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Episode 2 - West Coast Blues Groove
Joe Louis Walker and Frankie Lee join host Sonny Rhodes in this meeting of West Coast bluesmen. Gospel music's influence to the blues is also examined.
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As a "disciple of the blues," Sonny Rhodes is one of the most charming bluesmen one could ever meet. With an infectious smile, an optimistic spirit, and a sense of style all his own, Sonny Rhodes provides an eloquent approach to blues music that makes his shows so darned infectious. Growing up as the youngest child of Texan sharecroppers, Sonny Rhodes was exposed to a wide variety of country, gospel, and blues music. Inspired by the sounds of lap steel guitar in country music, Sonny Rhodes took an interest in this instrument, and incorporated it into his own brand of blues music. With a colorful career that's included work as a radio disc jockey, an advertising salesman for a metropolitan newspaper, a mailman for the U.S. Navy, a laborer for General Motors, and a bass player for both Freddie King and Albert Collins, Sonny Rhodes eventually found his niche as a solo artist. He's had enormous success in Europe, where he's released many different albums not available in America. He's a versatile singer, songwriter, and instrumentalist with plenty of great stories to share, and we're honored to bring him aboard Blues Express®.
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Joe Louis Walker represents the next generation of bluesmen. Eschewing traditional paths to blues superstardom, Walker began playing guitar in his hometown of San Francisco during the tumultuous 60's. With his roommate Mike Bloomfield, Walker jammed with the Grateful Dead, Jimi Hendrix and other stalwarts of the San Francisco scene. Walker made brief forays to Chicago and the Pacific Northwest to absorb the music scenes there before returning to California in 1975. Burned out on blues, Walker adopted spiritual music, singing with the gospel group New Corinthians for the next decade. Twenty years after his start, Walker went back to his blues roots and released his first album Cold is the Night, a stunning example of Walker's talent as both guitarist and singer. Walker stands today as one of the best all around blues artists performing.
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Born in Texas, Frankie Lee mirrors many musicians' paths who helped form blues' 'West Coast Sound'. Lee was an R&B singer in the style of Sam Cooke and Otis Redding (he's often been compared to a contemporary Otis Redding) who learned his chops in church choirs and gospel groups in Texas. His recording career began in the early 1960's scoring several large regional hits for Don Robey's Peacock Records. He migrated West in the early 70's, calling Oakland his home and recording for Hightone Records with his cousin Johnny 'Guitar' Watson. Frankie Lee's recent release 'Here I Go Again' (Blues Express® label) further cements his position as one of the finest singers and engaging performers in music.
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