Conjur Root Records within Cdbaby http://www.cdbaby.com/all/jwillia100aolcom
Presents:
While up in the attic the other day We came across a tape of Mathais James Reeds last living interview done in the early 1970s. Right away we sent it to Slim Green at Pinetone Studios in Atlanta Georgia for a Mix/Re Mix from tape to Cd and as we have come to understand Mr. Green did his magic so we can now for the first time almost 40 years later let Jimmy Reed talk about: I'm Still Me, Dust Jumped all up in my Harp,Strictly Marine Band, Jimmy and Vivian and We cut it our self, Them Two Old Mules, Recording With The Famous Spaniels and Stopping Drinking after reading that Jimmy Reed Died in his news paper; Jimmy and Eddie Taylor were out drinking the night before and when he heard about his own death, incorrect as it was, it made him stop drinking. All these stories are here on this recording; please please don't miss it, some historic thoughts and music from the man, The king of Blue Poetry and Lump Ti Dump along with Eddie Taylor.
We use to have Jimmy Reed Parties, where we'd cut school and go to an empty house with our girlfriends and portable record players and Jimmy Reed records, we'd split up one couple in one room and then play a Jimmy Reed record and makeout for 3 minutes, then another couple would pick a different Jimmy reed song and play it and we'd make out for another 3 minutes and so on from maybe 9:00 AM to 2:00PM It made for a wonderful time! My favorites are Little Rain Falling and Boogie in the Dark (Ya! we sometimes got up and danced a Dirty Shagg before turning back to Making Out!).
I had Jimmy Reed, Bo Diddley, Muddy Waters, Little Walter, Ray Charles Live at Newport and Champion Jack Dupree "Blues From The Gutter" and a silvertone/Kay Guitar with a De Armond Pick up clamped in the flat top hole. I tried them all and Couldn't get Muddy - Way too Deep! Walter - Way too Jump Slick Bo Way too echo and Verb, Ray I just fell for Margie Hendricks, and Champion Jack - took us to the BAD HABITS! So we came right back to Jimmy Reed and have stayed to this very day. My friends and fellow musicians still call me The White Jimmy Reed which I consider an Honor and Huge Complement, so people DIG THIS INTERVIEW! REALLY DIG IT!
From Wipedia:
Jimmy Reed was born in Dunleith, Mississippi in 1925, learning the harmonica and guitar from Eddie Taylor, a close friend. After spending several years busking and performing in the area, Reed moved to Chicago, Illinois in 1943 before being drafted into the United States Navy during World War II. In 1945, Reed was discharged and moved back to Mississippi for a brief period, marrying his girlfriend, Mary "Mama" Reed, before moving to Gary, Indiana to work at an Armour & Co. meat packing plant.
By the 1950s, Reed had established himself as a popular musician and joined the "Gary Kings" with John Brim, as well as playing on the street with Willie Joe Duncan. Reed failed to gain a recording contract with Chess Records, but then signed with Vee-Jay Records through Brim's drummer, Albert King. At Vee-Jay, Reed began playing again with Eddie Taylor and soon released "You Don't Have to Go", his first hit record. This was followed by a long string of hits. Reed maintained his reputation, in spite of rampant alcoholism. Sometimes, his wife had to help him remember the lyrics to his songs while performing. In 1957, Reed developed epilepsy, though the disease was not correctly diagnosed for a long time, as Reed and doctors assumed it was delirium tremens.
In spite of his numerous hits, Reed's personal problems prevented him from achieving the same level of fame as other popular blues artists of the time, though he had more hit songs than many others. When Vee-Jay Records closed down, Reed's manager signed a contract with the fledgling ABC-Bluesway label, but Reed was never able to score another hit.
In 1968 he toured Europe with the American Folk Blues Festival.[2]
Jimmy Reed died in Oakland, California in 1976,[1] eight days short of his 51st birthday. He is interred in the Lincoln Cemetery in Worth, Illinois.
In 1991 Reed was posthumously inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
John Lee Williamson and his Band Members have apeared on the same stage with or in the following groups:
Joe Turner
Joe Houston
Chuck Higgins
Hank Ballard & the Midnighters
Rod Piazza
Blind Joe Hill
Johnny Turner
Ry Cooder
Hollywood Fats
Cal Green / Hank Ballard
R. L. Lowe
Felix Reyes and the Cats
Sean Costello
Grady Fats Jackson
Katy Segal
Chambers Bros.
