It hurts me too

This tune was a favourite of my dad's. In fact, it was my dad who told me about Tampa Red. I like his clean and stylish slide playing. Tampa Red was the first to record this tune in 1940, although many people think of it as an Elmore James tune, because of the following version from the mid-50s.




Here's Bob Dylan's take on the song:



There are plenty more versions of this great blues around, but let's wrap up with The Grateful Dead. I think this is the first time I've posted anything by the Dead on this blog. There's a first time for everything.

Happy Birthday To Tampa Red

Another bluesman who celebrated his birthday in January is Tampa Red. He was born on January 8 in 1904 and passed away on March 19, 1981.

Tampa Red - Don't Tampa with the Blues Photographic Print
Buy at AllPosters.com



You can read about the interesting life of Tampa Red by visiting the following links;

"Tampa Red" Whittaker (1904-1981)

Tampa Red's full bio @ Wikipedia

Click below to listen to sample Tampa Red mp3s

The Men Behind The Bluesmen: Lester Melrose

Lester Melrose was born on December 14, 1891 and he passed away on April 12, 1968. He was one of the first producers of blues records.

According to Wikipedia;

...a freelance A & R man, combining the roles of talent scout and record producer. He started to promote many blues artists who became popular, recording them mainly in Chicago. His first big success was "It's Tight Like That" with Tampa Red and soon-to-be gospel music legend Thomas A. Dorsey, then still known as Georgia Tom.

He worked for several record companies simultaneously in the 1930s, including RCA Victor and its subsidiary Bluebird records, Columbia records, and Okeh Records. Among the artists he recorded and brought to the world's attention were Joe "King" Oliver, Big Bill Broonzy, the first Sonny Boy Williamson, Memphis Minnie, Roosevelt Sykes, Lonnie Johnson, Big Joe Williams, Bukka White, Washboard Sam, Champion Jack Dupree, Jazz Gillum, Big Boy Crudup, Victoria Spivey and Leroy Carr.

You can read about Lester Melrose and many of the early pioneers of blues music in the book below;

Romancing the Folk: Public Memory and American Roots Music (Cultural Studies of the United States)

musicians @SML who worked with Lester Melrose

Tampa Red,
Big Bill Broonzy ,
Sonny Boy Williamson,
Memphis Minnie,
Lonnie Johnson,
Victoria Spivey,
Leroy Carr,

Happy Birthday To Tampa Red

Another bluesman who celebrated his birthday in January is Tampa Red. He was born on January 8 in 1904 and passed away on March 19, 1981.

Tampa Red - Don't Tampa with the Blues Photographic Print
Buy at AllPosters.com



You can read about the interesting life of Tampa Red by visiting the following links;

"Tampa Red" Whittaker (1904-1981)

Tampa Red's full bio @ Wikipedia

Click below to listen to sample Tampa Red mp3s

Tampa Red poster and mp3 samples

Tampa Red - Don't Tampa with the Blues Photographic Print
Buy at AllPosters.com



You can read about the interesting life of Tampa Red by visiting the following links;

"Tampa Red" Whittaker (1904-1981)

Tampa Red's full bio @ Wikipedia

Click below to listen to sample Tampa Red mp3s