Conjur Root Records within Cdbaby http://www.cdbaby.com/all/jwillia100aolcom
Presents:
The Mercury Brothers Live at the AMP HOUSE ATLANTA GEORGIA --"SWITCH BLADE STYLE!"
Engineering and re engineering from DAT to Mag Tape and back to digital on this Cd Slim Green of Pinetone Studios Atlanta Georgia - AKA Tone!
Subj: The viewer is on! in Bethesda Md. - lets use it! Switch Blade Style!
Hey, people! You know that the Agency is using all these kind of sites, Face Book, Pando/Myspace and all to see what all the people are doing! Our task is to do very cool old things all the time, it may bring it all back!! We sure hope so!!! Pass it on! John Lee Williamson III
As a Founding "Mercury Brother" alongside all those Cats! The "Felix and the Cats" Cats: (Phenomenal) Felix Reyes, Dr. (Mighty) Paul Linden, Matt Sickles, Ron Logsden and of course Special honorary "Super Cat" Mr. Eddie Tiggner of the world famous Ink Spots. We all got a plan together and one day we all descended on THE AMP HOUSE. Well THE AMP HOUSE was up a pretty tree laden lane on the North Side of Atlanta Georgia. Above the Door was Nailed a A Little Walter 78 Record, Inside and to the left was a temple of Amps. 30's 40's 50's amps stacked as high as the ceiling like bricks in a wall. over to the left was an old upright piano. There was music stuff all over the place at this "Chess Records Fraternity House" and recording studio! Dr. had put it together and it was TIGHT! in the loosest way!! hanging from the center of the room was one RCA 44 Ribbon mic hanging from it's cord with a cotton rope tied to it to let the sound guy move it, really swing it, all around the room during the recording session. There was a box of harps at the bar and a tall water glass half full of water to blow the harps over for that natural echo. Ron Logsden set his drums in the corner and placed the big Tupperware lid on the snare for that early Blunt Quiet tone! The AMP HOUSE and all The CATS was now ready to take that Giant Step Back in time!!!! Everything was ready for the journey back in time to the very beginning of recording Blues and Rhythm Music! John Lee stepped up to do the Mic check and evoke the early spirit for the session; he said: I'd like all music to sound like this! I'd like an "All Jimmy Reed All the time" Radio Station across the whole country and around the world! Then I'd like to thank all of Felix and the Cats for being just as crazy as me! All old groves all the time!! Oh Ya and a couple of more things:
I'd like a car that has chrome bumpers, one you can turn the lights and dome lights on and off yourself, one that has dual pipes, a spotlight, white walls, a V 8 I can tune up myself! A drag strip, a dirt track, drive in movie and restaurant, motorcycle hill climb, You know stuff that will make you think on your own!! I'd like gas to be 19 cents a gallon again, I'd like factories to be in America, I'd like milk, bread, and sweet rolls and ice cream to be delivered to my home by a cool little truck, I'd like a 60 mph 50 mpg Whizzer motorbike, I'd like everybody to speak English first, I'd like live DJ's that play and announce one record at a time so I know who it is I'm listening to, I'd like a War Surplus in my neighborhood and a drag strip that was open Saturday from 9 am to 5 PM, I'd like the best House Parties, I'd like a 1957 dollar to be worth a dollar not eight dollars and ninety cents, I'd like executives, politicians, and lobbyists to have the same values as Billy Graham/Gandhi, I'd like girls to wear dresses and Capris and flats, I'd like guys to have great haircuts with razor around the ears and square cuts in the back, Everybody should wear Bad Ass Top Coats, Sexy Sox and Hats with Brims! Khaki's, Peggers and Sir Guy's and Pendeltons, Prices, French Toes and Stacey's! I'd like a great dance at the Legion hall on Friday and Saturday Night with live acts that can harmonize, I'd like an amusement park/Skating Rink/and 4 great Pools and swimming holes, I'd like Soap Box Derby, I'd like Christmas to be full of family Fun/Joy/love! I'd like much less oversight by agencies! I'm from Sunland, California and in the 1950's when I grew up all these things were true! I loved my America! My Music right off 78 records! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Forever!! Lets Record this Album Live right now! Right in THE AMP HOUSE and do it SWITCH BLADE STYLE! One Mic a huge groove and spirit just like 1938. And the whole Cats choir all said Well!!!!!!!!!! Alright!!!!!!!!!
Well folks here it is: THE MERCURY BROTHERS Live from the AMP HOUSE "SWITCH BLADE STYLE"
Felix Reyes - Lead Guitar, Album intro rap and Backing Vocals on all cuts - Check out his Myspace HE's BAD! BAAADDDD! As a Man Can Be!