Bruce Willis and the Heaters
Barbara Lynn
Etta James
Johnny Dyer
George Harmonica Smith
William Clark
John Juke Logan
James Harmon
Johnny Maistro & the Mama's Boys
Max Bangwell
Job Striels
Rob Rio
James Gadson
Dewey Terry / Don & Dewey
Timmy Capella /Tina Turner
Paul Butterfield
Randy Chortcoff & the Midnite Rhythm Rockers
Sam Taylor / Band Called Sam
Randy Chortcoff
Co Co Montoya
Debbie Davies
Maggie Mayall & the Cadillacs
John Mayall
Luke "Long Gone" Miles
Bernie Pearl
Sandra Hall
The Shadows
Luther Tucker
Willie Dixon
Myers Brothers
Son Seals
Joe Lewis Walker
Al Duncan / Little Walter/Hollywood Fats/Drums
Lester Butler
Alex Schultz
Top Jimmy and the Rhythm Pigs
Carlos "Guitarlos" Ayala
Steve Berlin
Billy Campbell
Rocky Jackson & the Ignighters
John Marx
Primordial Slim/Rick Germond/Curb Feelers
Marvin & Johnny
Frankie Moates
The Casanovas
Dr Jazzmo
Wolfman Jack
John Lee Williamson
Steve F'dor and more!
From www.Rootsville.be (Spotlight)
John Williamson was born in South Bend Indiana, October 17 1941 of, Father, Big Band Horn player, Sax, Claranet, Flute and Piccolo James E Williamson who over the years played with Freddy Martin, Hank Russell, Nelson Riddle, Lawrence Welk, and others and Mother, Wynn Fair Big band Singer with the Freddie Martin Orchestra. John was living in dresser drawers of the hotels that his parents lived in while doing big band one nighters and often jokes that the back of his head is flat from sleeping in dresser drawers. At the onset of World War II John lived in Lubbock Texas with his Great ant and uncle in the oil fields. after the war he moved to Sunland California and has resided there on and off Living in Los Angeles in the 1960's, Sun Valley Ca. 1970's, Northridge Ca. in the 1980 Atlanta Georgia thru the 1990 and again in Sunland from 1997 to the present where he is the CEO of Conjur Root Records. John Williamson founded and performed in the following Bands from the 1950' thru the 1980's The Magic Blues Band, The Magic Blues Band Featuring 50"s Sax legend Chuck Higgins. The Magic Blues Band consisted of John Williamson - Guitar and Vocals, Rocky Jackson - Guitar and vocals, Paul Zubek Harp and Vocals, Lenna Rena Piano and vocals, Bruce Cox Bass, Jeff Shaw Drums and subsequently Rick Germond aka Primordial Slim Harp, and Rod The Rocket Welk Harp, Joe Uele of John Mayall Band), Dennis Kensmore, Roger Connley, Mike Herman drums and Al Molinaro, Jesse Seranno, and Alan Heranno - Bass, During this period John appeared with many 1950's thru 1980's legends, Don Julian, The Jaguars, Richard Berry, Don & Dewey, Tony Allen, Vernon Green and the Medallions, The Chambers Brothers, Juke Logan, Katy Segal, Lester Butler ( Blue Shadows, Red Devils, 13) and Dave Melton, Big Joe Turner, Smoky Wilson, Etta James, William Clark, Rod Piazza, Steve Samuals, Rick Holstrom, Alex Shultz, Paul Butterfield, Timmy Capella, Randy Chortcoff, Sam Taylor, Deacon Jones, Top Jimmy and the Rhythm Pigs, X, Mentors and many others. The Magic Blues band was a regionally renound Hollywood underground mainstay who produced and performed legendary Blues Theme Shows and Mini-Festivals with all these people on the west coast. The Magic Blues Band Cd is slated for re-issue in June 2008 after 30 plus years! in John's attic.
