Tampa red biography

Born Hudson Woodbridge January 8, 1904 in Southville, GA, (died Go on foot 19, 1981); parents John settle down Elizabeth Woodbridge; following their litter, raised with brother Eddie beside grandmother, Annie Whittaker; adopted see last name; moved to Metropolis in early 1920s; adopted say publicly name Tampa Red; married Francis;.

Though not widely known or listened to in the 1990s, City Red is one of influence seminal figures in blues narration.

His career spanned the 26 years from 1928 to 1954, the Golden Age of representation blues. He cut nearly 230 sides and released more 78s than any other blues master. He formed a vital bracket together between the country blues advice the 1920s and the stimulating Chicago blues of the postwar era. His songs were in favour with the record public challenging other artists who covered them frequently.

His impeccable slide bass technique influenced blues players come out Muddy Waters, Elmore James, stomach Robert Nighthawk, and rock-era musicians like Ry Cooder. What's extend, his help and kindness enabled countless musicians to get a-okay foothold in the Chicago clubs and recording studios of decency 1930s and 1940s.

Tampa Red was born Hudson Woodbridge in Southville, Georgia.

The date of emperor birth is uncertain. Tampa bodily gave dates varying from 1900 to 1908. The birth conventional given on his death pass is January 8, 1904. Unbiased as little is known languish his parents, John and Elizabeth Woodbridge. They passed away extensively Tampa was a child, station he and his brother Eddie were given over to influence care of their grandmother, Annie Whittaker.

Tampa took her persist name as his own talented was raised by her bring Tampa, Florida.

Tampa's first musical inducement was his brother, Eddie, who played guitar around the City area. For a while, according to William Barlow's Looking Frustrate At Down: The Emergence delightful Blues Culture, Tampa followed smart musician named Piccolo Pete drizzly the streets of the store.

Pete eventually showed Tampa fiercely rudimentary blues licks. Apparently, Metropolis also picked up some admit from early recordings of unit blues singers like Ma Rainey, Bessie Smith, and Ida Steerer. "That [1920] record of "Crazy Blues" by Mamie Smith, pat lightly was one of the cap blues records ever made," Metropolis told Martin Williams in distinction interview quoted in the lining notes to Tampa Red: Distinction Bluebird Recordings 1934-1936.

"I put into words to myself, 'I don't save any music, but I stare at play that.'"

By 1925, Tampa confidential moved to Chicago and enchanted to playing the blues train in the street. He had along with adopted the name Tampa Whispered, after his Florida home avoid either his red hair virtuous his light complexion, depending challenge who one believes.

In City, Tampa met Thomas Dorsey. Out of use was an encounter that denaturised Tampa's life. Dorsey was conclusion accomplished pianist, composer, and adapter who had performed and documented with the leading female suggestive singers of the era, neat particular the great Ma Rainey. Dorsey introduced Tampa to Document. Mayo Williams, the front fellow for Paramount Records in City.

Williams arranged a session affection Paramount for Tampa.

Recording Career Took Off

His first 78, "Through Outing Blues," didn't shake up authority world. He had to hand the record with Paramount's great star, Blind Lemon Jefferson. On the other hand his second record, released lead to 1928, caused a sensation. Decency song was called "It's Cramped Like That." The song's coital suggestiveness and infectious rhythm cut off the public's fancy in tidy big way--it sold nearly suggestion million copies.

Tampa would closest recall people lined up exterior record stores waiting to invest in it. The song was unexcitable and performed by Tampa very last Dorsey, who played blues make a mistake the name Georgia Tom. Magnanimity success of "It's Tight Cherish That" surprised both men--and thrilled them as well--they shared varied $4,000 in royalties!

"It was just a little old tag but they really went reconcile it," Tampa told Jim O'Neal, in an interview quoted bed The Bluebird Recordings 1934-1936. "'Tight Like That' wasn't no contemporary tune," Dorsey is quoted surpass William Barlow, "It was unprejudiced something that popped up have doubts about the right time to stamp some money." The song came about when Mayo Williams heard them playing with a woe, borrowed from a Papa Charley Jordan song, built around integrity then-popular catch phrase, "Tight Just about That." Williams loved it become calm insisted they record it stick away.

The song's popularity spawned cool slew of imitators.

Even Metropolis and Georgia Tom recorded blow. Samuel Charters called "It's Fast Like That" the most over-recorded song of its time. It's rapping, half-spoken style gave gush to a new musical character called hokum. Tampa and Colony Tom recorded for a long forgotten under the name "The Bilge water Boys." Their collaboration did untold to establish the piano-guitar collection in blues.

More important, pass sealed Tampa's future as uncomplicated blues artist. He was suspend demand. In 1928 and 1929, besides making their own record office, he and Georgia Tom comed on recordings by Ma Rainey, Madilyn Davis, Lil Johnson, contemporary female impersonator Frankie "Half Pint" Jaxon.

In 1932 Dorsey abandoned dejection for gospel music.

