Little Boy Blue: The Bobby Bland Story

 At 71 Bobby Bland has been making records for something like 50 years. Unlike most musicians Bland doesn't play an instrument and has instead relied on his magnificent voice to carry him to super stardom. Having placed more than 60 songs on the R&B charts you could say things have worked out pretty well for Bland.

 Born Robert Calvin Brooks on January 27, 1930, in tiny Rosemark, Tennessee (he later took his father’s surname), Bland was nurtured by a wide range of music he heard growing up as a child. As years past, Bland drew up a passion for singing the blues. He soon worked his way onto legendary Beale Street parking cars at a place called Billy’s garage. It was on Beale Street that he became a member of the Beale Streeters, a legendary short lived Memphis group that included B.B. King , Johnny Ace, Junior Parker and Roscoe Gordon .

 Bland's recording career got off rather slowly with singles for Chess in 1951 (produced by Sam Phillips) and cut four more sides produced by Ike Turner for the Modern label plus a couple of 1952 singles for the fledgling Duke logo. Further recording would have to wait when Bland entered the army in 1952.

 When Bland left the army in 1955 he resumed his relationship with the Houston based Duke label. Backed by stellar supporting bands (including the blistering guitar of Clarence Hollimon and later Wayne Bennett in the 60's) he came into his own laying down incredibly tough sides like "I Smell Trouble", "I Don't Believe", "Don't Want No Woman", "You Got Me (Where You Want Me)," "Loan a Helping Hand" and "Teach Me (How To Love You). Bland's first national hit came in 1957 with the classic "Farther Up the Road."

 In the late 50's and into the 60's the classics came in droves including "Little Boy Blue", "I Pity the Fool," "I'll Take Care of You," and "Two Steps From the Blues" among others. The 60's saw such gems as "Yield Not to Temptation", "That's the Way Love Is,", "Stormy Monday Blues", "Ain't Nothing You Can Do," and "Ain't Doing Too Bad."

 In 1973 the Duke label was sold to ABC along with Bland's contract. While not as consistent as his earlier work, and considerately slicker, he still laid down some very good music during this period particularly 1973's His California Album, 1974's Dreamer plus a couple of enjoyable records with his old pal B.B. King.

 In 1985, Bland signed with Malaco Records releasing ten albums to date with the label. In 1997, he was the recipient of the Recording Academy’s coveted "Lifetime Achievement" Grammy. In 1998 he received The Blues Foundations "Lifetime Achievement Award". Bland still maintains a busy touring schedule.

Essential Listening

I Pity The Fool: The Duke Recordings Vol. 1 (MCA): Collects everything Bland cut for Duke between 1952 and 1960. Loaded with classics like "Farther Up the Road", "Little Boy Blue", "Cry, Cry, Cry", "Two Steps from the Blues" and many others.

Turn On Your Love Light: The Duke Recordings Vol. 2 (MCA): Picking up where the previous volume left off and continuing into 1964. More astonishing sides like "Turn on Your Love Light", "Yield Not to Temptation", That's the Way Love Is" and loads more.

That Did It!: The Duke Recordings Vol. 3 (MCA): The third and final installment in MCA's series of double-disc compilations of Bland's Duke recordings continuing into 1972.

Greatest Hits Vol. 2: The ABC-Dunhill/MCA Recordings (MCA): A fine 16 track collection from Bland's 70's period. Highlights include "This Time I'm Gone for Good," "Goin' Down Slow," and "Soon as the Weather Breaks."

Years Of Tears (Malaco): One of his best latter day recordings released in 1993. Nice mix of country-tinged and bluesy soul tunes including the exceptional "Somewhere Between Right & Wrong" .