Dr Mighty Paul Linden - Harp all cuts with harp and Piano Cuts 1,2,4,5,7,8,9,11,12,13,14,15.16
John Lee Williamson III - 2nd Guitar and Vocals on 1,2,4,5,7,8,9,11,12,13,14,15,16
Ron Logsden - Drums and Tupperware all Tracks 1 thru 16
Matt Sickles - Big Doghouse Bass all Tracks 1 thru 16
World Famous Eddie Tigner - Piano and Vocals on cuts 3 and 6 and some piano when Paul Linden is playing Harp
Big old RCA 44A Ribbon Mic on a rope with everybody pulling it all around as necessary
Oh Ya! that Mighty Echo Chamber Water Glass
As with All Conjur Root Records,This Record Presents The true spirit of Little Walter, James Harmon, Goree Carter, The Spiders, Chuck Carbo, Wynonie Harris, Elmore James, Freddie Roulette, Sonny Boy Williamson II and of Course John Lee Williamsons I and II Dear Friends Felix Reyes and the Cars, All tracks were recorded down South at The AMP HOUSE Studios years ago with the idea of Capturing that Original Modern, for the time, sound out of Memphis Trumpet Records in 1938 to 1948 at the very "Dawn Of Blues & Rhythm". Music like you would hear at Jukes all around the south and them later on Johnny Otis' Radio & TV show or at The Club Zanzibar, Barrell House, Five Four Ballroom, Shrine Auditorium and Hollywood Paladium with Old HH, Hunter Hancock, Dick Hugg, Huggie Boy, Magnificant Montague, Duke Henderson, Al Jarvis, Central Ave. and Art Laboe! Leiber & Stoller might say, That "SWITCH BLADE SOUND" is the Sound that Abounds Here! Get It ON!
Mercury Brothers Band Members have appeared on the same stage with or in the following groups:
Felix Reyes and the Cats
Carlos Capote and his Breeze Kings
Bo Diddley
Keith Ferguson/Fabulous Thunderbirds
The Healers
The Breeze Kings
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
Sean Costello (We Love You! God Bless!)
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 Maestro & 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
Meyers 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 (Yes that! Billy Campbell who taught the Vaughan Brothers Guitar)
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!!
BACK TO SPOTLIGHT
Favorite Artists Songs:
Jimmy Reed
Little Rain Falling
Boogie in the dark
Can't Stand to see you Go
Jimmy Mc Cracklin
Rickmond California
That Ain't Right
Willie Heydon Headon
Let Me Cry
Turn the Hi Fi Down
Louis and Frosty
Train Time
The Platters
Maggie Doesn't Work Here any More
Billy Wright
Change Your Women Change Your Town
Little Richard
Miss Ann
Little Richards Boogie
Don and Dewey
Miss Sue
Justine
Squires
Cindy
Gaylarks
Tell Me Darling
Clovers
Lovey Dovey
The Cliques
Girl in My Dreams
Marvin and Johnny
Tick Tock
Cherry Pie
The Drifters
White Christmas
The Five Keys
Ling Ting Tong
The Chords
Sh Boom
Bp Diddley
Diddey Wah Diddey
Johnny Guitar Watson
MotorHead Baby
Chuck Higgins
Roller Coaster
Somethings Going on in My Room
Pachuko Hop
Duck Walk
Joe Houston
All Night Long
Big Jay Mc Neeley
Ice Water
Johnny Otis
Casting a Spell on you
Hand Jive
Trudy Williams and The Sixteens
Arrow of love
Slim Green and the Cats from Fresno with Al Simmons
Old Folks Boogie
The Jacks
Why Don't You Write Me
The Four Deuces
WPLJ White Port and Lemon Juice
The Spaniels
Play it Cool
There's a Pain in My Heart
The Robins
Ten Days in jail
That's What the good Book Said
What a You Want
Mando and The Chili Peppers
Jim Balcom and the Shades of Rhythm
Coredo Rock
Rosie and the Originals
Angel Baby
Give me Love
The Cadillacs
Let Me Explain
Richard Berry
Get out of the Car
Irvin Big Boy Groves
xxxxx
Wynonie Harris
Fishtail Cadillac
Shake That Thing
Wilbert Harrison
Don't Drop It
The Willows
Church Bells May Ring
The Youngsters
Christmas in Jail
Dreamy Eyes
The Turbans
When You Dance
Willie Egans
Drop Anchor For Me Baby
Willie Joe
Unitar Rock
Cherokee Dance
Penguins
Hey Senorita
Earth Angel
The Crows
Gee
Hank Ballard and the Midnighters
Work With Me Annie
Big Joe Turner
TV Mama
Elmore James
Dust my Blues
Twelve year old boy
Sonny Boy Williamson
Cool Cool Blues
Cool Cool Place to Go
The Southside Jukes
Rocket sixty nine 69
Vernon Green and the Medallions
Buick 59
Did You Have Fun
Edna
Speedin' Speeding
Beyond Dancing With the Stars and American Idol in the Cool!
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