Sugar Blue

Sugar Blue

born on 16/12/1949 in Harlem, NY, United States

Alias James Whiting

Sugar Blue

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Sugar Blue

Sugar Blue (born James Whiting, December 16, 1949, Harlem, New York, United States)[1] is an American Grammy Award winning blues musician, who plays the harmonica.[2] He is probably best known for playing on The Rolling Stones' single, "Miss You".

An article in the Chicago Tribune stated: "The sound of Sugar Blue's harmonica could pierce any night... it's the sound of a musician who transcends the supposed limitations of his instrument."[3]

Biography

In the mid 1970s, Blue played as a session musician on Johnny Shines' Too Wet to Plow (1975) and with Roosevelt Sykes. Whilst in the company of the latter, Blue met Louisiana Red and the twosome toured and recorded in 1978.[4]

Taking advice from Memphis Slim, in the late 1970s Blue traveled to Paris, France. This led to him playing on several The Rolling Stones tracks ("Some Girls", "Send It to Me" and the aforementioned "Miss You"). Trombonist Mike Zwerin backed Blue on his solo debut album, Crossroads (1979). Following the release of his From Chicago to Paris (1982), Blue joined Willie Dixon's Chicago Blues All Stars.[4] In 1984, Blue's track "Another Man Done Gone", appeared on the compilation album, Blues Explosion. It won a Grammy in 1985 for Best Traditional Blues Album.[5]

Blue appeared with Brownie McGhee in the film, Angel Heart (1987). Blue's next album Blue Blazes was released in 1994.[4] It was followed by In Your Eyes (1995), and Code Blue released in 2007.[6]

On January 26, 2010, Beeble Music released Threshold, Blue's latest album.[7]

Discography

Albums

Year Title Label Number Notes
1978 Red, Funk and Blue Black Panther BP1001 Duo with Louisiana Red
1979 King Bee JSP Duo with Louisiana Red
1980 Crossroads Blue Silver BS 3004 France, recorded 1979
1982 From Chicago to Paris Blue Silver BS 3012/3332 France, recorded 1980 with Slim Pezin, Earl Howell
1984 High Voltage Blues JSP 1081 with Louisiana Red
1991 Absolutely Blue Seven Seas/King KICP 341 Japan, recorded 1982
1994 Blue Blazes Alligator 4819
1995 In Your Eyes Alligator 4831
2006 Right Now Kozel Switzerland, George Kay Band featuring Sugar Blue
2007 Code Blue Beeble 801
2010 Threshold Beeble 802
[6][8]

Compilations and reissues

Year Title Label Number Notes
1979 Stars Of The Streets Whale Productions / Egg Records (France) Egg 900582 Compilation Performances of several street musicians were recorded live outdoors in the streets and parks of New York City. Track 1 : "Pontiac Blues" by Sugar Blue
1980 Jazz Gala '80 Kingdom Jazz Gate 7010 Recorded at the Palm Beach Casino, Cannes, France
1984 Blues Explosion Atlantic 80149 Grammy winner, recorded live at Montreux
1992 From Paris to Chicago EPM Blues Collection 756 Reissue of Crossroads and From Chicago to Paris
1998 The Blues Spectrum of Louisiana Red JSP UK recording
2007 Another Man Done Gone WNTS/Believe Digital MP3 download Reissue of Crossroads and From Chicago to Paris
[9][10]

See also

  • List of harmonica blues musicians
  • List of Chicago blues musicians
  • List of contemporary blues musicians
  • List of harmonicists

References

  1. Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named Nfo
  2. Diana Olson (March 19, 2008). Sugar Blue. Skope Entertainment Inc.. Retrieved on January 22, 2010.
  3. Sugar Blue, Blues, Harmonica. Sugar-blue.com. Retrieved on 2014-01-29.
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 Russell, Tony (1997). The Blues: From Robert Johnson to Robert Cray, Dubai: Carlton Books Limited.
  5. Blues Grammy award winners by year. Mojohand.com. Retrieved on 2014-01-29.
  6. 6.0 6.1 Sugar Blue | Discography. AllMusic (1949-12-16). Retrieved on 2014-01-29.
  7. Sugar Blue CD Preview. Blues.about.com (2009-10-30). Retrieved on 2014-01-29.
  8. Absolutely Blue. Bidders.co.jp. Retrieved on January 22, 2010.
  9. G.Heinlein & François Ziegler (March 2004). EPM Records Checklist. Jazzlabels.klacto.net. Retrieved on January 22, 2010.
  10. Blues Explosion - Various Artists | Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards. AllMusic. Retrieved on 2014-01-29.

External links

This page was last modified 29.01.2014 15:19:17

This article uses material from the article Sugar Blue from the free encyclopedia Wikipedia and it is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License.