Under The Influence

Most of our favourite artists had their musical roots planted in Church or in a home filled with music played by parent’s siblings or other family members.

However, all of them had their own personal outside influences too. Part one of a selection here on the Blog. (see if you can spot the deliberate mistake).

James Brown.

The great innovator Louis Jordan. Brown used economic entrance methods to Jordan’s shows by wriggling under the show tent flaps to watch this dynamic performer in action. Mr Brown said Louis had it all. He could sing he could dance he could play he could act and other music greats like Chuck Berry and Ray Charles agreed. A major record hit maker Ain’t Nobody Here But Us Chickens is my favourite. James Brown loved the Jordan Caldonia track so much he recorded it himself in 1964

Chuck Berry

Roy Ayers

Went to a Lionel Hampton gig, which left this young man determined to be a vibes player. The rest is history.

Lionel Hampton

Marvin Gaye

He said his musical awakening was hearing God Only Knows by a teenage R&B harmony vocal group from Philadelphia called the Capris. The version Marvin would have heard was recorded in the early 1950’s.

Aretha Franklin

Sam Cooke, gospel singer Clara Ward and Dinah Washington.

Washington was born Ruth Lee Jones and given the name change by Roy Ayers hero Lionel Hampton. Quincy Jones described her singing style in his biography – she could take the melody in her hand, hold it like and egg, crack it open, fry it, let it sizzle, reconstruct it, put the egg back in the box and back in the refrigerator and you would’ve still understood every single syllable. Wow!

Some more Under The Influences soon.