Born Eddie Jones, Guitar Slim created one of the most seminal blues classics of all time in “The Things I Used to Do.” This is the B-side of that great record, both of whose sides feature Ray Charles on piano. A master showman who dyed his hair to match his suits and shoes, Guitar Slim was highly influential during the 1950s, and his colorful legacy, which touched musicians from Earl King to Frank Zappa, is well-worth another look. Come see WWOZ DJ and documetarian David Kunian lead a panel today discussing Slim’s career, with his peers and bandmates Gerri Hall, Irving Banister, and Lawrence Cotton. It runs 2:45 – 3:45 p.m. at the Renaissance Arts Hotel in New Orleans’ Warehouse District, 700 Tchoupitoulas St. For more info on the conference, click here.
Category Archives: Fallen But Never Forgotten
RIP, “The Creole Beethoven”: Wardell Quezergue dead at 81
The legendary New Orleans arranger and bandleader Wardell Quezergue died at age 81 today at East Jefferson General Hospital in Metairie, La. Below is his biography from the Ponderosa Stomp, which he graced so often with his genius presence: If the greatest measure of a man’s success is a view of what the world might … Continue reading RIP, “The Creole Beethoven”: Wardell Quezergue dead at 81
Song of the Day: “Wind Howlin’ Blues” by the late, great David “Honeyboy” Edwards, June 28, 1915 – Aug. 29, 2011
The oldest still-performing bluesman, David “Honeyboy” Edwards, passed away Monday, Aug. 29, just shy of his 96th birthday, on the sixth anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, and a little less than a year after gracing the Ponderosa Stomp with his historic presence. The great bluesman worked with all the legends of the genre, from Robert Johnson … Continue reading Song of the Day: “Wind Howlin’ Blues” by the late, great David “Honeyboy” Edwards, June 28, 1915 – Aug. 29, 2011
Song of the Day: “She Shot a Hole in My Soul” by Clifford Curry, with alternate takes by John Fred and the Box Tops
How did Knoxville singer Clifford Curry go from Smoky Mountain soul man to a shaman of “the shag,” revered by the Carolina Beach music scene? The credit goes to today’s “Song of the Day”: his pulsating 1967 Elf Records tour de force, “She Shot a Hole in My Soul,” which rose to #45 on the … Continue reading Song of the Day: “She Shot a Hole in My Soul” by Clifford Curry, with alternate takes by John Fred and the Box Tops
Song of the Day: “Life Is A Struggle” by Ronnie Barron, the original “Dr. John”
The “Song of the Day” features an unsung hero of New Orleans R&B, Ronnie Barron, performing Johnny Adams’ “Life Is a Struggle” in Los Angeles with a group including ex-Meters guitarist Leo Nocentelli and the late Harry Ravain on drums. Mac Rebennack conceived of the “Dr. John” persona circa 1967 with the idea that his … Continue reading Song of the Day: “Life Is A Struggle” by Ronnie Barron, the original “Dr. John”