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Who are some great old blues pianists?
I love the sound of the old tinkling piano like you can hear on several Muddy Waters tracks (did he have a regular pianist or use session players?) and Billie Holiday songs among others. What can you recommend?
Oh, and I know about Memphis Slim.
Thanks, 13across. I have heard of Otis Spann and Champion Jack Dupree but had never really looked into them. I know Scott Joplin - The theme music to the movie The Sting put me on to him.
I'll look into some of the others you mentioned, too.
This is great stuff. Thanks for the answers. As I was reading and listening, I recalled that the movie Angelheart had that kind of tinkling piano. I knew it had Brownie McGhee and some other great musicians in it, so checked up on the pianist. None other than Pinetop Perkins who was recommended in the first answer. I've also heard him (without realising) in the movie Blues Brothers!
5 Answers
- 13AcrossLv 77 years agoFavourite answer
Muddy's regular pianist was Otis Spann. He also recorded under his own name, and with other bluesmen
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Otis_Spann
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t84AfeSPSHY
Billie's best-known pianists were probably Bobby Tucker and Teddy Wilson
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bobby_Tucker
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teddy_Wilson
There's a whole heap of blues pianists listed in this article
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piano_blues
I might single out Blind John Davis, Champion Jack Dupree, and Pinetop Perkins (he too worked with Muddy)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tVKxifwUOkk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JXMfLFa3ZM4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tmDQzWusJZ0
And going way way back - the master of ragtime, Scott Joplin
- Anonymous7 years ago
Great answers, Glen and 13. Otis Spann is easily my favorite, for he not only held down his spot in Muddy's band, he also played on numerous Chess recordings, offering great interpretations for the other artists.
Sunnyland Slim is also a favorite.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QeP8qBCOc20
Meade Lux Lewis
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UEbqGB16bOA
Albert Ammons was a sort of bridge between classic blues and boogie-woogie. Another favorite.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6nELFcuZ9yE
Three good tunes, but better answers than mine are here.
- 5 years ago
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- longshotsbluesLv 77 years ago
Erskine Hawkins - After Hours http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3CYQ6YZHMEE
Rufus Perryman (Speckled Red) - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JvBWaZrzJ1M
Sylvester Palmer http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pbnaXLrSu0E
Big Maceo Merriweather
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8vKHY0sxyZI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nAVz6kcAz3U
Charlie Spand -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_tHfpAzfIOY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tUmhapz1vZ8
Cripple Clarence Lofton http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tb103qU61mo
Roosevelt Sykes http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4bAgETAkWm4
Jimmy Blythe http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r5ncZDrCId0
