Blues from the Bayou: The Rhythms of Baton Rouge

by Julian Piper (Various Artists (VMI))

Overview

Experience a cool splash of music history from the Bayou State!

This intensely personal and entertaining account is a snapshot of Blues from an outsider welcomed into the inner circles of Southern Blues icons. Englishman Julian C. Piper spent a year abroad at Louisiana State University and played blues primarily at the Blues Box in Baton Rouge. There he met many of the musicians with whom he conducted interviews between 1987 and 1988. Those interviews form the basis of this book. Through his close friendship with Blues Box owner Tabby Thomas and his son Chris, Piper collected stories of blues luminaries including Silas Hogan, Robert Pete Williams, Huddie “Leadbelly” Ledbetter, Lonesome Sundown, Chris Thomas King, Lightening Slim, and many more.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781455623099
Publisher:	Arcadia Publishing SC
Publication date:	03/27/2017
Pages:	176
Product dimensions:	5.40(w) x 8.40(h) x 0.50(d)

About the Author

Having been enthralled with music since the age of 14, Julian C. Piper became passionately devoted to learning everything he could about it. He taught himself how to play guitar and, by the age of 21, became acquainted with a wide array of bands. Throughout his career, Piper has organized tours and brought artists to the UK and Europe, having the privilege of meeting artists such as Carey and Lurrie Bell, Lefty Dizz, Louisiana Red, Lazy Lester, and more.

Piper graduated from Exeter University with a BA in American and Commonwealth Arts. When his awareness and interest in blues music expanded, tutors advised him to travel to Baton Rouge, LA. There he played at the “Blues Box” and made friends with musicians that later became the subjects of his book. Piper broadcast a series on BBC national radio called Blues on the Bayou based on his experience.

Piper works as an editor for Acoustic Magazine and continues to perform as a musician. He has performed in many states and, in 2009, played alongside Tabby Thomas for the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. Piper lives in Exeter, England with his wife Catherine and has three children.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments 7

Introduction 9

Chapter 1 Rats and Roaches in My Kitchen 15

Chapter 2 From Angola to Newport 27

Chapter 3 The Record Man and Poor Lightnin' 39

Chapter 4 Blues at the Box 55

Chapter 5 Slim Harpo, the King Bee 75

Chapter 6 Lonesome Sundown, the Louisiana Lover Man 97

Chapter 7 Tabby Thomas, King of the Swamp Blues 107

Chapter 8 Bruce Lamb, Neckbone Slim 125

Chapter 9 Raful Neal, the Family Man 129

Chapter 10 The Twenty-First-Century Bluesman 137

Chapter 11 Kenny Neal, Blues Right from the Bayou 147

Chapter 12 A Few Words on Lazy Lester 153

Notes 161

Index 169