Wednesday, August 28, 2013

Slim Harpo--Rainin In My Heart (1961)

     Slim Harpo (real name: James Moore) is one of the great blues harmonica players. Born in Lobdell, Louisiana in 1924, he got his start playing the bars and club in and around Baton Rouge at night, while working as a longshoreman during the day. He was known during the late 30's and 40's as Harmonica Slim as his fame began to grow in the state. Although he signed a recording contract with Nashville based, Excello Records in 1957, he never became a full time musician. His solo debut, "I'm a King Bee" is now in the Grammy Hall of Fame, became his signature song and became a part of the repertoire of many rock bands such as The Rolling Stones, The Doors, and Led Zeppelin.
     His first pop chart action was with this song in 1961, but took another five years to reach the top 40 again when, "Baby, Scratch My Back", which is in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame,  reached the top 20 in 1966. With what money he made on music he put into a trucking business that took most of his time during the 1960s. He passed away in 1970 of a heart attack at the age of 46.



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