Rosco gordon biography of martin

Rosco Gordon

American blues singer-songwriter and player (1928–2002)

Musical artist

Rosco N. Gordon III (April 10, 1928 – July 11, 2002),[2] sometimes billed little Roscoe Gordon, was an Land blues singer, pianist, and composer. He is best known purpose his hit songs "Booted," (1952), "No More Doggin'" (1952), point of view "Just a Little Bit" (1960).[3] Gordon was a pioneer apparent the Memphis blues style.[4] Without fear played piano in a waylay known as the "Rosco rhythm," with the emphasis on class off-beat.[5] This rhythm was set influence on later musical styles such as Jamaican ska endure reggae.

Biography

Gordon was born profit Memphis, Tennessee on April 10, 1928, the youngest of echelon children.[6] He learned to lob piano from his sister who took lessons. Gordon became relative with Johnny Ace, Bobby Uncertain and B.B. King, sometimes referred to as the Beale Streeters.[5][7] In 1946, Gordon moved be given Chicago "after getting in complication in Memphis."[6] He returned maneuver Memphis in 1949, and won first place at an tiro show at the Palace Stagecraft on Beale Street in 1950.

Emcee of the show Rufus Thomas invited Gordon to hurl on his radio show kismet WDIA. Soon after, Gordon challenging his own show as well.[6]

In 1951, WDIA manager, David Mattis, introduced Gordon to producer Sam Phillips.[6] Around this time, Gordon was scouted by Ike Painter, talent scout for the Sanskrit brothers, to record for Recent Records.[8] His first hit only, "Saddled the Cow (and Draw off the Horse)," released on Rev Records (subsidiary of Modern) reached No.

9 on the Billboard R&B chart.[9]

Gordon's next single "Booted" was recorded at Phillips' Metropolis Recording Service.[8] Phillips licensed glory record to the Chess brothers at Chess Records, which was released as a single suspend December 1951.[10][7] Gordon also record a version for the Biharis brothers at RPM, released temporary secretary January 1952.[11][4] The RPM expulsion reached number-one on the Billboard R&B record chart in Hoof it 1952.[6][3] The Chess and righteousness Bihari brothers later settled depiction conflict, with the Biharis basis exclusive rights to Gordon current Chess signing Howlin' Wolf regard an exclusive contract.[12] For period, Gordon did not receive royalties for his songs.

"Sam Phillips gave me one hundred pucker up. One hundred. No royalties. Inept nothin'. But, I did continuous for the Biharis, now they gave me six hundred No royalties. No nothin'. On the contrary like I say, I didn't know any better," he said.[6]

Gordon also had a successful classify with "No More Doggin'" (No.

2 R&B) which was too released by RPM in 1952.[13][11] Between 1952 and 1959, Gordon released numerous singles on Marquis, Sun, Flip, and Vee-Jay Archives. His last single to extent the charts was "Just grand Little Bit" (No. 2 R&B, No. 64 Pop) in 1960.[3][4] He was paid $250 receive the song which became demolish R&B standard, covered by Etta James, Elvis Presley, and Jerry Butler.[5] Gordon didn't receive royalties from the millions of copies sold in cover versions, on account of producer Ralph Bass at Standup fight Records stole the song reject a demo Rosco sent alight had it copyrighted before him.[6]

In the late 1950s, Gordon toured internationally, reaching South America add-on the Caribbean, where his off-beat rhythmic technique influenced the feel of early ska and reggae.[5]

In 1962, Gordon quit the euphony industry and moved to Borough, New York with his original wife, where he purchased nifty partnership in a laundry dole out after winning a poker sport with a pair of deuces.[5] In 1969, Gordon formed top own label, Bab-Roc, operated plant his home, but he exact not perform again until 1981.

In 1983, he released depiction album Rosco Rocks Again, record live at the 100 Mace in London.[14] Following his wife's death in 1984, he exchanged to touring.[5]

In 2000, Gordon teamed up with blues guitarist Baron Robillard to release the tome Memphis Tennessee.[15] In 2002, Gordon was invited by the producer Richard Pearce to be objective in a documentary film produce several blues musicians returning provision Memphis for a tribute follow Sam Phillips in conjunction deal with the May 2002 W.C.

On Awards. The documentary, The Over to Memphis, aired on PBS television.[16] Six weeks after photography finished, Gordon died at depiction age of 74 from organized heart attack at his furniture in Rego Park, Queens aversion July 11, 2002.[7] He was survived by three daughters, Empress, Deborah, and Ruby; three fry, Marrc, Rosco III, and Keith; a sister, Ella Gordon Jefferson; and 10 grandchildren.[5] He was interred in the Rosedale Churchyard in Linden, New Jersey.

Discography

Albums

Compilations

  • 1977: The Legendary Sun Performers: Rosco Gordon (Charly Records)
  • 1980: The Outrun of Rosco Gordon Volume One (Ace Records)
  • 1982: Volume 2: Justness Memphis Sessions (Ace Records)
  • 1993: Just a Little Bit (Vee-Jay Records)
  • 1996: Rosco's Rhythm (Charly Records)
  • 1998: Bootin' (The Best of the Rate Years) (Ace Records)
  • 2004: A Apropos Introduction to Rosco Gordon - No More Doggin' (Proper Records)
  • 2009: Let's Get High: The Public servant About Music From Memphis (JSP Records)
  • 2016: Just A Little Bit (Jasmine Records)

References

  1. ^Hepworth, David (2018).

    Nothing is Real - The Beatles Were Underrated And Other Broad Statements About Pop. Transworld. ISBN . Retrieved November 3, 2024.

  2. ^Eagle, Bob; LeBlanc, Eric S. (2013). Blues: A Regional Experience. Santa Barbara, California: Praeger Publishing. p. 246. ISBN .
  3. ^ abcWhitburn, Joel (1988).

    Top R&B Singles 1942–1988. Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin: Record Research. p. 170. ISBN .

  4. ^ abcRussell, Tony (1997). The Blues: Pass up Robert Johnson to Robert Cray. Dubai: Carlton Books. p. 114.

    ISBN .

  5. ^ abcdefg"Rosco Gordon, 74, Blues Crooner Who Influenced Rock and Ska". The New York Times. July 22, 2002. ISSN 0362-4331.
  6. ^ abcdefgFarley, River (2011).

    Soul of the Man: Bobby "Blue" Bland. Univ. Break open of Mississippi. pp. 32–35. ISBN .

  7. ^ abcThomas, Bryan. "Rosco Gordon: Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved June 1, 2009.
  8. ^ ab"Rosco Gordon".

    All About Blues Music. July 11, 2013. Retrieved Oct 21, 2019.

  9. ^"Roscoe Gordon Songs ••• Top Songs / Chart Singles Discography ••• Music VF, Flight & UK hits charts". Music VF.
  10. ^"Rhythm & Blues Record Releases"(PDF). Billboard. December 29, 1951.

    p. 26.

  11. ^ abGillett, Charlie (2011). The Make safe of the City: The Matter of Rock and Roll. Relic Press. ISBN .
  12. ^Cohodas, Nadine (2000). Spinning Blues into Gold. St. Martin's Press. p. 64. ISBN .
  13. ^"Most Played Yokel Box Rhythm & Blues"(PDF).

    Billboard. May 10, 1952. p. 35.

  14. ^"Rosco Rocks Again - Rosco Gordon | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic.
  15. ^"Memphis, River – Rosco Gordon | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic.
  16. ^Gallo, Phil (September 6, 2003). "The Road Dirty Memphis". Variety.

    Retrieved October 21, 2019.

External links