Conjur Root Records Within Cdbaby (http://www.cdbaby.com/all/jwillia100aolcom) Presents:
If you love Walter Cotton Jr Wells and Sonny Boy; The Southside Jukes Are "Down With It" baby! A real living blues history lesson from the missing generation of artists who formed their style while in their teens from 1949 to 1959! The story involves Little Walter, Hank Ballard, Jimmy Reed, Sonny Boy I & II, Jimmy Nolan, Pete Guitar Lewis, Chuck Higgins, and many many more:
Liner notes:
Sometimes your blood gets on it! and it sticks! There's a bond with it! It's family and a deep thing! You already know what to do, so you do it! - there's not a blues people around then or now that's in it by a little easy choice; you in it because you need it "BAD" y'all!, Day by Day, to live on! You don't walk into a club and the band is far away, they're right there in your face, playin' for you makin' your night and theirs!!! A personal thing for everybody, you're all in it together, stuck together by the blood, because that's the way it is!!
Get this Southside Jukes album, put it in and get down on the floor with it! - If you doing the wild thing or feelin' Blue or just remembering one of those good old good things or those old dead guys whose life & music started this whole deal - Baby this is for you! All the way and just in time! This is the main deal here, just for you! Music gona' put you right there in Chess/ VeJay / Trumpet condition right now Mama & Daddy!! Hear these Jukes now and you're hearing yesterday too!
John A.(California) Williamson - Vocals, founder & creator of The Southside Jukes and Proud Rhythm Guitar Like Eddie Taylor do!
Joe Lee Bush - Screamin' Harmonica and vocals supreme in the top of the planet harp players - An Assassin schooled at 14 years old by 23 year old Little Walter Jacobs himself!
Frankie Moates - Hollywood burnin" guitar leads with Hard and Southern Smooth til you cant believe you stung by it! A guitar god in his own right!
KoKoMo Tim Gunther - Drums in all the way right "Art Decco" manner - straight in and to the point, not afraid to leave the "Green" while he brush on it! ( Note: Tim Gunther was tragically killed in an automobile accident returning from a show performing with "The Breeze Kings" a legendary Atlanta band in 2005, one of the reasons this Cd is being re-released is as a tribute to KoKoMo Tim Gunther "A Blue Star in the heavens right now!"
Mr. Slim Green - on that beautiful "All that Piano" drippin down tinklin' and ain't foolin'! Stompin' 88's Mr. "Pinetone Studio" Owner of the studio with the sound to hurt yo self with" All Nite Long ! coincidentally a master slide guitar player in his own right too! To Be heard on the second Southside Jukes Cd "1952 The Radio Jumps Again" It's coming Next!
Mister (Spelled All the way out- for respect) - Long Time Champion, owning the bottom throughtout the "South" by way of the Bass Guitar - Mr. consistant, L.T. (Lieutenant) Jones, Extreme and beauitful Power on the Bass! We love him and can't find him now.
Special Guests: The Cat Felex Reyes - plays it all on "Irene", John Mark Burton upright "Doghouse Bass" where you hear it!, Jimmy Bullard dropped in too!, Scott Callison - Drums on Irene with Daddy Felix, Scott's young and in the grove!
The Southside Jukes, "Cool Cool Place To Go" Cd liner notes:
Part I: "Peg Pants & Pompadours"
Three O'clock. The school bell rings, and the kids ran for their cars, diving thru the windows and snapping on their radios to catch the end of the intro to Hunter Hancock's rockin' radio show: "Swing to sweet, Bebop to Ballads & Blues to Boogie"
Circa 1957, give or take a year, Los Angeles,As kids, John Williamson and his friends skated at a local outdoor roller rink, bringing their own records Muddy Waters, Bo Diddley, Little Richard, Blues and B&R/R&B for skating, dancing and discovery. Hot Rods cruised the parking lot!
Then they were older, cutting school in the daytime, going to a house where the parents weren't home, three or four couples paired off in separate rooms, with portable record players, "Listen to this one! someone called out as Jimmy Reed's "Caress Me Baby" poured out of the tiny speaker.
