Showing posts with label Shakey Jake Harris. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Shakey Jake Harris. Show all posts

Friday, September 25, 2026

Shakey Jake Harris • The Key Won't Fit

 



Born James D. Harris, 12 April 1921, Earle, Arkansas, USA, d. 2 March 1990, Pine Bluff, Arkansas, USA. A professional gambler when not playing harmonica (his nickname was derived from the crapshooters' call "Shake 'em, Jake", Harris began playing in Chicago blues bands during the late 40s. His 1958 single "Call Me If You Need Me"/"Roll Your Moneymaker", recorded for the Artistic subsidiary of Cobra Records, featured guitar work by his nephew Magic Sam. During the 60s he recorded two albums that did not do him justice, as club recordings with Sam make evident. His encouragement of younger musicians brought about the recording debut of, among others, Luther Allison, with whom Jake recorded his best album after moving to Los Angeles. In later years, occasional recordings appeared, including some on his own label, and Harris ran a blues club for a while, but was dogged by poor health and isolated by neighborhood gang violence.
Excellent album on the small Murray Brothers label from 1983. Backing from Rod Piazza, Jr. Watson and Hollywood Fats among others.

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Traducción Automática:
Nacido James D. Harris, 12 de abril de 1921, Earle, Arkansas, EE. UU., D. 2 de marzo de 1990, Pine Bluff, Arkansas, EE. UU. Un jugador profesional cuando no tocaba la armónica (su apodo se derivó de la llamada "Shake 'em, Jake" de los crapshooters, Harris comenzó a tocar en las bandas de blues de Chicago a finales de los años 40. Su single de 1958 "Call Me If You Need Me" / " Roll Your Moneymaker ", grabado para la filial Artística de Cobra Records, contó con el trabajo de guitarra de su sobrino Magic Sam. Durante los años 60 grabó dos álbumes que no le hacían justicia, como lo demuestran las grabaciones del club con Sam. Su aliento a los músicos más jóvenes provocó el debut en la grabación de, entre otros, Luther Allison, con quien Jake grabó su mejor álbum después de mudarse a Los Ángeles. En años posteriores aparecieron grabaciones ocasionales, incluidas algunas de su propio sello, y Harris dirigió un club de blues por un tiempo , pero fue perseguido por la mala salud y aislado por la violencia de pandillas del barrio.
Excelente álbum en el pequeño sello Murray Brothers de 1983. Con el respaldo de Rod Piazza, Jr. Watson y Hollywood Fats entre otros. 




Tuesday, August 25, 2026

Shakey Jake Harris • Good Times

 



Born James D. Harris, 12 April 1921, Earle, Arkansas, USA, d. 2 March 1990, Pine Bluff, Arkansas, USA. A professional gambler when not playing harmonica (his nickname was derived from the crapshooters' call "Shake 'em, Jake", Harris began playing in Chicago blues bands during the late 40s. His 1958 single "Call Me If You Need Me"/"Roll Your Moneymaker", recorded for the Artistic subsidiary of Cobra Records, featured guitar work by his nephew Magic Sam. During the 60s he recorded two albums that did not do him justice, as club recordings with Sam make evident. His encouragement of younger musicians brought about the recording debut of, among others, Luther Allison, with whom Jake recorded his best album after moving to Los Angeles. In later years, occasional recordings appeared, including some on his own label, and Harris ran a blues club for a while, but was dogged by poor health and isolated by neighborhood gang violence.
 
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Nació como James D. Harris el 12 de abril de 1921 en Earle, Arkansas, Estados Unidos, y murió el 2 de marzo de 1990 en Pine Bluff, Arkansas, Estados Unidos. Jugador profesional cuando no tocaba la armónica (su apodo derivaba de la llamada de los tiradores de dados "Shake 'em, Jake"), Harris comenzó a tocar en bandas de blues de Chicago a finales de los años 40. Su sencillo de 1958 "Call Me If You Need Me"/"Roll Your Moneymaker", grabado para la filial artística de Cobra Records, contaba con el trabajo de guitarra de su sobrino Magic Sam. Durante los años 60 grabó dos álbumes que no le hicieron justicia, como ponen de manifiesto las grabaciones de club con Sam. Su estímulo a los músicos más jóvenes propició el debut discográfico de, entre otros, Luther Allison, con quien Jake grabó su mejor álbum tras trasladarse a Los Ángeles. En años posteriores, aparecieron grabaciones ocasionales, incluidas algunas en su propio sello, y Harris dirigió un club de blues durante un tiempo, pero se vio acosado por su mala salud y aislado por la violencia de las bandas del barrio. 
 
 


Personnel includes: Shakey Jake, Jack McDuff, Bill Jennings


Thursday, August 13, 2026

Shakey Jake Harris • Mouth Harp Blues

 



Review by Bill Dahl
When Harris returned to New Jersey later that same year to wax his Bluesville encore, he brought along fellow Chicagoan Jimmie Lee Robinson as his guitarist. A full rhythm section was used this time (New York cats all), but the overall approach was quite a bit closer to what he was used to hearing on Chicago's West side.

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Review by Bill Dahl
When Harris returned to New Jersey later that same year to wax his Bluesville encore, I brought along fellow Chicagoan Jimmie Lee Robinson as his guitarist. A full rhythm section was used this time (New York cats all), but the overall approach was quite a bit closer to what he was used to hearing on Chicago's West side.
 

Monday, September 2, 2024

Shakey Jake Harris • Further On Up The Road



Born James D. Harris, 12 April 1921, Earle, Arkansas, USA, d. 2 March 1990, Pine Bluff, Arkansas, USA. A professional gambler when not playing harmonica (his nickname was derived from the crapshooters' call "Shake 'em, Jake", Harris began playing in Chicago blues bands during the late 40s. His 1958 single "Call Me If You Need Me"/"Roll Your Moneymaker", recorded for the Artistic subsidiary of Cobra Records, featured guitar work by his nephew Magic Sam. During the 60s he recorded two albums that did not do him justice, as club recordings with Sam make evident. His encouragement of younger musicians brought about the recording debut of, among others, Luther Allison, with whom Jake recorded his best album after moving to Los Angeles. In later years, occasional recordings appeared, including some on his own label, and Harris ran a blues club for a while, but was dogged by poor health and isolated by neighborhood gang violence.
 
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Nació como James D. Harris el 12 de abril de 1921 en Earle, Arkansas, Estados Unidos, y murió el 2 de marzo de 1990 en Pine Bluff, Arkansas, Estados Unidos. Jugador profesional cuando no tocaba la armónica (su apodo derivaba de la llamada de los tiradores de dados "Shake 'em, Jake"), Harris comenzó a tocar en bandas de blues de Chicago a finales de los años 40. Su sencillo de 1958 "Call Me If You Need Me"/"Roll Your Moneymaker", grabado para la filial artística de Cobra Records, contaba con el trabajo de guitarra de su sobrino Magic Sam. Durante los años 60 grabó dos álbumes que no le hicieron justicia, como ponen de manifiesto las grabaciones de club con Sam. Su estímulo a los músicos más jóvenes propició el debut discográfico de, entre otros, Luther Allison, con quien Jake grabó su mejor álbum tras trasladarse a Los Ángeles. En años posteriores, aparecieron grabaciones ocasionales, incluidas algunas en su propio sello, y Harris dirigió un club de blues durante un tiempo, pero se vio acosado por su mala salud y aislado por la violencia de las bandas del barrio.