How Long - Eddie Chamblee

Edwin Leon Chamblee (24 February 1920 – 1 May 1999), known as Eddie "Long Gone" Chamblee, was an American tenor and alto saxophonist, and occasional vocalist, who played jazz and R&B. He was born in Atlanta, Georgia, and grew up in Chicago where he began learning the saxophone at the age of 12. After leaving Wendell Phillips High School, he studied law at Chicago State University, playing in clubs in the evenings and at weekends. He played in US Army bands between 1941 and 1946. After leaving the army, he joined Miracle Records. He played on Sonny Thompson's hit record "Long Gone" in 1948, and on its follow-up, "Late Freight", credited to the Sonny Thompson Quintet featuring Eddie Chamblee. Both records reached no. 1 on the national Billboard R&B chart. Two follow-up records, "Blue Dreams" and "Back Street", also made the R&B chart in 1949. From 1947, he led his own band in Chicago clubs, as well as continuing to record with Thompson and on other sessions in Chicago, including The Four Blazes' no. 1 R&B hit "Mary Jo" in 1952. In 1954 he joined Lionel Hampton's band for two years, touring in Europe, before returning to lead his own group in Chicago. He accompanied both Amos Milburn and Lowell Fulson on some of their recordings, and then worked as accompanist to Dinah Washington on many of her successful recordings in the late 1950s and early 1960s. The two performed vocal duets in a style similar to that later adopted by Washington with Brook Benton, and were briefly married; he was her fifth husband. Chamblee also recorded for the Mercury and EmArcy labels, and with his own group in the early 1960s for the Roulette and Prestige labels. In the 1970s he rejoined Hampton for tours of Europe, where he also played with Milt Buckner, and he recorded for the French Black & Blue label. He also performed with the Count Basie Orchestra in 1982, and from the 1980s until his death with the Harlem Blues and Jazz Band, as well as in clubs in New York City. He died in New York in 1999 at the age of 79.
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Who'll Get It When I'm Gone - Mary Jackson, Perry Bradford's Jazz Phools

Perry Bradford (14 February 1893, Montgomery, Alabama – 20 April 1970, New York City) was an African-American composer, songwriter, and vaudeville performer. Perry Bradford grew up in Atlanta, where his family moved when he was six, and in 1906 started working with minstrel shows. He played in Chicago as a solo pianist as early as 1909 and visited New York City the following year. Through extensive experience with traveling minstrel shows and theatre companies, Bradford obtained huge exposure and experience to African American folksongs. A huge feat of Bradford’s was severing the walls of racial prejudice that kept African-American singers from recording. He is, too often, unrecognized for this accomplishment. Prior to Bradford’s influence, African-American artists recorded in a style that was closely similar to those of white dance orchestras. There was little to no trace of African-American musical characteristics present in their recordings. Bradford persevered in getting the recording industry to value recordings of African-American artists recording in the style of their own subculture. As a pianist, singer, dancer and composer, Bradford worked in theatre circuits throughout the South and into the North for the next decade (1908–1919) in a song and dance act billed as "Bradford and Jeanette"., While in New York City, Bradford convinced Fred Hager, of Okeh Records, to record Mamie Smith and became her musical director. Smith starred in Bradford's show Made in Harlem (1918). Bradford was also responsible for Smith being the first African-American blues singer to appear on record (singing his "Crazy Blues") in 1920. Bradford claimed that his revue, Made in Harlem, was the first stage production that offered blues matter to the large, northern audience in Harlem. Bradford was able to organize the first recording session, “That Thing Called Love,” that highlighted an African-American artist, accompanied by a white studio band, performing material specific to the African-American culture. He had offices in the Gaiety Theatre office building in Times Square. Bradford toured and recorded with Smith, worked with Alberta Hunter and also headed seven recording sessions of his own during 1923–1927. Among Bradford's sidemen were Johnny Dunn, Bubber Miley, Garvin Bushell, Louis Armstrong (on two numbers in 1925), Buster Bailey, and James P. Johnson. Bradford continued to promote blues and jazz recordings by publishing and managing. Bradford’s influence in the recording industry was negatively affected by the crash of the stock market, as well as by changes in the character of jazz and African-American songs. He was an irregular participant after the 1940s. With the rise of the Great Depression, Bradford slipped away into obscurity. In later years, he appeared to exaggerate his role in early blues, possibly a reaction to his being nearly forgotten. In 1957, Little Richard had a hit with Bradford's "Keep A-Knockin'". In 1965, Bradford's autobiography Born With the Blues was published (New York: Oak Publications) with a foreword by Noble Sissle. Bradford's best-known songs were "Crazy Blues", "That Thing Called Love", and "You Can't Keep a Good Man Down".