At nite they'd cruise hot rods past the Frosty Freeze Drive-in or the Sunland Skateland skating rink, looking sharp in pegged pants with pompadours laden heavily with the sweet smell of"Three Flowers" vasoline. Drinking "Silver Satin" Wine!
As a group they might "take over" the boulevard, reversing lanes of traffic, or park up in the "The (Tujunga)Canyon" and listen to Dr. Jazzmo on XERB the Mighty 1090 AM, Booming In from Mexico via Del Rio Texas, the Ad's were outrageous: Jilted? Sister Christine's "Blessed Charm" would bring your lover back to you!
Blues, B&R/R&B, Doo Wop, came across the airwaves in one delicious swirl. It was the music that bound them together, and set them free! Parents didn't understand, but the music spoke to their loneliness, and their need for identity!
"Nobody Cares About Me I Don't Even Have a Friend, My Baby's Gone and Left Me, When Will My Troubles End? Black Nite is Falling, Yes! I Hate to be Alone. . ."
But mostly it was music for cruising, dancing, and romancing! It was simple enough to understand and exotic enough to be fascinating and highly hypnotic!
Part II: "The Worried Life Blues"
As California had it's canyons, roller rinks, and Mexican radio, Atlanta Ga. had its swimming pools, with mamouth juke boxes in the pavilions thundering the music from Ruth Brown,The Clovers, & Little Walter! Daddy Sears hosted "Diggin the Discs on WAOK AM Radio! It was one of the premier black black B&R/R&B radio stations on the east coast, but white kids were listening too! Doug Bush was among them! The 81 Theatre on Decatur St. featured a stage show every Saturday between movies, featuring black artists such as "Piano Red,The Cashmiers, and Frank Edwards. Doug Bush was 15 in 1953 when he rode the bus down to the show to compete in the "Talent Contest"! He performed the Harp Instrumental "Roller Coaster" and Jimmy Reed's "You Don't Have To Go" and brought the house down! The town was a paridice for a teenager that "Loved Blues"! Decatur Street was brimming with "Juke Joints", Pool Rooms, and lots of music. In 1955 Little Walter came to town! For three or four nites a week for several months, Doug rode his BSA Cycle down to the "Magnolia Club" where walter was playing. He'd meet Walter outside the club during intermission, and the 23- year- old "King of blues Harp" would share the secrets of his technique with Doug!
By 1961 Doug was also playing bass guitar, and got a job out of the Union Hall Office to play on a recording session with Hank Ballard and the Midnighters. He ended up touring with the band as an opening act, riding a bus from town to town, watching Hank drill his troops in the art of choreography; he was living a boyhood dream come true!
Part III: Southside Jukin' :
But by 1965 it was over; the British Invasion " swept across America ", leaving countless B&R/R&B artists in it's wake. Doug put his equipment away, got a day job and got married.
That might have been the end of the story, but in 1990 his wife left him, leaving a pain that no amount of drinking or crying could seem to heal. But Doug found an escape, a balm in the heartache, in the music he'd put aside but never forgotten. Harmonica cohorts like William Clarke, Rod Piazza,Steve Geiger and Rick Estrin guided his musical and emotional rebound, and Piazza put him in touch with with John Williamson one of Piazza's buddies from California who was now (in 1990) living in Atlanta.
The music that John Williamson and Doug Bush have made with The "Southside Jukes" is a pure unadulterated blast of late 40's early 50's Rhythm & Blues! Listen to the sound of it! We're not talking about some "American Grafffiti"-styled nostalgia. Or about modern players trying to mimic an old style. We're talking about men who are playing the music that shaped their lives!
The straight forward, emotionally honest music that blasted from those portable record players and pavilion juke boxes long ago has a timeless charm. The Southside Jukes remember the music! It's a music they still celebrate. So listen! Join the celebration! And don't forget your dancing shoes.
Bryan Powell
Musician/Writer
Atlanta, Georgia
Sept 1994
As close to the root as it is possible to be!
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
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
Randy Chortcoff
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!!
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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