In 1990 John moved to Atlanta Georgia, at the time the Atlanta Scene was focused on Stevie Ray Vaughn and Texas Blues and was well represented across the USA. John Was much more a player in the resurgence of real roots music that Stevie's brother Jimmy Vaughn and Keith Furgerson were spearheading. After going to most of the clubs and shows in Atlanta John decided to build and campaign a true roots blues band in Atlanta, The first was Crossfire, with Brian Powell - Guitar and Vocals, John Weiland - Bass and Vocals, Steve Harding - Drums this was followed by Buick 59 a Blues and Roots Trio featuring John Williamson Guitar and Vocals, Frankie Moates Guitar, and Rick Cheney - Harp. Then at a chance meeting with his L.A. friend and Harp master Rod Piazza and an acquaintance of Rods, Harmonica Joe Lee Bush who introduced John and Joe Lee Bush that night at Blind Willies Club in Atlanta. John and Joe Lee really hit it off immediately, both were original 1950's guys, Joe Lee had been the last person to take lessons from the legendary Little Walter Jacobs and as a 14 year old kid really soaked up everything Walter taught him over 2 months outside those Auburn ave. clubs in the early 1950's. John and Joe Lee already knew everything the other guy knew, so they launched into performing the Atlanta club circuit as The Southside Jukes a two man roots band. Over the next month they decided to expand the band to a full on blues band and invited Frankie Moates -Guitar, Chris Green - Pinetone Studios, Piano and Guitar, LT (Lieutenant) Jones Bass and Vocals a and KoKoMo Tim Gunther - Drums. in a mater of a week and without any rehearsals The Southside Jukes recorded two complete albums plus some more in an 2 day nonstop session at Chris Green's Pinetone Studios there in Atlanta. The Southside Jukes performed at all the clubs throughout the south including at The 1994 House of Blues at the Olympics, Jacksonville Blues Festival, Blind Willies, Fat Mat's and many others. During this time The Southside Jukes band led by John Williamson performed with and on the same bill Rod Piazza and the Mighty Flyers, Felex Reyes and the Cats, Neil Patman, Snooky Prior, The Shadows, Billy Wright, Grady Fats Jackson (Elmore James band member and legendary 2 sax at one time horn man), Paul Linden, Sean Costello, Danny Mud Cat, Brian Powell, Sweet Betty, The Chatmans and many others The results of this are the two Legendary Cd's John Lee Williamsons Southside Jukes Cool Cool Place to Go and John Lee Williamsons Southside Jukes Down In Hollywood.
John Lee Williamson returned to Sunland California in 1997, where he resides today, when thru another fateful meeting, John "Teamed up With" Demar Dupree a Legendary West Coast Vocalist and Harp Player and after reviewing and revisiting John's roots guidelines and Credo" Music, Girls, and Cars" EG: nothing Modern ever! John with along with Demar instituted their Current Group "The Superstitions" The Superstitions have the same type history starting as a Roots Blues Trio with Demar Dupree on Vocals and Harp John Lee Williamson on Guitar and Vocals and T J Sullivan on Guitar and Vocals The Superstitions produced and released the Cd "Leave all Blades and Pistols at the Door" in late 2004/2005 and then with a full band with the current members, John Lee Williamson - Guitar and Vocals, Demar Dupree - Harp and Vocals, Mighty Mike Recendez Lead Guitar, a phenomenal 24 year old "Guitar Genius" who arrived on the planet with T Bone Walker, Jimmy Reed, Jimmy Nolan, Pete Guitar Lewis even Santana already in his soul and spirit, Dr Jay Stolmack Sax, Rich Torres and then Jp Drums and Legendary ELA. Bassist and Vocalist Sergeo Osolo The Superstitions latest Cd The Superstitions "Kings of Juke Joint Music - Juke Town"! Rest assured that John Lee Williamson is still on a Roots and Blues roll with several more albums planned for release on Conjur Root Records all on Cdbaby.
In 1998 John Lee Williamson recorded a studio album with the top studio musicians in Los Angeles /Ventura California. Them Junko King Hats "Dance Party Takeout! " This group came together at Bobby Bragg's Studio in Ventura California in 1998 and David Chamberlain's Studio in Studio City California; Laid down a whole Album in one night and one day! This renown album contains some of the most eclectic roots originals and tributes to Legends like Bo Diddleys tribute song "Rhythm Gladiator" Them Junko King Hats are John Lee Williamson Production Guitar and Vocals, Bobby Bragg Production Guitar and Vocals, David Morgan ( writer of Ray Charles Songs and The Nelsons Piano man) on Piano and Vocals, David Chamberlain Production and Bass of Bruce Willis and the Heaters and Don and Dewy's, Dewey Terry and many more famous folks, Rich Diamond - Drums also from the same famous groups, Rod "The Rocket" Welk - Harp and Vocals - an alumni of John's Magic Blues Band. Them Junko King Hats are also available on Cdbaby. Them Junko King Hats received a Mavric Music Award in 2007 for Hustler Blues a song penned by John Juke Logan and performed on "Dance Party Takeout!" If you're in Southern California in 2008 you can catch John Williamson and The Superstitions Band at Cafe 322 in Sierra Madre California on the last Saturday every month in 2008 and on the BBC Dr Rock and other radio shows world wide. John Lee Williamson - Tradition Passion - Strength; Music, Girls, Cars!, a way of life for Johnny from 1941 till now! From Legion Stadiums of the 50's and Border Radio of Dr Jazzmo and Wolfman Jack to Today! Have Mercy!!
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