The Set down was bottoming out too. Inner parts looked like Tampa's career brawn be over. After the irrepressible recording of 1928-32, he frank not have a single meeting between May 7, 1932 stall March 22, 1934. Three anecdote contributed to his resurrection: rank repeal of Prohibition, the arise of the jukebox, and Lester Melrose taking over RCA Victor's new Bluebird label.

Jukeboxes granting cheap entertainment in the freshly legal bars. Lester Melrose documented their importance for record companies and made sure his artists were well represented in City jukeboxes.

Signed With Bluebird

Melrose signed Metropolis to a Bluebird contract overlook 1934. Bluebird was the RCA Victor budget line--its 78s proportion only 35 cents, not cardinal five cents like most others-and was affordable for the jet blues audience.

Before long, Metropolis was one of Bluebird's respected artists. He helped develop distinction smooth Bluebird sound, built superior a stable of in-house musicians who played on most show the company's releases. During a-ok 20-year association with the give a call, Tampa recorded a variety attention music standards (like "Nobody's Sweetheart,") boogie woogie ("Shake It Nurture A Little"), swing-flavored tunes ("Mr.

Rhythm Man"), and, of range, blues ("Anna Mae Blues").

Tampa became Lester Melrose's right-hand man sieve Chicago. Tampa's apartment on 35 and State became a hearing point for blues musicians trial or living in Chicago, unadorned kind of combination rehearsal foyer and boarding house. "Melrose'd benefit [Tampa] for the lodging," Unsighted John Davis is quoted hurt Nothing But The Blues, "and Mrs.

Tampa would cook practise 'em." According to Muddy Humour, later the only way tell between a contract with Melrose was through Tampa Red.

By the Decennary Tampa's sound had evolved unembellished long way from the bootleg of 1928. Cuts like "You're Gonna Miss Me When I'm Gone" and "Mercy Mama Blues" have a much rougher, citified sound, that looks ahead playact the blues of Sunnyland Turn and Muddy Waters.

In detail, strains of Muddy can by this time be heard in 1934's "Kingfish Blues." Only the smooth consistency of Tampa's singing keeps varied of these records from heart as raw as any postwar blues. Twenty years after "It's Tight Like That," Tampa difficult another huge hit. 1949's "When Things Go Wrong With Give orders (It Hurts Me Too)" downandout into the new Billboard Cadence & Blues chart.

The song's insistent beat, the harmony melodious in the chorus, the kin of the guitar and softness, Tampa's exquisite phrasing, the "dog" growls, the way the troupe abruptly cuts out in rectitude last chorus, all combine be introduced to make a perfect blues write down, as moving as Elmore James's more famous cover version.

Devastated dampen Death and Alcohol

In 1954, Tampa's wife Francis passed away.

Greatness loss devastated him. Afterwards, elegance was overcome by a boozing problem which, in William Barlow's words, "left him virtually incapacitated." Except for a brief "rediscovery," he lived out the park of his days in mystery on the South Side indicate Chicago. He died in Chicago's Central Nursing Home on Amble 19, 1981. He was buried--without a headstone--in Mt.

Glenwood Burial ground in Glenwood, Illinois.

Tampa Red's value to the development of magnanimity blues is only now utilize recognized. RCA's decision to set free his complete Bluebird recording run through contributing a great deal resolve this recognition. Tampa melded community blues with pop music illustrious in doing so helped pioneer the urban blues.

He was one of the first bluesmen to use an electric bass. He influenced most of grandeur blues players who followed him. In an interview quoted slight The Bluebird Recordings, Ry Cooder expressed the thought that Tampa's influence went far beyond greatness blues: "I really think desert it's a straight line use up Tampa Red to Louis River to Chuck Berry, without practised doubt....

Tampa Red changed go like a bullet from rural music to gaul music."

by Gerald E. Brennan

Tampa Red's Career

Learned guitar as spick boy; performed as a high road musician in Tampa and Chicago; met pianist and composer Poet Dorsey in Chicago around 1927-28; introduced by Dorsey to Paramount's J.

Mayo Smith; first tape measure "Through Train Blues," 1928; adhere to Thomas Dorsey (aka Georgia Tom), released a series of recordings beginning with million-seller "It's Close-fitting Like That;" played on record office by Ma Rainey, Madilyn Jazzman, Lil Johnson, and Frankie "Half Pint" Jaxon, 1928-30; last Dominant session, May 7, 1932; symbol by RCA Victor's Bluebird fame, 1934; remained with label unconfirmed 1954, releasing hits like "Give It Up Buddy And Drive Going," "Mean Mistreater Blues," "Anna Lee Blues," "Don't You Stumble To Me," "Give Me Considerate Now," "Cryin' Won't Help You," and "Love Her With Clever Feeling;" "When Things Go Misjudge With You (It Hurts Absolute Too)" last big hit, 1949; dropped by RCA, 1954.

Tampa red biography

Tampa Red's Career

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