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Katie
Webster
Katie
Webster, known as the "Swamp Boogie Queen", passed away last
month at her home in Texas. In her short 60 years she proved she could
pound out the boogie-woogie as well as any man. An institution on the
southern Louisiana swamp blues scene during the late '50s and
early '60s, Katie Webster later grabbed a long-deserved share of
national recognition with three recent Alligator albums before a 1993
stroke temporarily shelved her.
Despite
the protest of her deeply religious parents Webster couldn't stay away
from the pull of blues and R&B. By the age of 13, she was traveling
the "crayfish" circuit from Dallas to New Orleans with a jazz
band. She was on the road for only a few months when she caught the ear
of one of South Louisiana's most popular r&b musicians, Ashton
Savoy. He took her under his wing and featured her piano on several of
his recording sessions.
News of Katie's talents traveled fast, and by the age of 15
Katie was one of the most requested studio musicians in South Louisiana.
Area producers Jay D. Miller of Excello Records and Eddie Schuler of
Goldband Records began to use her extensively on their recordings. she
played on many classic sessions supporting such musicians as Lazy
Lester, Lonnie Brooks, Clarence Garlow, Lightnin' Slim, Clifton Chenier
and many others.
The pianist also waxed some top notch sides of
her own for Miller from 1959 to 1961 for his Rocko, Action, and Spot
labels. Webster led her own band, the Uptighters, at the same time she
was spending her days in the studio. In 1964, she guested with Otis
Redding's band at the Bamboo Club in Lake Charles and so impressed the
charismatic Redding that he took her on the road. For the next three
years she served as his opening act.
In the '70s, Katie again put her music on the back burner when
she moved to the San Francisco Bay area to care for her ailing parents.
In 1982, however, Katie was offered a chance to make her debut tour of
Europe. European fans immediately fell in love with Katie's music, and
they still just can't seem to get enough of her. Since 1982, Katie has
returned to tour Europe nearly 30 times.
The Alligator connection began in 1988 with some high-profile help:
Bonnie Raitt, Robert Cray, and Kim Wilson all made guest appearances on The
Swamp Boogie Queen. The boogie pianist encored with Two-Fisted
Mama! and No Foolin' before suffering the stroke.
Essential Listening
Katie Webster: Swamp Boogie Queen (Alligator):
Her comeback record on Alligator Records
with help from Bonnie Raitt, Robert Cray and Kim Wilson
Katie Webster: Two-Fisted Mama! (Alligator): Another
great Alligator Record backed with the Memphis Horns.
Katie Webster (Paula/Flyright): Excellent
collection of late '50s/early-'60s sides for producer J.D. Miller.
Includes classics such as "Mama Don't Allow", "The Katie
Lee" and "No Bread, No Meat."
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