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He Knows How Much We Can Bear - Clara Hudman

Highly regarded by Thomas A. Dorsey, Clara Ward, and Mahalia Jackson, gospel singer Georgia Peach was born Clara Hudman in Atlanta on October 10, 1899 to Esther Hudman, a devoutly religious woman who raised three children by herself. While they were quite young, Clara and her brothers Ralph and Luther formed a trio and sang for the congregation at Mt. Moriah Baptist Church. Clara became well known throughout Atlanta's African-American religious community as a talented, impromptu vocalist who specialized in "What a Friend We Have in Jesus" and "Daniel in the Lion's Den." Among her friends at that time was a boy nearly ten years her junior who would eventually sermonize and make records as Rev. C.J. Johnson. At the age of 16, Clara quit school and, with permission from the deacons of Mt. Moriah, moved in with the family of Rev. T.T. Gholston, serving as a nurse for Mrs. Gholston, who eventually succumbed to an incurable disease. Only six months after losing his wife, the Reverend married 18-year-old Clara, who was by then anchoring the household as cook and surrogate mother for his two young boys. This union met with considerable resistance from the church members who objected to a mature, recently widowed man of God marrying a considerably younger woman who had resided with the family while his deceased wife was still alive. Attempts at reconciliation through carefully worded sermons and public displays of proper behavior did nothing to dispel the general disapproval, which must have worn away at the Reverend, for after a few years he began hitting the bottle. One Sunday morning he tried to deliver a sermon while intoxicated, grew confused and was unable to finish -- an unforgivable transgression and the last straw as far as his Baptist congregation was concerned. Ostracized and driven from the pulpit, Gholston took Clara and his sons with him to Detroit where he was able to start over with a fresh congregation, although alcoholism appears to have sabotaged their marriage as they split up after relocating to New York City. Lord Let Me Be More Humble in This World According to Clara herself, the turning point in her life and work was the transition from the Baptists to the Pentecostals as she joined Bishop Robert C. Lawton's Refuge Church of Our Lord. She made her first recordings -- as Sister Clara Hudman -- for the Okeh label on Friday, December 12, 1930, assisted by Deacon Leon Davis and Sisters Jordan and Norman, individuals who backed Reverend J.M. Gates on his records during the years 1927-1930. Perhaps it was Gates who put in a word for her with the management at Okeh, for they shared the same studio on the same day and she had some involvement with his congregation back in Atlanta. Her best performance from this session, a fine interpretation of Rev. Charles Albert Tindley's "Stand by Me," is prized for its soulful immediacy and hints at where she was heading as a trailblazing gospel artist. Hudman, whose name is frequently seen listed as Hudmon, was also identified as Clara Belle Gholston and Clara Gholston Brock or Brook. In 1931 and 1932, she recorded at least two versions of "When the Saints Go Marching In," one of which found her in a collaborative duo billed as Rev. Snowball & Sunshine. Her career was bolstered by a great deal of touring and recording, and especially by an appearance at Radio City Music Hall in 1939. By October, 1942, she was recording for Decca with a male vocal group and billed as Georgia Peach. Subsequent achievements and a string of recordings for the Candy, Dot, and Savoy labels place her squarely in league with Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Madame Ernestine B. Washington and Mahalia Jackson. Georgia Peach passed on in 1966. Her recordings have gradually become available in reissue compilations, and an excellent sampling was released in 2005 by the Gospel Friend label under the title Lord Let Me Be More Humble in This World. A truly comprehensive survey of her complete works, however, has yet to be assembled. If you support live Blues acts, up and coming Blues talents and want to learn more about Blues news and Fathers of the Blues, -  ”LIKE” ---Bman’s Blues Report--- Facebook Page! I’m looking for great talent and trying to grow the audience for your favorite band!

