Whole Life Magazine

June / July 2018

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were invited into the Barber band in 1961. Korner and Davies then opened and maintained the London Blues and Barrelhouse Club. Alex- is was quite generous when it came to allow- ing young musicians like Eric Burdon, Mick Jagger, Brian Jones, and Keith Richards a chance to perform their blues on stage. Alexis formed Alexis Korner's Blues Incorporat- ed with 6'7" singer L J B (1941- 2005). ey recorded 1962's R&B from the Mar- quee, considered by many blues historians as the rst male British blues LP. In 1963 Baldry joined the Cyril Davies R&B All Stars with Jimmy Page (guitar) and Nicky Hopkins (piano). Renamed Long John Baldry and His Hoochie Coochie Men a er Davies' death, Baldry recruited subway busker Rod Stewart into his band as a second male vocalist. In 1966 Baldry formed Bluesology with Reg Dwight on piano and (future So Machine member) Elton Dean and Caleb Quaye on guitars. Dwight later became Elton John ("Elton" as in Dean; "John" as in Baldry). Upon Bluesology's 1968 break-up, Bald- ry went solo, recording successful blues as well as even more success- ful MOR (middle of the road) LPs. Another Blues Incorporated alum was organist-saxophonist-singer G B (1937-1974), who formed the Graham B o n d Quartet (later renamed the Graham Bond Organ- isation or GBO) in 1963 with three of the best UK jazz and blues musicians of that early musical era: Jack Bruce was on bass; guitarist John Mc- Laughlin had a brief tenure before being re- placed by saxophonist Dick Heckstall-Smith; and drummer Ginger Baker led the band. Eventually Bruce and Baker broke away to form Cream with Eric Clapton. Alexis Korner persuaded fellow blues enthusiast J M (1933–) to move to Lon- don, then helped him to get gigs. In 1963 the Marquee Club booked Mayall's new band, the Bluesbreakers (with John McVie on bass). Mayall mentored and groomed many young blues musicians in the Blues- breakers, including Eric Clapton (pre- viously of e Yardbirds), Peter Green (later founder of Fleetwood Mac) and Mick Taylor (1970s lead guitarist for the Rolling Stones). O en sitting in with John May- all, the wildly talented acoustic blues guitar player D G (1940- 2008) in uenced an entire generation of acoustic blues players (as well as guitarists like Led Zeppelin's Jim- my Page), most of whom eventually formed prominent English folk rock bands such as Fairport Conven- tion, Steeleye Span, and Pentangle. ose bands may have embraced English folk music but their guitarists all began by playing the blues. Alexis Korner arranged for Davy's rst record- ing. Graham eventual- ly branched out from the blues with one of the rst comprehen- sive repertoires of what is now known as World Music. All of these key play- ers and singers preced- ed and then partici- pated in what became known as the rst great British blues boom of the mid-to-late 1960s. The bands of that genre who rose to prominence then and a bit later include The Animals, Cream, the Spencer Davis Group, Fleetwood Mac, Free, Rory Gal- lagher, Humble Pie, Jethro Tull, Led Zeppelin, Man- fred Mann, John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers, the Pretty Things, the Rolling Stones, Ten Years After, (Van Morrison's) Them and The Yardbirds. They all served an important purpose in re-in- troducing us Americans to one of our own greatest home- grown genres of music, while establishing a rich, vital music legacy of their own. William Stout is the au- thor and illustrator of Leg- ends of the Blues from Abrams ComicArts. His second blues vol- ume, Legends of the British Blues, bass; guitarist John Mc- bass; guitarist John Mc- bass; guitarist John Mc- bass; guitarist John Mc- bass; guitarist John Mc- bass; guitarist John Mc- Laughlin had a brief tenure before being re- tenure before being re- tenure before being re- placed by saxophonist placed by saxophonist placed by saxophonist Dick Heckstall-Smith; Dick Heckstall-Smith; Dick Heckstall-Smith; and drummer Ginger and drummer Ginger and drummer Ginger and drummer Ginger and drummer Ginger and drummer Ginger Baker led the band. Baker led the band. Baker led the band. Eventually Bruce and Eventually Bruce and Eventually Bruce and Baker broke away to form Cream with form Cream with Eric Clapton. Eric Clapton. Eric Clapton. were invited into the were invited into the Barber band in 1961. Barber band in 1961. Barber band in 1961. Korner and Davies then Korner and Davies then opened and maintained opened and maintained opened and maintained opened and maintained opened and maintained the London Blues and the London Blues and the London Blues and Barrelhouse Club. Alex- Barrelhouse Club. Alex- Barrelhouse Club. Alex- is was quite generous is was quite generous when it came to allow- when it came to allow- when it came to allow- when it came to allow- when it came to allow- ing young musicians like Eric Burdon, Mick Jagger, Brian Jones, and Jagger, Brian Jones, and Keith Richards a chance So Machine member) Elton Dean So Machine member) Elton Dean and Caleb Quaye on guitars. Dwight later became Elton John ("Elton" as later became Elton John ("Elton" as in Dean; "John" as in Baldry). Upon in Dean; "John" as in Baldry). Upon in Dean; "John" as in Baldry). Upon Bluesology's 1968 break-up, Bald- Bluesology's 1968 break-up, Bald- ry went solo, recording successful ry went solo, recording successful ry went solo, recording successful blues as well as even more success- blues as well as even more success- ful MOR (middle of the road) LPs. ful MOR (middle of the road) LPs. ful MOR (middle of the road) LPs. was organist-saxophonist-singer was organist-saxophonist-singer was organist-saxophonist-singer G B G B G B who formed the Graham who formed the Graham who formed the Graham Quartet (later renamed Quartet (later renamed the Graham Bond Organ- the Graham Bond Organ- the Graham Bond Organ- on stage. on stage. Korner's Blues Incorporat- Korner's Blues Incorporat- Korner's Blues Incorporat- Korner's Blues Incorporat- ed with 6'7" singer ed with 6'7" singer J B 2005). ey recorded 2005). ey recorded 2005). ey recorded 2005). ey recorded 2005). ey recorded 2005). ey recorded 1962's 1962's quee quee quee quee blues historians as the rst blues historians as the rst blues historians as the rst male British blues LP. In 1963 Baldry male British blues LP. In 1963 Baldry joined the Cyril Davies R&B All Stars joined the Cyril Davies R&B All Stars joined the Cyril Davies R&B All Stars joined the Cyril Davies R&B All Stars with Jimmy Page (guitar) and Nicky with Jimmy Page (guitar) and Nicky Hopkins (piano). Renamed Long John Hopkins (piano). Renamed Long John J M J M J M J M J M J M ends of the Blues ends of the Blues ComicArts. His second blues vol- ComicArts. His second blues vol- ComicArts. His second blues vol- ComicArts. His second blues vol- ComicArts. His second blues vol- ComicArts. His second blues vol- ComicArts. His second blues vol- ComicArts. His second blues vol- ComicArts. His second blues vol- ComicArts. His second blues vol- ComicArts. His second blues vol- ume, ume, Legends of the British Blues Legends of the British Blues Legends of the British Blues Legends of the British Blues Legends of the British Blues Illustrations by William Stout

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