I'm a Soul Man...

Today in rock history, Donald “Duck” Dunn was born in Memphis, Tennessee, in 1941. Most well known for his work with Booker T and the MG's and as a session bassist for Stax Records, he also got considerable screen time as a member of the Blues Brothers Band, known for being “Tight as a fist and meaner than a junkyard dog.” He also had one of the most memorable lines in the 1980 Blues Brothers movie: “We had a band that could turn goat piss into gasoline.” As a gentleman farmer and owner of a couple goats, I could use that formula! At any rate, let's celebrate “Duck's” life by watching this vid of the Blues Brothers in action (sort of). Thanks to www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donald_%22Duck%22_Dunn for the info, keep on rockin', and have a safe and happy Turkey Day!

Side Tracked...

This week’s blues spotlight is on Freddie King (September 3, 1934 – December 28, 1976), thought to have born as Frederick Christian, originally recording as Freddy King, and nicknamed "the Texas Cannonball". He was an influential African-American blues guitarist and singer. He is often mentioned as one of "the Three Kings" of electric blues guitar, along with Albert King and B.B. King. Freddie King based his guitar style on Texas and Chicago influences and was one of the first bluesmen to have a multi-racial backing band onstage with him at live performances. He is best known for singles such as "Have You Ever Loved A Woman" (1960) and his Top 40 hit "Hide Away" (1961). He is also known for albums such as the early, instrumental-packed Let's Hide Away and Dance Away with Freddy King (1961) and the later album Burglar (1974), which displayed King's mature versatility as both player and singer in a range of blues and funk styles. King had a twenty-year recording career and became established as an influential guitarist with hits for Federal Records, in the early 1960s. He inspired American musicians from Stevie Ray Vaughan and Jimmie Vaughan, and others. His influence was also felt in UK, through recordings by blues revivalists such as, Eric Clapton, Peter Green, and Chicken Shack. King died from heart failure on December 28, 1976, age forty two.

In the Aces Wild band, we open all of our shows with Freddie’s “Sidetracked.” Thanks to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freddie_King for the info, and keep on rockin’!

The Gales of November came early...

Today in rock history, 35 years ago today, the "Edmund Fitzgerald" went down on Lake Superior near Whitefish Bay, giving the inspiration for the Gordon Lightfoot song of the same name. If you haven't seen the EF display in the maritime museum in Duluth, by all means do so; it's an eerie display that reinforces the fact that no one still really knows what happened that day. Thanks to Chris Mohr for the inspiration, and keep on rockin', respectfully, on the anniversary of this sad day in maritime history.

Goodness Gracious...

great balls of fire! Today in rock history, in 1957, Sun Records releases "Great Balls of Fire," written by Otis Blackwell (who penned "Don't Be Cruel" and others for Elvis Presley). By the second week in December, the single is ensconced in the Top Ten on the pop, country and R&B charts. It becomes the best-selling record in Sun's history. My favorite version of this tune is this one done by Johnny Winter And in 1971. Thanks to http://rockhall.com/story-of-rock/ for the info, and keep on rockin'!