If Dreams Were Money - Michael Allman

Michael Allman - Biography Michael Allman is the eldest son of Southern Rock Legend Gregg Allman. That doesn't mean that his musical path has been paved with gold. Born in Daytona Beach, Florida, he led the “Michael Allman Band” throughout most of the 1990's before he traded it in for the serenity of domestic life. It was during this period that he faced his greatest obstacle, testicular cancer in 2002. After a full recovery, Michael decided to give music another attempt and in mid 2007 began singing and writing again. In 2008 he started recording his debut CD. During that year he kept busy while working on his CD, by making over 100 guest appearances with many different bands and musicians from coast to coast. In January 2009 he formed the “Allman-Tyler Band” w/ guitarist Tony Tyler. After the Spring 2009 ATB tour, he went back to work on his debut CD. In the Fall of 2009, he completed and released “Michael Allman’s Hard Labor Creek” on his own All-Skinn Music Group label. With an almost ghostly likeness to his father, his world-weary voice and sheer power of the music seeps into your soul and you realize this is the real thing. Allman is planning a Spring 2010 U.S. Tour to support the CD with songs like “Circus Full of Clowns”, “If Dreams Were Money” and the unique “ Mule Named Whiskey” that will make everyone, young and old want to dance. If you support live Blues acts, up and coming Blues talents and want to learn more about Blues news and Fathers of the Blues, -  ”LIKE” ---Bman’s Blues Report--- Facebook Page! I’m looking for great talent and trying to grow the audience for your favorites band!

LIVE THE LIFE - Billy Wright

Billy Wright (May 21, 1932 – October 28, 1991) was an American jump blues singer. Billy Wright was born in Atlanta, Georgia. Throughout his career, he was known as the "Prince of the Blues." He was a key figure in Atlanta blues after World War II and had a major influence on rock and roll pioneer Little Richard, whom he helped get his first recording contract. He recorded his last recordings in 1959. He continued to do shows around Atlanta until he suffered a stroke, and then died of a pulmonary embolism, just before his 1991 Halloween Show at the Royal Peacock in Atlanta. If you support live Blues acts, up and coming Blues talents and want to learn more about Blues news and Fathers of the Blues, -  ”LIKE” ---Bman’s Blues Report--- Facebook Page! I’m looking for great talent and trying to grow the audience for your favorites band!

HE MAY BE YOUR MAN - Trixie Smith

Trixie Smith (1895 – September 21, 1943) was an African American blues singer, recording artist, vaudeville entertainer, and actress. She made four dozen recordings. Born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia, she came from a middle class-background. She attended Selma University in Alabama before moving to New York around 1915. Smith worked in minstrel shows and on the TOBA vaudeville circuit, before making her first recordings for the Black Swan label in 1922. Amongst these were "My Man Rocks Me (With One Steady Roll)" (1922), written by J. Berni Barbour, of historic interest as the first secular recording to reference the phrase "rock and roll". Her record inspired various lyrical elaborations, such as "Rock That Thing" by Lil Johnson and "Rock Me Mama" by Ikey Robinson. Also in 1922, Trixie Smith won first place and a silver cup in a blues singing contest at the Inter-Manhattan Casino in New York, sponsored by dancer Irene Castle, with her song "Trixie's Blues," singing against Alice Carter, Daisy Martin and Lucille Hegamin. She is most remembered for "Railroad Blues," (1925) a song that featured one of Smith's most inspired vocal performances on record, and "The World Is Jazz Crazy and So Am I" (1925). Both songs feature Louis Armstrong on cornet. A highly polished performer, her records include several outstanding examples of the blues on which she is accompanied by artists such as James P. Johnson, and Freddie Keppard. She recorded with Fletcher Henderson's Orchestra for Paramount Records in 1924–1925. As her career as a blues singer waned, mostly she sustained herself by performing in cabaret revues, and starring in musical revues such as New York Revue (1928) and Next Door Neighbors (1928) at the Lincoln Theatre in Harlem. Smith also appeared in Mae West's short-lived 1931 Broadway effort, The Constant Sinner. Two years later, she was elevated to the stage of the Theatre Guild for its production of Louisiana. She appeared in four movies: God's Step Children (1938), Swing! (1938), Drums o' Voodoo (1934), and The Black King (1932). Two of these films were directed by Oscar Micheaux. She appeared at John H. Hammond's "From Spirituals to Swing" concert in 1938, and recorded seven titles during 1938–1939. Most of her later recordings were with Sidney Bechet for Decca in 1938. In 1939 she cut "No Good Man" with a band including Red Allen and Barney Bigard. Trixie Smith died in New York in 1943, after a brief illness, aged 48. If you like what I’m doing, Like ---Bman’s Blues Report--- Facebook Page! I’m looking for great talent and trying to grow the audience for your favorites band! - ”LIKE”

