Steaming Hot Blues Music to Keep You Warm This Winter
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Looking for some steamy hot blues music to keep you warm this winter? Look no further than our list of the best blues songs to get you through the cold months!
The Best of the Best
As the weather gets colder, the days get shorter, and the nights get longer, it can be easy to get the winter blues. But don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. Here are some of the best blues songs to keep you warm this winter.
Muddy Waters
Muddy Waters was an American blues singer-songwriter and musician who is often cited as the “father of modern Chicago blues”, and an important figure on the post-war blues scene. His style of playing have been described as “raining downDelta fury” and inspired many other artists. He recorded over 50 songs that have since become classics, including “Hoochie Coochie Man”, “I Can’t Be Satisfied”, and “Mannish Boy”.
Born in Mississippi, Muddy Waters grew up on a plantation near Clarksdale. He was exposed to music by his mother, who sang church songs, and his father, who played the harmonica. In his teens, he started playing the guitar and began performing at local juke joints. He soon moved to Chicago, where he became one of the most popular and influential blues musicians of his generation.
Muddy Waters’s recordings were popular with both white and black audiences, but he faced opposition from some radio stations because of his race. In spite of this, he continued to enjoy success throughout his career, winning several Grammy Awards and being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987. He died in 1983 at the age of 68.
B.B. King
B.B. King was an American blues singer, electric guitarist, songwriter, and record producer. King introduced a sophisticated style of soloing based on fluid string bending and shimmering vibrato that influenced many later electric blues guitarists. King was ranked No. 6 on Rolling Stone magazine’s list of the “100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time” in 2010, and he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2005.
Willie Dixon
Willie Dixon was an American blues musician, singer, songwriter, producer and arranger. Often referred to as the “Father of Modern Chicago Blues”, he wrote over 500 songs, including “Hoochie Coochie Man”, “I Can’t Quit You Baby” and “My Babe”. He also wrote and produced songs for other artists, such as Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf and Bo Diddley.
The New Generation
If you’re looking for something new to listen to this winter, might I suggest some blues music? Now, I know what you’re thinking. You’re thinking, “blues music is so old and boring.” But I promise you, there is a whole new generation of blues musicians out there that are keeping the genre fresh and exciting. In this article, I’ll introduce you to some of my favorite new blues artists.
T-Model Ford
T-Model Ford (born James Lewis Carter Ford, May 16, 1917 – October 7, 2013) was an American blues guitarist and singer from Mississippi. He recorded for Fat Possum Records and toured internationally.
In his youth, Ford worked on cotton plantations near Clarksdale, Mississippi. In the early 1940s he began playing guitar with Joe Callicott. Around 1945 he moved to Greenville, Mississippi, and worked with Roebuck “Pops” Staples and James “Son” Thomas. In 1948 he settled in Centerville, Mississippi. Between 1949 and 1951 he recorded sessions for the Trumpet label with bluebird recordings. Trumpet’s owner was Don Robey of Duke/Peacock Records in Houston; later some of these recordings were reissued on Peacock. From 1954 to 1957 Ford recorded for Chess Records in Chicago; these recordings were not released until the late 1960s and early 1970s.
R.L. Burnside
There’s something about the winter months that just lends itself to blues music. Maybe it’s the long, cold nights, or the need for something a little bit soulful to chase away the chill. Whatever the reason, we’ve put together a list of some of the best new blues albums to keep you warm this winter.
On top of our list is R.L. Burnside’s A Bothered Mind. This posthumous release features twelve previously unreleased tracks from the late great bluesman, and it’s everything you could hope for from a Burnside record. There’s the raw, primal energy of “See What My Buddy Done,” the hypnotic groove of “Miss Maybelle,” and the patient beauty of “All Night Long.” It’s an essential addition to any blues collection.
If you’re looking for something a little bit different, Tasha Taylor’s Out Of The Blue just might be what you need. This young artist is quickly making a name for herself with her unique blend of soul, blues, and R&B. On this album she tackles heartache and loss with intelligence and grace, resulting in songs that are both deeply personal and universal in their appeal. Standout tracks include “Don’t Shoot The Messenger” and “No Regrets.”
