band.  After King and band mate Bobby “Blue” Bland, left the group, Ace took over lead vocals and changed the name to the Beale Streeters.  He landed a record deal in 1952 and released a handful of R&B hits including “My Song,” “Cross My Heart,” “Pledging My Love,” and “Never Let Me Go.”  On Christmas Day, 1954, Johnny Ace, age 25, died of a self-inflicted gun wound.  It has been wrongly reported that Ace was playing Russian Roulette, when in fact, according to witnesses such as Big Mama Thornton, he shot himself accidentally while basically showing off after a concert.

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Memorial Album - Johnny Ace