Legends Mix
As always, a set titled Legends Mix not just brings you the best of Rhythm & Blues from four decades - but there's always an important story to tell. This time it's about Steve Washington, and chances are fair that you never heard of him before.
Just recently, after the release of the complete recorded works of the Washboard Rhythm Kings, appreciation for this singer is growing. He was kind of forgotten after he died in 1936 of pneumonia. But we do have here a singer who stylistically was three decades ahead of his time, with a delivery that just since the sixties, we would call soulful.
He also was probably the first African-American musician to lead an all-white combo for a recording session - including great names like Joe Venuti, Dick McDonough, Sterling Bose and Benny Goodman. Yes indeed - the Benny Goodman.
Playlist
- Skeets Tolbert & His Gentlemen Of Swing - Hit That Jive, Jack
- Washboard Rhythm Kings - Angeline
- Clarence Williams and the Blue Five - Cake Walking Babies From Home
- Duke Ellington - Doin The Voom Voom
- Thomas Morris - Who Dis Here Stranger
- Henry Red Allen - Take Me Back To My Boots And Saddle
- Doctor Clayton - Doctor Clayton Blues
- Roosevelt Sykes - Blues N' Boogie
- Big Joe Williams - I'm A Highway Man
- Memphis Minnie - Fish Man Blues
- Sherman Williams - Hello
- Lem Johnson - Esskay Blues
- Alton Redd - But Shes Not for Me
- Gene Parrish - Gone Awhile Blues
- Robert Nighthawk - Feel So Bad
- Wild Bill Moore - Balancing with Bill
- Paul Gayten - Yeah! Yeah! Yeah!
Outtro:
- Wild Bill Moore Sextette - Bongo Bounce
- Kirk Kirkland - The Saxaphone Rag
- Clarence Williams - Chocolate Avenue
- Eddie Durham - Moten's Swing
- Lloyd Glenn - Chica Boo
- Mary Lou Williams - Overhand
- Rene Hall's Orchestra - Flippin'
- Washboard Rhythm Kings - Fire