Naptown Blues: Leroy Carr & Scrapper Blackwell

 The terms "urban blues" and "city blues" can find it's beginnings in the short but prolific career of pianist Leroy Carr. When Carr made his debut in 1928 the prevailing blues sounds were either small bands backing woman singers like Bessie Smith or solo country bluesman like Blind Lemon Jefferson. Carr was a city born musician with a slicker sound than most an an easygoing vocal delivery. Teamed with guitarist Scrapper Blackwell in Indianapolis, he became one of the top blues stars of his day, composing and recording almost 200 sides between 1928-35, including such classics as "How Long, How Long," "Prison Bound Blues," "When the Sun Goes Down," and "Blues Before Sunrise."

 Carr was born in Nashville in 1905 and moved to Indianapolis ("Naptown") as a child. He taught himself to play piano at an early age and quit school while in his teens. He traveled quite a bit, joining a circus and then the army. By the mid-20's, Carr was earning his living entirely by playing piano at dances and house parties on and around Indiana Avenue in Indianapolis.

 It was in Indianapolis that Carr met guitarist Scrapper Blackwell. The duo began performing and with their growing reputation in the region they were soon approached by a talent scout for Vocalion to make a record. By the end of the year they cut "How Long How Long Blues." The song was an instant hit, establishing Carr and Blackwell as the biggest male blues recording stars for the next eight years. The duo cut numerous other well known blues including "Midnight Hour Blues," "Hurry Down Sunshine," "Shady Lane Blues" and "Naptown Blues" among others.

 Despite the duo's success in the studio, Carr was sinking deep into alcoholism. In February of 1935, Carr and Blackwell went back into the studio together for the last time. The last song Carr recorded was a solo number, the prophetic "Six Cold Feet in the Ground."

A Note On Scrapper Blackwell

 Scrapper Blackwell was an exceptional guitar player developing a style based around sophisticated single string-soloing, a sound that pointed the way for the guitar heroics that became a big part of most electric blues in the '40s and '50s. His marvelous work with Leroy carr set the standard for just about every piano/guitar partnership that would follow.

 Blackwell also recorded without Carr, both as a solo artist and also occasionally with other partners, including Georgia Tom Dorsey, Black Bottom McPhail, Bertha "Chippie" Hill and Bumble Bee Slim. His biggest success was with Carr, and after the latter's death he gave up the music business before the end of the 1930s.

 At the end of the 1950s with the folk/blues revival starting to gear up he was rediscovered living in Indianapolis, and encouraged to resume playing and recording. Fortunately Blackwell was still in great form and subsequently cut an album on the British only 77 label in 1960 and later for the Prestige/Bluesville label in 1962 (unfortunately this is not available on CD). In 1962, soon after finishing his work on his first Prestige/Bluesville LP, Blackwell was shot to death in a back alley in Indianapolis, the victim of a mugging.

Essential Listening

Leroy Carr: Sloppy Drunk (Catfish): The best overview of Carr's prolific career. The 44 tracks on this 2-CD cover all of his signature songs including "How Long, How Long Blues"', "When The Sun Goes Down", "Sloppy Drunk", "Blues Before Sunrise" and fine lesser known gems. Sound quality is very good.

Leroy Carr: Hurry Down Sunshine (Indigo): If you don't want to spring for the above double set this single disc is a fine alternative. Contains the all the above mentioned songs

Scrapper Blackwell: Vol. 1 & 2 (Document): Includes all of Blackwell's great sides from the late 20's and 30's plus those as sideman with artists like Bumble Bee Slim, Josh white and others. The second volume contains some recordings from 1958.

Scrapper Blackwell: 1959-1960 (Document): 22-track, 75-minute CD from Blackwell's all too brief comeback at the end of the 1950s. Contains a dozen songs from a live concert at Indianapolis' "1444 Gallery" 1959, some teaming Blackwell with singer Brooks Berry, plus ten tracks from his 1960 British-only album on Doug Dobell's 77 label.