Get out of My Life, Woman - Kevin Scott's 5 Spot Jam

Kevin Scott - Bass
Derek Trucks - Slide guitar
Duane Trucks - Drums
Jacob Deaton - Guitar, Backing Vocals
Eric Fontaine - Saxophone
Spencer Pope - Keyboard
Gregory "Wolf" Hodges - Guitar, Lead Vocals
Ben Williams - Drums
Born in St. Petersburg, FL, on Christmas Day, 1984 bassist Kevin Scott hails from Dothan, AL, the peanut capital of the world. Kevin was born into a very musical family that has supported and nurtured his talent from the beginning. Kevin was attached to his bass all through high school and was active in the Alabama music scene. In 2001, Kevin was awarded a scholarship to the International Association of Jazz Educators summer program in New Orleans. Here, Kevin studied under and played with the great New Orleans drummer, Johnny Vidachovich and New Orleans bassist Jesse Boyd. In search of broader musical pastures, Kevin settled in Atlanta, GA, at the age of 19. He soon was caught up in the music scene in the city and became a bass player of great demand. Kevin tours and records with the group Highly Kind, who was recently recorded by producer Johnny Sandlin. Kevin also hosts the open jam at the 5 Spot on Tuesday nights. Some of the groups/players that have sought him out include: Oteil Burbridge, Col. Bruce Hampton, Jimmy Herring, Jeff Sipe, Ike Stubblefield, Grant Green Jr, Bryan Lopes, Yonrico Scott, The Sixes, the Sid Wolf Band, The David Springer Quartet, Kenny Heard, Jacob Deaton and the Collective, The Apositles, Adian Ash Group, the Anton Harris Quartet, Big Shanty, The Big Tasties..etc etc
The Five Spot has become a staple of music and arts in the heart of Little Five Points in Atlanta, Ga. From an intercontinental selection of more than 100 beers to their art-laden walls, there is something at the Five Spot for everyone. The kitchen features a gourmet style deli menu including sandwiches, salads, quesadillas and nachos with many vegetarian and vegan options.

Five Spot is known nationally and internationaly as a multi genre music venue, as well as showcasing the local talents in any given style. From our free Tuesday Musician's Jam, our monthly Monday residencies, and various community events and live shows throughout the week, Five Spot Atlanta has a sound for every listener. Keep track of our calendar and we will be seeing you soon!

Hours:
MONDAY: 6:00pm- 1:30am
TUESDAY: 6:00pm- 1:30am
WEDNESDAY: 6:00pm - 2:00am
THURSDAY: 6:00pm - 3:00am
FRIDAY: 6:00pm - 3:00am
SATURDAY: Noon - 3:00am
SUNDAY: Noon - Midnight
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Luther "HOUSEROCKER" Johnson

The latest Luther Johnson (born July 15, 1939) to add his name to the blues directory is an adept singer/guitarist who is a current favorite on the Atlanta blues scene. Proficient in various shadings of the electric blues idiom, Johnson has recently extended his repertoire from covers of blues standards to his own material, performed with the same '50s/'60s flavor.
Johnson taught himself how to play guitar when he was a teenager in Atlanta by listening to records. Soon, he began playing guitar in pickup bands, which gave him the opportunity to support such touring musicians as Johnny Winter. After several years playing in bar bands, Johnson formed his own group, the Houserockers.
Takin' a Bite Outta the Blues
the Houserockers played bars and clubs around Georgia for several years, eventually landing a record contract with Ichiban in 1989. The next year Johnson released his debut album, Takin' A Bite Outta the Blues. Two years later, his second record, Houserockin' Daddy, appeared. Luther "Houserocker" Johnson continued to tour the U.S. throughout the '90s.
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I Heard It Through The Grapevine-Gladys Knight and the Pips

