The Daily Chat
A chatbox where we can post comments and have discussions on artists & songs. However, if you just want to say thank you for a particular post then please continue using the usual comment box located below each post.
Volume 62 in the Best Of Blues, R&B, Soul & Gospel kicks off with the great B.B. King, then continues with Buckwheat Zydeco, Little Frankie Lee, Solomon Burke, Smiley Lewis, Boyd Bennett and others.
Back to the Rockabilly & Early Rock & Roll series, now up to Volume 12, this starts with the Billy Riley classic 'Red Hot' followed by great early rocking tracks by Carl Perkins, Jerry Lee Lewis, Moon Mullican, The Louvin Brothers, Whitey Pullen, Johnny Jano, Tommy Scott & His Ramblers, and several other fine artists.
Finally, today's photo is the English barrister, painter, author and blues musician Andre De Moller. He's someone who is probably unknown to most of you, but who was a huge influence on me and helped turn me into a dyed-in-the-wool, card-carrying blues fan. Back in the early 1960s, as a young teenager, I frequented saw Andre & his blues band performing in various Perth dance halls. At that time most other bands were playing surf music or Beatles/Mersey style pop music, only Andre was playing the raw heavy Chicago blues. The sound of his wailing harmonica and guitar, and the throbbing bass & drums had a strong effect on me. However, it wasn't just the music, the names of the blues artists Andre had been listening to were unlike anything I'd ever heard before: "This is a song by Howlin' Wolf", Andre would announce. Or, "Here's a song by Sonny Boy Williamson". "This is a song by John Lee Hooker...Boom Boom Boom Boom". "This is one by Muddy Waters". Then Andre would be singing about Mojos, John the Conquer Root, Little Red Roosters, or the Back Door Man. And this was at a time when most other bands were singing songs about boys and girls holding hands or falling in love at the bus stop and living happily ever after.
As always, enjoy the music and don't forget to leave a comment.
I'd never heard of De Moller but you're lucky to have had that education from him. We all needed it from someone; I was lucky to have an older brother who was very big into Chicago blues.
ReplyDeleteYes Mike, I have vivid memories of standing in front of the stage transfixed watching Andre perform. First they were the Andre De Moller Trio, which always puzzled me as there were 4 of them, then they became Andre De Moller & The Bluedogs. He was an outstanding singer, harp player & guitarist. He made one single record in Australia then departed back to UK. I believe he still performs from time to time in the UK.
DeleteA very interesting story about Andre De Moller. I have not heard of him. Do you have any tracks you could include in your postings?
ReplyDeleteHi JakeBlues. Andre made 1 record in Australia, a 45, one side was Help Me, the other Walk On Boy, which I believe was a Doc Watson song. I used to have that 45 but not any longer, I'll see if I can get an MP3 copy and if I do I could post it here.
DeleteHi Bob,
ReplyDeleteI had a very similar introduction to this timeless music about 1962 every Wednesday night in a cellar underneath a pub called "The Sussex Arms" in Tunbridge wells in the UK. A radical wow moment in the face of current popular tunes about Bachelor Boys, Moon Rivers and Strangers on the Shores. The band, long forgotten now, was called The Barracudas and it was all Howlin Wolf, Jimmy Reed, Sonny Boy. Absolute blast. Glad you had your moment! Interesting bit here
https://taylorsquareinthe60s.weebly.com/updates/andre-de-moller
Apparently he only released two tracks, if you don't have them there's a challenge😎😎
Also this from 2015 in the UK https://www.facebook.com/events/523179231181120/
Excellent painter as well
https://www.mutualart.com/Artist/Andre-De-Moller/D81555A180A5A8E0/Artworks
Hi Albert, yes a very talented man. See above regarding my comments on his sole 45. I'll see if I can get hold of a copy. It's probably on YT.
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