Bobby "Blue" Bland
Bobby Bland at the Long Beach Blues Festival, 1997
Background information
Birth name	Robert Calvin Bland
Also known as	"the Lion of the Blues"
Born	January 27, 1930
Origin	Rosemark Tennessee, USA
Genre(s)	R&B, Soul, Blues, Pop, Country, Jazz, Gospel
Occupation(s)	Vocalist, musician, songwriter, arranger, bandleader
Instrument(s)	Vocals
Label(s)	Chess Records Modern Records Malaco Records Duke Records
Associated acts	The Bobby Bland Band
Website	[1] The Bobby "Blue" Band

Bobby "Blue" Bland was born Robert Calvin Bland, January 27, 1930,^[1] in Rosemark, Tennessee) and is an influencial African-American singer, and an original member of The Beale Streeters.^[2] He is sometimes referred to as the "Lion of the Blues". Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 642 × 599 pixelsFull resolution (800 × 747 pixel, file size: 136 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Photo by Masahiro Sumori File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... is the 27th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1930 (MCMXXX) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will display 1930 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Official language(s) English Capital Nashville Largest city Memphis Largest metro area Nashville Area  Ranked 36th  - Total 42,169 sq mi (109,247 km²)  - Width 120 miles (195 km)  - Length 440 miles (710 km)  - % water 2. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Rhythm and blues (or R & B) is a musical marketing term introduced in the United States in the late 1940s by Billboard magazine. ... For other uses, see Soul music (disambiguation). ... Blues is a vocal and instrumental form of music based on the use of the blue notes and a repetitive pattern that most often follows a twelve-bar structure. ... For popular forms of music in general, see Popular music. ... This article includes a list of works cited but its sources remain unclear because it lacks in-text citations. ... This article needs additional references or sources for verification. ... For other uses, see Gospel (disambiguation). ... In music a singer or vocalist is a type of musician who sings, i. ... “Instrumentalist” redirects here. ... A songwriter is someone who writes the lyrics to songs, the musical composition or melody to songs, or both. ... In music, an arrangement loosely describes rewriting a piece of pre-existing music for a specific set of instruments or voices, often in harmony or with additional original material. ... A bandleader is the director of a band of musicians. ... A musical instrument is a device constructed or modified with the purpose of making music. ... In music a singer or vocalist is a type of musician who sings, i. ... This does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... The Chess Records logo, as featured on this Memphis Slim single. ... Modern Record was a record label formed in 1945 by Jules, Saul, Lester and Joe Bidhari. ... Malaco Records is an independent record label based out of Jackson, Mississippi. ... Duke Records was a record label started in 1952 by David J. Mattis and Bill Fitzgerald. ... is the 27th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1930 (MCMXXX) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will display 1930 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Official language(s) English Capital Nashville Largest city Memphis Largest metro area Nashville Area  Ranked 36th  - Total 42,169 sq mi (109,247 km²)  - Width 120 miles (195 km)  - Length 440 miles (710 km)  - % water 2. ... Languages Predominantly American English Religions Protestantism (chiefly Baptist and Methodist); Roman Catholicism; Islam Related ethnic groups Sub-Saharan Africans and other African groups, some with Native American groups. ... A singer is a musician who uses their voice to produce music. ...

Along with such artists as Sam Cooke, Ray Charles, and Junior Parker, Bland developed a sound that mixed gospel with blues and R&B.^[3] This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Ray Charles was the stage name of Ray Charles Robinson (September 23, 1930 – June 10, 2004), a pioneering American pianist and soul musician who shaped the sound of rhythm and blues. ... For other uses, see Gospel (disambiguation). ... Rhythm and blues (or R & B) is a musical marketing term introduced in the United States in the late 1940s by Billboard magazine. ...

Career

Bobby "Blue" Bland was born 27 January 1930, in the small town of Rosemark, Tennessee, USA.Later moving to Memphis with his mother, Bland started singing with local gospel groups there, including amongst others the Miniatures. Eager to expand his interests, he began frequenting the city's infamous Beale Street where he became associated with an ad hoc circle of aspiring musicians named, not unnaturally, the Beale Streeters.^[4] Memphis was the wife of Epaphus, the founder of Memphis, Egypt in Greek mythology. ... For other uses, see Gospel (disambiguation). ... Beale Street is a street in Memphis, Tennessee and a significant location in African-American history and the history of the blues. ...

