⬇️ ROSCO GORDON ⬇️
DISCOGRAPHY 1982-2023 (26CD/DVD)
BIOGRAPHY
Born on Florida Street in Memphis, Tennessee, Gordon was one of the Beale
Streeters, a moniker given to a group of musicians who helped develop the
style known as Memphis Blues. Gordon used a style of piano-playing known as
'The Rosco rhythm' and made a number of his early recordings for Sam
Phillips at Sun Records.
This rhythm placed the accent on the off beats, and although other
influential R&B pianists such as Professor Longhair (on "Willie Mae"
among other songs) recorded in the same off-beat style before him, through
his influence on the Jamaican pianist, Theophilus Beckford ("Easy
Snappin'"), Gordon was cited as the foundation of Jamaican bluebeat and
reggae music.
"Booted" (1952) gave his career a sound start, and was followed by "No More
Doggin'" the same year. Sam Phillips later sold the master tape of "Booted"
to two competing record labels, Chess and RPM, both of which released it as
a single as he had done with some early Howlin' Wolf songs.
The RPM release reached No.1 on the Billboard R&B record chart. Chess
and the Bihari Brothers later settled the conflict with the Biharis
getting exclusive rights to Gordon and Chess signing Wolf to an exclusive
contract.
In 1960, Gordon released his last charting single, "Just a Little Bit,"
which was both an R&B and a pop hit. However, there were no further
hits, despite Gordon's youth, talent and exuberant and oddball
personality.
In 1962, he gave up the music industry and moved to Queens, New York with
his new wife, where he purchased a partnership in a laundry business.
Following his wife's death in 1984, he returned to performing in the New
York area.
In 2002, he was invited by filmmaker Richard Pearce to be featured as
part of a documentary film about several blues musicians returning to
Memphis for a special tribute to Sam Phillips in conjunction with the May
2002 W.C. Handy Awards. Called The Road To Memphis, the documentary aired
on PBS television. Six weeks after filming finished, Gordon died of a
heart attack at his apartment in Rego Park, Queens. He was 74 years old.
He was interred in the Rosedale Cemetery in Linden, New Jersey.
"No More Doggin' " was covered by The Groundhogs on their 1972 album
Hogwash and by Colin James on his first Little Big Band CD (1993), Colin
James and The Little Big Band.
NEW!
1958-The Complete Sun Recordings (2CD) @320
1977-Legendary Sun Performers (LP) @320
1980-Best Of Vol.1 (LP) @320
1993-Just A Little Bit @320
2002-I'm Gonna Shake It @320
2009-Let's Get High - Man About Music From Memphis Vol.1 @320
2023-Just Love Me Baby @FLAC
ESSENTIALS CLASSICS
Vol.616 Rosco Gordon