March 26, 2010
RIP Clayton Love November 15, 1927 - Feb. 28, 2010. Clayton Love will best be remembered as the vocalist and pianist in Ike Turner's Kings Of Rhythm. He passed away at a hospice in St Louis from complications of a stroke and heart problems, He was 82. He was born in Mattson, Mississippi in 1927. During 40s and 50s Love was a popular musician around the Vicksburg area, fronting and organzing sophisticated swing bands. This sound was reflected in his first recordings done for the Trumpet label in 1951. His association with Ike Turner soon followed and eventually led to his mid 1950's relocation to St. Louis, where he would front Ike's band, The Kings of Rhythm, and record such great songs as "Do You Mean It", "She Made My Blood Run Cold", and "The Big Question". Clayton Love would make St. Louis his lifelong home, and he was one of that town's proud blues statesmen until the day he died. His long career saw releases with Trumpet, Modern, Aladdin, Federal, Groove, Bobbin, Monad, Modern Blues, Ace, Charley, Collectibles, and Alligator. His great R&B vocals and spectacular recordings will live forever in blues history. To see a Clayton Love interview with with STL Blues click here.
Rockie Charles November 14, 1942 - March 12, 2010. New Orleans soul singer and guitarist Rockie Charles passed away in his home town on Friday March 12th, after a long struggle with cancer. He was 67. Born Charles Merrick in Boothville, Louisiana, he would learn guitar at an early age from his father, and at age 13 moved to New Orleans where he would formally study music. As a young man in the 1960s he hit the road backing O.V. Wright, Percy Sledge, Otis Redding, and others. He would record a handful of singles and albums, of which the best known is his CD, Born For You, on the Orleans label, which finds this wonderful vocalist and songwriter at the top of his game. He had become a popular attraction at the annual retro roots festival called Ponderosa Stomp. To read the NOLA.com article about Rockie Charles' life and times, and to see a nice video clip, click here.
RIP Marva Wright March 20. 1948 - March 23, 2010. New Orleans blues and gospel singer Marva Wright passed away from complications from a 2009 stroke. She was 62. She came into prominence in the 1980s and became known as the "Blues Queen of New Orleans". She recorded and toured frequently, and won over audiences in the US and Europe with her powerful voice and stage presence, and her kind and sincere personality. For more information on Marva and to enjoy her beautiful website click here. To see a film clip of Marva performing "Heartbreakin' Woman" click here, and performing "Bluesiana Mama" click here. Thanks Marva, for giving us your heart with each performance.
RIP Rod 'Beachhead' Jeffery February 26, 2010. This sad news in from Colin Briscoe of Sydney, Australia, who reports "Rod “Beachhead” Jeffrey, one of the pioneering Australian bluesman, and vocalist with the band Beachhead, passed away on Friday, February 26th, after a long and arduous fight with cancer."Rod's bio indicates that his major activities took place in the 1980s and his influence and blues contribution, in his community was great. To see Ron "Beachhead" Jeffery's website, filled with photos and information, click here.
RIP Barbara Brown, birth-date unknown - February 3, 2010. Ace Records Reports that Memphis soul singer Barbara Brown, passed away on February 3rd. She was in her 70s. Brown was best known for her hit "Big Party", on the Stax label, with Barbara & the Browns (featuring her and her 3 sisters). She would also record classic soul sides for XL, Cadet, Tower, Atco, Sounds of Memphis. Her short lived career ended in 1972 when she left music for good. But a resurgence of interest happened in 2007, when Kent reissued her classic sides on the album Can't Find Happiness, and again a year later when the highly acclaimed soul collection Take Me To The River (also on Kent Records), featured one of her brilliant recordings. It is wonderful that she was able to see this appreciation during her her lifetime. To see the article on Ace Records website, click here.
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