Bobby's recordings from the early 1950's show him striving for individuality, but any progress was halted by a spell in the US Army. When the singer returned to Memphis in 1954 he found several of his former associates, including Johnny Ace, enjoying considerable success, while Bland's recording label, Duke, had been sold to Houston entrepreneur Don Robey. In 1956 Bland began touring with Little Junior Parker. Initially he doubled as valet and driver, a role he reportedly fulfilled for B.B. King and Roscoe Gordon^[5] but simultaneously began asserting his characteristic vocal style. Melodic big-band blues singles, including "Farther Up The Road" (1957) and "Little Boy Blue" (1958) reached the US R&B Top 10, but Bobby's craft was most clearly heard on a series of superb early 1960's releases including "Cry Cry Cry," "I Pity The Fool" and the sparkling "Turn On Your Lovelight," which was destined to become a much-covered standard. Despite credits to the contrary, many such classic works were written by Joe Scott, the artist's bandleader and arranger.^[6] The Army is the branch of the United States armed forces which has primary responsibility for land-based military operations. ... Memphis was the wife of Epaphus, the founder of Memphis, Egypt in Greek mythology. ... Year 1954 (MCMLIV) was a common year (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Johnny Ace (June 9, 1929 – December 25, 1954), born John Marshall Alexander, Jr. ... Houston redirects here. ... Don D. Robey (b 1 November 1903, Houston, Texas - d 16 June 1975, Houston) was a record label executive, songwriter and producer. ... Junior Parkers style influenced early rockabilly artists, such as Elvis Presley. ... Riley B. King aka B. B. King (b. ... Rosco Gordon (April 10, 1928 – July 11, 2002) was an African American blues singer and songwriter. ... Cry Cry Cry is a song written and recorded by Johnny Cash. ...

Bland continued to enjoy a consistent run of R&B chart entries throughout the mid-'60s but his recorded work was nonetheless eclipsed by a younger generation of performers. Bland's highest charting song on the pop chart, "Ain't Nothing You Can Do" only peaked at #20 during the same week The Beatles held down the Top 5 spots. Financial pressures forced the singer to cut his touring band and in 1968 the group broke up altogether. His relationship with Scott, who died in 1979, was irrevocably severed. Nonetheless, depressed and increasingly dependent on alcohol, Bland weathered this unhappy period. He stopped drinking in 1971; his record company, Duke, was sold to the larger ABC Records group, resulting in several contemporary blues/soul albums including California and Dreamer. Year 1968 (MCMLXVIII) was a leap year starting on Monday (link will display full calendar) of the 1968 Gregorian calendar. ...

Subsequent attempts at pushing the artist towards the disco market were unsuccessful but a 1983 release, "Here We Go Again", provided a commercial life-line. Two years later Bland was signed by Malaco Records, specialists in traditional Southern black music, who provided an empathetic environment. One of the finest singers in post-war blues, Bobby Bland has sadly failed to reach the popular acclaim his influence and craft perhaps deserves. Malaco Records is an independent record label based out of Jackson, Mississippi. ...

Bland has recently been diagnosed with congestive heart failure. More updates to follow.

In 1992, Bobby Bland was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and in 1997 he received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.^[7] Year 1992 (MCMXCII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1992 Gregorian calendar). ... The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame at sunset. ... The Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award is awarded by the Recording Academy to performers who, during their lifetimes, have made creative contributions of outstanding artistic significance to the field of recording [1]. This award is distinct from the Grammy Hall of Fame Award, which honors specific recordings rather than individuals, and...

Rapper Jay-Z sampled Bland on for "Heart of the City (Ain't No Love)" on his 2001 album The Blueprint.^[8] Jay-Z (aka the Jigga, HOV and Hova, born Shawn Carter on December 4, 1970 in Brooklyn, New York) is an African American rapper/hip hop artist and record label executive; one of the most popular and successful rappers of the late 1990s and early 2000s. ... Year 2001 (MMI) was a common year starting on Monday (link displays the 2001 Gregorian calendar). ... The tone or style of this article or section may not be appropriate for Wikipedia. ...

Selected album discography

• Two Steps from the Blues 1961
• Ain't Nothing You Can Do 1963
• Here's the Man! 1969
• Years of Tears 1993

Two Steps From the Blues is a 1961 album by Bobby Bland. ... Year 1961 (MCMLXI) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1963 (MCMLXIII) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Heres the Man! is a 1969 album by Bobby Bland. ... For the Stargate SG-1 episode, see 1969 (Stargate SG-1). ... Year 1993 (MCMXCIII) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1993 Gregorian calendar). ...

References

Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... is the 221st day of the year (222nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... is the 221st day of the year (222nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... is the 221st day of the year (222nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... is the 221st day of the year (222nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... is the 221st day of the year (222nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... is the 221st day of the year (222nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... is the 221st day of the year (222nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... is the 211th day of the year (212th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

See also

• Chicago Blues Festival

The Chicago Blues Festival is an annual event that features four days of performances by top-tier blues musicians, both old favorites and the up-and-coming. ...

External links

• [2] Glossary for

Bland, Bobby "Blue" excerpted from Music Central