And finally, we have Kim Wilson’s My Blues After Hours. This is Wilson’s first solo album in fifteen years, and it was worth the wait. recorded live at Los Angeles’ Baked Potato club, it captures Wilson at his very best: a masterful vocalist and harmonica player with a deep love for traditional blues styles. If you only buy one album on this list, make it this one – you won’t be disappointed.
Junior Kimbrough
Born in 1926 in Mississippi, Junior Kimbrough was a giant of the blues world who didn’t achieve widespread recognition until relatively late in life. His raw, primal style of electric blues was deeply influential, helping to shape the sound of generations of blues and rock musicians who followed in his wake.
Kimbrough began playing guitar at the age of 14, inspired by the likes of Robert Johnson and Charley Patton. He went on to develop his own distinctive style, characterized by its hypnotic, trance-like quality. Kimbrough’s music was steeped in the traditions of Mississippi hill country blues, but he also incorporated elements of gospel and soul into his sound.
Kimbrough didn’t achieve widespread fame during his lifetime, but he did develop a devout following among fellow musicians. His records were championed by everyone from Jim O’Neal (founder of Living Blues magazine) to Kurt Cobain (who listed Kimbrough as one of his top 50 favorite artists). In the 1990s, Junior Kimbrough finally began to receive wider recognition, thanks in part to the efforts of fans like O’Neal and Cobain.
Today, Junior Kimbrough is considered one of the most important blues musicians of the 20th century. His music is as fresh and vital as it ever was, and it continues to inspire new generations of listeners. If you’re looking for some hot blues to keep you warm this winter, start with Junior Kimbrough.
The Women of the Blues
As the weather gets colder and the days get shorter, we all need a little extra warmth in our lives. And what better way to get warm than by listening to some steamy hot blues music? The Women of the Blues are some of the most sultry and soulful singers around, and they’re sure to get you feeling nice and toasty in no time.
Koko Taylor
Koko Taylor is a legendary figure in the world of blues music. Born in Memphis, Tennessee, in 1928, she began her career singing in nightclubs in the early 1950s. She recorded her first single, “Wang Dang Doodle,” in 1960, and it became an instant classic. Over the next few decades, she released a series of highly acclaimed albums and singles, cementing her place as one of the greatest blues singers of all time. In 2006, she was inducted into the Blues Foundation’s Hall of Fame, and in 2011, she received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. She passed away in 2009, but her music continues to influence and inspire performers all over the world.
Etta James
Etta James was born Jamesetta Hawkins in Los Angeles, California, in 1938. Her father, a pool hall owner and gambler named Joseph Stevenson, abandoned Etta and her mother, Dorothy Hawkins, soon after Etta’s birth. Dorothy moved Etta to San Francisco to live with relatives, then to Harlem, New York, where Etta spent her teenage years. It was in Harlem that James began singing the blues. She gathered a band called the Peaches and began performing at clubs around the city.
In 1955, when she was just 17 years old, Etta James recorded her first single,”The Wallflower (Roll with Me Henry),” under the name Betty Everett. The song reached number one on the R&B charts and made James a star. She followed up with a string of hits over the next few years, including “All I Could Do Was Cry,” “My Dearest Darling,” and “At Last.” In 1960, she signed with Chess Records and released what would become her signature song, “All I Could Do Was Cry.”
Etta James continued to record and perform throughout her career. She was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1993 and the Blues Hall of Fame in 2001. She died in 2012 at the age of 73.
Bonnie Raitt
Bonnie Raitt is an American blues singer-songwriter, born in Burbank, California, in 1949. The daughter of the Broadway musical star John Raitt, Bonnie was exposed to music from an early age and began playing guitar at the age of eight. She went on to study at the Radcliffe College in Massachusetts before moving to New York City, where she became involved in the folk music scene. In 1971, she released her self-titled debut album, which received critical acclaim but was not a commercial success. Undeterred, Raitt continued to record and perform, slowly but steadily building a following. Her breakthrough came with the release of her tenth album, Nick of Time, in 1989, which won three Grammy Awards, including Album of the Year. Since then, Raitt has gone on to release thirteen more albums and has won a total of ten Grammy Awards. She is widely revered as one of the greatest blues musicians of her generation and has influenced a number of younger artists.