• NEWS
  • REVIEWS
  • INTERVIEWS
  • EVENTS
  • VIDEOS

Subscribe to Updates

Get the latest creative news from Blues Scene about music & art.

Exclusive Premiere: MEM_MODS Create Cinematic Suspense in ‘Midtown Miscommunication’

February 6, 2023

High Moon Records Unveils First-Ever Anthology From Singer-Songwriter Laurie Styvers

February 3, 2023

Exclusive: Sarah Rogo Premieres Video for ‘All of These Things Must Die’ From New Concept Album

February 3, 2023

Jefferson Berry Shares His ‘Dreams of Modern Living’

February 2, 2023
Facebook Twitter Instagram
Facebook Twitter Instagram Vimeo
American Blues SceneAmerican Blues Scene
  • NEWS
  • REVIEWS
  • INTERVIEWS
  • EVENTS
  • VIDEOS
American Blues SceneAmerican Blues Scene
Home»Featured»Windy City Wednesday –  ‘Harmonica Blues Kings’ by Big Walter Horton & Alfred ‘Blues King’ Harris
Featured

Windy City Wednesday –  ‘Harmonica Blues Kings’ by Big Walter Horton & Alfred ‘Blues King’ Harris

American Blues Scene StaffBy American Blues Scene StaffJune 8, 2022Updated:June 8, 2022No Comments2 Mins Read
Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email VKontakte WhatsApp
1950s publicity photo of Big Walter courtesy of Bob Corritore
Share
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email

Some of the most exciting sounds on the Chicago blues scene during the 1950s feature the harmonica.

Chess Records led the way with Little Walter, Sonny Boy Williamson, Howlin’ Wolf and others; then Vee-Jay followed with Jimmy Reed, Snooky Pryer and Billy Boy Arnold. But United/States released only seven harmonica singles: four by Junior Wells (on ‘Blues Hit Big Town,’ Delmark 640), one by Big Walter Horton, one by singer Tommy Brown with Horton on harp, and one rare coupling by singer-drummer James Bannister featuring the mysterious Alfred Harris.

Horton’s “Hard-Hearted Woman”/”Back Home To Mama” was his first Chicago record under his own name. Willie Dixon produced and from then on Horton played on many Dixon-produced sessions and toured with Dixon’s band for many years. Big Walter was an internationally famous bluesman, who continued recording and touring until his death in 1981.

Alfred “Blues King” Harris remains a mystery man. Born possibly in Mississippi, Alfred Harris (aka Blues King Harris or Johnny Harris) recorded on three separate occasions in the 50s, each time under a different name. The first, in 1950 or 1951, was during a field trip by the Bihari Brothers, in Mississippi, Arkansas or Tennessee, and featured Harris with a second guitarist, playing acoustic, in a very down-home style.

A few years later there was a session in Chicago, with James Bannister and Earl Dranes, in a more electric, urban style. Neither of these two sessions was issued until many years later. Finally, there was a single, also recorded in Chicago, in 1956. The tunes included here come from those Chicago sessions.

Harmonica Blues Kings contains a total of 16 tracks, included 3 previously unreleased tracks; alternate takes of “Hard Hearted Woman,” “Back Home to Mama,” and “Up Side the Wall.”

United Records was the first successful black-owned record company. Operated by Leonard Allen, tailor, retired policeman and obviously one of exceptionally wide taste in music, the two labels (United and States) issued some of the best performances in the jazz, blues, gospel and R&B idioms between 1951 and ’57. Delmark is proud to release this important body of masters, including many previously unissued, recorded in studios which pioneered high fidelity recording in the ’50s.

Purchase Harmonica Blues Kings via Delmark Records

Alfred "Blues King" Harris Big Walter Horton Delmark Records Harmonica Blues Kings
Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email WhatsApp
Previous ArticleSamm Henshaw Kicks Off US Tour
Next Article Soul-Blues Sensation Dylan Triplett Shares Single ‘Junkyard Dog’ From Debut VizzTone Album
American Blues Scene Staff

Related Posts

Exclusive Premiere: MEM_MODS Create Cinematic Suspense in ‘Midtown Miscommunication’

February 6, 2023

Ten Years After Set To Change The World With 50th Anniversary ‘A Space In Time’ Remix

February 1, 2023

Delmark Records Celebrates 70 Years with a Weekend Streaming 

February 1, 2023

Barbara Blue Is a Piece of Work, A Very Talented One

January 30, 2023

Comments are closed.

Advertisment
Facebook Twitter Instagram Pinterest
  • Home
  • News
  • Reviews
  • Interviews
  • Events
  • Videos
  • About

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.