⬇️ SON SEALS ⬇️
(Frank 'Son" Seals)
DISCOGRAPHY 1973-2007 (17CD/DVD)
DISCOGRAPHY 1973-2007 (17CD/DVD)
BIOGRAPHY
Seals was born in Osceola, Arkansas, where his father, Jim "Son"
Seals, owned a small juke joint, called the Dipsy Doodle Club. He
began performing professionally by the age of 13, first as a drummer
with Robert Nighthawk and later as a guitarist. At age 16, he began to
play at the T-99, a local upper-echelon club, with his brother-in-law
Walter "Little Walter" Jefferson.
He played there with prominent blues musicians, including Albert
King, Rufus Thomas, Bobby Bland, Junior Parker, and Rosco Gordon.
Their varying styles contributed to the development of Seals's own
playing techniques. While playing at the T-99, he was also introduced
to country-western music by Jimmy Grubbs, who occasionally asked Seals
to play the drums or guitar with his group.
At the age of 19, Seals formed his own band, Son Seals and the
Upsetters, to fill in at the Rebel Club, in Osceola.[6] The band
members were Johnny Moore ("Old Man Horse") on piano; Alvin Goodberry
on drums, guitar, bass, or piano; Little Bob Robinson on vocals; and
Walter Lee "Skinny Dynamo" Harris on piano. Shortly thereafter, a man
from Little Rock, Arkansas, came to find "Little Walter" for a gig at
his club, but when Walter turned it down the offer went to
Seals.
In 1971, Seals moved to Chicago. His career took off after he was
discovered by Bruce Iglauer of Alligator Records at the Flamingo Club
on Chicago's South Side. His debut album, The Son Seals Blues Band,
was released in 1973. The album included "Your Love Is Like a Cancer"
and "Hot Sauce". It was followed by Midnight Son (1976) and Live and
Burning (1978). Seals released several albums in the next two decades,
all but one on Alligator Records, including Chicago Fire (1980), Bad
Axe (1984), Living in the Danger Zone (1991), Nothing but the Truth
(1994) and Live: Spontaneous Combustion (1996). He received W.C. Handy
Awards in 1985, 1987, and 2001.
The writer Andrew Vachss, a friend of his, used his influence to
promote Seals's music. Vachss gave Seals several cameo appearances in
his novels,[9] and co-wrote songs with him for his album Lettin' Go,
released in 2000. Vachss dedicated his novel Mask Market to Seals's
memory.
In 2002, Seals contributed to the Bo Diddley tribute album, Hey Bo
Diddley – A Tribute!, performing the song "My Story" (also known as
"Story of Bo Diddley").
Seals had a hard life. He survived all but one of his fourteen
siblings. In 1997 he was shot in the jaw by his wife, sustaining
injuries which required reconstructive surgery. In 1999 part of his
left leg was amputated as a result of complications from diabetes. He
lost belongings in a fire that destroyed his home while he was away
performing, and several of his prized guitars were stolen from his
home.[After his health began to decline, Seals toured with
accompaniment by several different bands, including those of James
Soleberg, Jimmy Vivino, and Big Jim Kohler,.
The band Phish performed Seals's song "Funky Bitch" and brought him
on stage on several occasions. In 1999, Seals performed at Camp
Oswego, the only one of Phish's multi-day summer festivals that
included performances by artists other than themselves.
Seals died in 2004, at the age of 62, from complications of diabetes.
He was survived by a sister and fourteen children.
In 2009, Seals was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame, in the
category 'Performer'. (Wilipedia)
NEW!
2001.03.16-State Theater-Falls Church, VA @FLAC