Biography
J.B. Lenoir probably picked up his solid boogie woogie influence in New
Orleans, where he spent some time performing before he settled into
Chicago's blues scene during the fifties and sixties. Lenoir had one of
the most beautiful voices in postwar blues, and on his recordings his
musicians gave him sparse, skeletal accompaniment, which framed his
vocals perfectly. He was certainly one of the most original sounding of
the blues singers.
While in New Orleans he played with blues greats Sonny Boy Williamson II
and Elmore James. Once Lenoir made it to Chicago, Big Bill Broonzy
helped introduce him to the local blues community, and he became an
important part of the city's blues scene.
He was a talented songwriter and bluesman with an obvious political
awareness. Examples of his outspoken views can be found in “Korea
Blues,” and “Eisenhower Blues,” the latter reportedly caused enough
controversy that his record label forced him to remake the tune under
the title “Tax Paying Blues.” His penchant for social commentary and his
high-pitched vocals distinguish him from other bluesmen of that time.
Lenoir recorded his most enduring number, “Mama Talk to Your Daughter,”
in 1954 for the Parrot label. He was quite prolific between ’54 and ’58
for both the Parrot and Chess labels. Lenoir's recordings are also
distinctive for their excellent saxophone arrangements and
unconventional drumming (Alex Atkins and Ernest Cotton were often on sax
with Al Gavin on drums).
By 1965 and’ 66 he did two acoustic albums “Alabama Blues,” and “Down in
Mississippi,” these were done in Chicago under Willie Dixon's
supervision. These have been reissued jointly as “Vietnam Blues,” and
are quite astonishing given the social turmoil of the period as racism,
Civil Rights, poverty, and the war. Lenoir seemed to vocalize the
intense situations. No blues singer had ever or since covered such
poignant themes.
Lenoir had successfully toured Europe and was likely about to achieve
greater fame when he died in 1966 due to complications from a car
accident.
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Biografía
J.B. Lenoir probablemente adquirió su sólida influencia en el boogie
woogie en Nueva Orleans, donde pasó algún tiempo actuando antes de
establecerse en la escena blues de Chicago durante los años cincuenta y
sesenta. Lenoir tenía una de las voces más bellas del blues de la
posguerra, y en sus grabaciones sus músicos le daban un acompañamiento
escaso y esquelético, que enmarcaba perfectamente su voz. Sin duda, fue
uno de los cantantes de blues con un sonido más original.
Mientras estaba en Nueva Orleans tocó con los grandes del blues, Sonny
Boy Williamson II y Elmore James. Una vez que Lenoir llegó a Chicago,
Big Bill Broonzy ayudó a presentarlo a la comunidad local de blues, y se
convirtió en una parte importante de la escena blues de la ciudad.
Era un talentoso compositor y bluesista con una evidente conciencia
política. Ejemplos de sus opiniones francas se pueden encontrar en
"Korea Blues" y "Eisenhower Blues", este último supuestamente causó
suficiente controversia como para que su sello discográfico le obligara a
rehacer la melodía bajo el título "Tax Paying Blues". Su afición por el
comentario social y su voz aguda lo distinguen de otros bluesistas de
la época.
Lenoir grabó su número más perdurable, "Mama Talk to Your Daughter", en
1954 para el sello Parrot. Fue bastante prolífico entre `54 y `58 tanto
para el sello Parrot como para el ajedrez. Las grabaciones de Lenoir
también se distinguen por sus excelentes arreglos de saxofón y tambores
poco convencionales (Alex Atkins y Ernest Cotton estuvieron a menudo en
el saxo con Al Gavin a la batería).
Para 1965 y' 66 hizo dos álbumes acústicos "Alabama Blues" y "Down in
Mississippi", estos se hicieron en Chicago bajo la supervisión de Willie
Dixon. Estos han sido reeditados conjuntamente como "Vietnam Blues", y
son bastante sorprendentes dada la agitación social del período como el
racismo, los derechos civiles, la pobreza y la guerra. Lenoir parecía
vocalizar las situaciones intensas. Ningún cantante de blues había
cubierto nunca o desde entonces temas tan conmovedores.
Lenoir había viajado con éxito por Europa y estaba a punto de alcanzar
mayor fama cuando murió en 1966 debido a las complicaciones de un
accidente automovilístico.
01 - Mama Talk To Your Daughter
02 - Man Watch Your Woman
03 - Eisenhower Blues
04 - If You Love Me
05 - Sitting Down Thinking
06 - Mama, Your Daughter Is Going To Miss Me
07 - What Have I Done
08 - We Can't Go On This Way
09 - Give Me One More Shot
10 - Everybody Wants To Know
11 - J.B.'s Rock
12 - Low Down Dirty Shame
13 - Don't Touch My Head
14 - When I Am Drinking
15 - I've Been Down For So Long
16 - Daddy Talk To Your Son
17 - I Don't Know
18 - Good Looking Woman
19 - Voodoo Boogie
Personnel
J.B. Lenoir – guitar, vocals
Willie Dixon – bass
Leonard Caston – organ
Joe Montgomery – piano
Al Galvin – drums
Alex Atkins – alto sax
Ernest Cotton, Lorenzo Smith – tenor sax
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