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Bobby "Blue" Bland

Posted: Wed Jun 26, 2013 4:45 am
by WildcatOne
It is with great sadness that I have to post the passing of the greatest American Blues singer who ever lived, the one and only Bobby "Blue" Bland. His voice inspired many, especially Pee Wee Bowen. We perform several of his songs and Pee Wee never has once failed to acknowledge Bobby as one of the greatest sources of his career's direction. The sophistication, subtleties and gut-wrenching bottom-end of his voice gave me chills and made me stand back in awe when that man let loose with a ballad, a stomper, a pop song or a hardcore blues. When I heard Pee Wee do Bobby Bland I knew I was in the right band. I really felt this one. I am without a lot of words, so here's the Wikipedia link. Rest in peace. WC1
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bobby_Bland

Re: Bobby "Blue" Bland

Posted: Wed Jun 26, 2013 1:17 pm
by draglist
One of my all-time favorites for sure, and I was happy to have been able to see him and BB in concert together in DC several years ago. Farewell, sir. Color me... Two Steps from the Blues. bp

Re: Bobby "Blue" Bland

Posted: Wed Jun 26, 2013 8:14 pm
by WildcatOne
Van Morrison, Bob Seger, Eric Burdon, Rod Stewart, Eric Clapton and Steve Miller, to mention a few, learned a lot from him. Van and Eric B openly acknowledged his influence. But nobody could top what he did, and he did it with sheer, raw talent and a driving force inside him that could not be stopped. My sister had his 1962 45 rpm record, "Call On Me", that he recorded in Houston at Duke Records. He combined a sweet, gentle melody and a powerful, startling roar, backed by a full orchestra, to create a double-whammy hit record, one of my all-time favorite songs. BP, that is fantastic that you got to see him perform with BB King...they were the greatest duo ever to perform a Blues repertoire. We do "Further On Up The Road", "Cry, Cry, Cry", "Two Steps From The Blues", "I Pity The Fool", and "Turn On Your Love Light". Pee Wee does Bobby Bland great, and it has kept the spirit of this great artist alive and well in our stage show. I will always remember the beauty and depth of his softer side which stood in contrast to the power and fury of his intense material. He had it all. WC1

Re: Bobby "Blue" Bland

Posted: Wed Jun 26, 2013 10:01 pm
by draglist
Sounds like I need to come back down to hear that! bp

Re: Bobby "Blue" Bland

Posted: Tue Jul 09, 2013 12:27 pm
by Gator
R.I.P. Sir.... Thanks