Jean Knight RIP and others

Very sad to hear of the death, at the age of 80, of New Orleans born singer Jean Knight. Jean was best known for her huge 1971 hit 'Mr Big Stuff' which sold over two million copies. Produced by Wardell Quezerque, the record was recorded at Malaco in Jackson, Ms, but was released on Stax, becoming their biggest selling single. Sadly Stax apparently snubbed Jean afterwards by not including her on their shows and even using an impersonator despite her being in fine voice. Born Jean Caliste, Jean's career began when she recorded a cover demo of Jackie Wilson's 'Doggin' Around' which resulted in her being signed by Huey Meaux to his JetStar/ Tribe labels. Early singles did not result in a hit but led to her being produced by Wardell Quezerque leading to her Grammy nominated hit. She had a couple more minor hits, including 'Carry On' and 'Do Me' but disagreements with Stax led to her leaving the label and turning to local oldies shows to perform. In 1981 she was signed to the Soulin' label where she recorded 'You Got The Papers But I Got The Man' and in 1985 she recorded a cover of Rockin' Sidney's 'My Toot Toot'. A rival version by Denise Lasalle was a hit in the UK but Jean's version triumphed in the US where it reached the top 50. I saw Jean perform at Jazzfest in the early nineties and she was one of the stars at the Ponderosa Stomp in 2008 (pictured above with Wardell Quezerque) and 2011 (below with Lil Buck Sinegal).

Another recent death is that of Mississippi bluesman R L Boyce, aged 68. Born in Como, Ms, Robert L Boyce was the nephew of fife and drum performer Othar Turner and played with Hill country bluesmen such as R L Burnside and Mississippi Fred McDowell. He appeared at the 2015 Ponderosa Stomp (pictured below).

Other recent music deaths include Fanita James, a member of the Blossoms alongside Darlene Love and Jean King. The group had a number of hits under their own name for Capitol, including 'Move On' and 'No Other Love' but achieved their greatest success with 'He's A Rebel', which was credited by Phil Spector to the Crystals. They provided backing for several sixties hits including 'You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling' and 'Monster Mash' and were highlighted in the 2013 Oscar winning film '20 Feet From Stardom'.

The Three Degrees 60th anniversary tour

The Three Degrees hold the record for being the longest running female group in history. Formed in 1963 by Richard Barrett, they are now touring the UK for the umpteenth time celebrating their 60th anniversary. The original line up was Fayette Pinkney, Linda Turner and Shirley Poole but by the late sixties the classic line up of Fayette, Sheila Ferguson and Valerie Holiday was in place and it was Valerie who sang lead on their breakthrougfh hit, a cover of the Chantels' 'Maybe', in 1970. They were famous for being Prince, now King Charles' favourite group in the seventies and had hit after hit yet in all those years I've never seen them perform live, a glaring omission on my part.

I put that right last night at the intimate Haymarket Theatre in Basingstoke and was pleased I had. The group's line up has changed often over the years and the current line up comprises Valerie Holiday (pictured below), who joined the group way back in 1967, Freddie Poole, a member of the trio since 2011, and Tabitha King, who has been filling in for established member Helen Scott since January of last year. Dressed identically in elegantly glamorous black sparkly gowns they ran through a selection of their many hits with all the confidence and professionalism you would expect from singers who tour constantly. The voices melded perfectly as did the choreography and this was a show that you felt they could do in their sleep. They kicked off with 'Can't You See What You're Doing To Me' and followed with 'Year Of Decision', 'My Simple Heart', 'Take Good Care Of Yourself', 'Get Your Love Back', 'Dirty Old Man' (with some audience involvement), 'I'm So Excited' and, of course, their biggest hit 'When Will I See You Again'. It was predicable stuff but enjoyable and a celebration of the Philly soul sound which the majority female audience clearly loved. I gather the ladies do not tour much in the States, but they are frequent visitors this side of the Atlantic. Judging by last night's show they will be back again soon as they embark on their seventh decade.

Robert Finley at the Jazz Cafe

Robert Finley played an entertaining show to a sell out crowd at the Jazz Cafe last night. Just a few years ago, after plying his trade as a carpenter for many years, he was busking on the streets of Memphis and other Southern US cities. Robert is partially sighted and was declared legally blind and forced to retire from carpentry in 2015. But that marked the start of his new career as a blues singer. His breakthrough to success came in 2016 when he recorded his first album 'Age Don't Mean A Thing' for Big Legal Mess Records having been discovered by the Music Makers Relief Foundation, a non profit organisation. Ironically his current age (a mere 69) was a recurring theme throughout last night's show, as he mentioned it several times. I first saw Robert at the Blues and Barbecue Festival in New Orleans in 2017 and and his latest show - his second in London in recent years - marked the launch of his fourth album 'Black Bayou'. Many of the numbers he sang, in a powerful and very soulful voice with some surprisingly high notes at times, came from that album. But he began with the autobiographical 'Sharecropper's Son' from the 2021 album of the same name, which was inspired by his early life in Bernice, north Louisiana. He continued with the soulful 'Miss Kitty' from his new album and another from that source included a plea to be kind to the elderly in 'Nobody Wants To be Lonely'. Other songs included the powerful 'Medicine Woman' from 2017, and the upbeat 'Tell Everybody', 'You Got It and I Need it', 'Waste of Time' and, as an encore, the swamp blues of 'Alligator Bait', all from 'Black Bayou'.

Supporting Robert vocally was his daughter Christy Johnson who, together with a grand daughter, provided background vocals on his new album. Christy is a fine vocalist in her own right and did good solo versions of 'I'd Rather Go Blind' and 'Clean Up Woman' and there are plans for her to record an album, Robert said. Much of Robert's recent success has been down to the interest of Dan Auerbach of the Black Keys and his Easy Eye Sound label. But it's Robert's sheer force of personality, despite rather mediocre backing from his band. that made this Jazz Cafe show one to remember. Judging by the enthusiastic response of the big crowd he will be back.