Gladys Maria Knight (born May 28, 1944), known as the "Empress of Soul", is an American singer-songwriter, actress, businesswoman, humanitarian, and author. She is best known for the hits she recorded during the 1960s and 1970s, for both the Motown and Buddah Records labels, with her group Gladys Knight & the Pips, the most famous incarnation of which also included her brother Merald "Bubba" Knight and her cousins Edward Patten and William Guest.
Knight was born in Atlanta, Georgia, the daughter of Sarah Elizabeth (née Woods) and Merald Woodlow Knight, Sr., a postal worker. She first achieved minor fame by winning Ted Mack's Original Amateur Hour TV show contest at the age of 7 in 1952. The following year, she, her brother Merald, sister Brenda, and cousins William and Elenor Guest formed a musical group called The Pips (named after another cousin, James "Pip" Woods). By the end of the decade, the act had begun to tour, and had replaced Brenda Knight and Eleanor Guest with Gladys Knight's cousin Edward Patten and friend Langston George.
Gladys Knight & the Pips joined the Motown roster in 1966, and, although regarded as a second-string act, scored several hit singles, including "I Heard It Through the Grapevine", (recorded later by Marvin Gaye), "Friendship Train" (1969), "If I Were Your Woman" (1970), "I Don't Want To Do Wrong" (1971), the Grammy Award winning "Neither One of Us (Wants to Be the First to Say Goodbye)" (1972), and "Daddy Could Swear (I Declare)" (1973). In their early Motown career Gladys Knight and the Pips toured as the opening act for Diana Ross and The Supremes. Gladys Knight stated in her memoirs that Ross kicked her off the tour because the audience's reception to Knight's soulful performance overshadowed her. Berry Gordy later told Gladys that she was giving his act a hard time.
Knight and the Pips perform aboard the aircraft carrier USS Ranger on November 1, 1981.

The act left Motown for a better deal with Buddah Records in 1973, and achieved full-fledged success that year with hits such as the Grammy-winning "Midnight Train to Georgia" (#1 on the pop and R&B chart), "I've Got to Use My Imagination," and "You're the Best Thing That Ever Happened to Me". In the summer of 1974, Knight and the Pips recorded the soundtrack to the successful film Claudine with producer Curtis Mayfield. The act was particularly successful in Europe, and especially the United Kingdom. However, a number of the Buddah singles became hits in the UK long after their success in the US. For example, "Midnight Train to Georgia" hit the UK pop charts Top 5 in the summer of 1976, a full three years after its success in the U.S.

During this period of greater recognition, Knight made her motion picture acting debut in the film Pipe Dreams, a romantic drama set in Alaska. The film failed at the box-office, but Knight did receive a Golden Globe Best New Actress nomination.

Knight and the Pips continued to have hits until the late 1970s, when they were forced to record separately due to legal issues, resulting in Knight's first solo LP recordings--Miss Gladys Knight (1978) on Buddah and Gladys Knight (1979) on Columbia Records. Having divorced James Newman II in 1973, Knight married Barry Hankerson (future uncle of R&B singer Aaliyah), then Detroit mayor Coleman Young's executive aide. Knight and Hankerson remained married for four years, during which time they had a son, Shanga Ali. Upon their divorce, Hankerson and Knight were embroiled in a heated custody battle over Shanga Ali.

In the early 1980s, Johnny Mathis invited Gladys to record two duets – "When A Child Is Born" (previously a hit for Mathis) and "The Lord's Prayer".


Signing with Columbia Records in 1980 and restored to its familiar quartet form, Gladys Knight & the Pips began releasing new material. The act enlisted former Motown producers Nickolas Ashford and Valerie Simpson for their first two LPs--About Love (1980) and Touch (1981). During this period, Knight kicked a gambling addiction to the game baccarat.

In 1987, Knight decided to pursue a solo career, and she and the Pips recorded their final LP together, All Our Love (1987), for MCA Records. Its lead single, "Love Overboard", was a successful hit and won a third Grammy for the act as well. After a successful 1988 tour, the Pips retired and Knight began her solo career. Gladys Knight & the Pips were inducted into the Georgia Music Hall of Fame in 1989 and into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1996.
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Hear The Angels Singing - Larry Johnson

Larry Johnson (born May 15, 1938, Atlanta, Georgia, United States) is an American electric blues singer and guitarist.
Johnson's father was a preacher who traveled extensively. This led to Johnson being exposed to blues records by Blind Boy Fuller, who inspired Johnson to learn the rudiments of guitar playing. He served in the Navy between 1955 and 1959, before relocating to New City. After his befriending Brownie and Stick McGhee, Johnson found employment recording with Big Joe Williams, Harry Atkins, and Alec Seward. The latter gave Johnson an introduction to Reverend Gary Davis.

Johnson's first single release was "Catfish Blues" / "So Sweet" (1962), plus he made numerous live appearances with Davis over that decade. In 1971 Johnson released Fast and Funky, but his live playing gradually reduced. A couple of low key albums appeared in the 1980s, before Johnson received more regular live work in the 1990s, particularly in Europe. Whilst there his output included Railroad Man (1990) and Blues for Harlem (1999). Two Gun Green followed in 2002.
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