Bobby Bland
Real Name:
Robert Calvin Brooks
Profile:
Bobby Bland (born January 27, 1930, Rosemark, Tennessee, USA - died June 23, 2013, Germantown, Tennessee, USA) was an American blues and R&B singer. He was sometimes referred to as the "Lion of the Blues" and as the "Sinatra of the Blues".
In 1947, he moved to Memphis with his mother and started singing with local gospel groups there, including amongst others The Miniatures. Eager to expand his interests, he began frequenting the city's famous Beale Street where he became associated with an ad hoc circle of aspiring musicians including B.B. King, Rosco Gordon, Little Junior Parker and Johnny Ace, who collectively took the name of the "Beale Streeters". Between 1950 and 1952, he recorded unsuccessful singles for Modern Records (2) and, at Ike Turner's suggestion, for Sun Record Company — who licensed their recordings to the Chess label — before signing for Duke Records. When Bland returned to Memphis in 1954 he found several of his former associates, including Johnny Ace, enjoying considerable success. He joined Ace's revue, and returned to Duke Records, which by that time had started to be run by Houston entrepreneur Don Robey. Bland released his first single for Duke in 1955. In 1956 he began touring on the "chitlin' circuit" with Junior Parker in a revue called Blues Consolidated, initially doubling as Parker's valet and driver, roles he also reportedly fulfilled for B.B. King and Rosco Gordon. He began recording for Duke with bandleader Bill Harvey and arranger Joseph Scott (2), asserting his characteristic vocal style and, with Harvey and Scott, beginning to craft the melodic big band blues singles for which he became famous, often accompanied by guitarist Wayne Bennett (2).
His first chart success came in 1957 with the R&B chart no. 1 hit "Farther Up the Road", which also reached no.43 on the Billboard Hot 100, and followed it up with a series of hits on the R&B chart including "Little Boy Blue" (1958). He also shared an album with Parker, Blues Consolidated, in 1958. Bland's craft was most clearly heard on a series of early 1960's releases including "Cry Cry Cry", "I Pity The Fool" — an R&B chart no.1 in 1961 — and "Turn On Your Love Light", which became a much covered standard. Despite credits to the contrary — often claimed by Robey— many such classic works were written by Joseph Scott. His final R&B no.1 came with "That's The Way Love Is" in 1963. However, he continued to enjoy a consistent run of R&B chart entries throughout the mid-1960's. Never truly breaking into the mainstream market, Bland's highest charting song on the pop chart, "Ain't Nothing You Can Do" peaked at #20 in 1964. He had 23 Top Ten hits on the Billboard R&B charts. Joel Whitburn ranked Bland the 13th all-time R&B charting artist in his 1996 book "Top R&B Singles 1942-1995". Financial pressures forced the singer to cut his touring band and in 1968 the group broke up. His record company Duke Records was sold by owner Don Robey to the larger ABC Records group. This resulted in several successful and critically acclaimed contemporary blues/soul albums including "His California Album" (1973) and "Dreamer" (1974). The first single released from "His California Album", "This Time I'm Gone For Good" took Bland back into the pop Top 50 for the first time since 1964 and made the R&B top 10 in late 1973. In 1985, Bland was signed by Malaco Records, specialists in traditional Southern black music for whom he made a series of albums while continuing to tour and appear at concerts with fellow blues singer B. B. King.
Inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame in 1981, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1992, and received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 1997. Bland continued performing until shortly before his death. He died on June 23, 2013 at his home in Germantown, Tennessee, a suburb of Memphis, after what family members described as "an ongoing illness".
In 1947, he moved to Memphis with his mother and started singing with local gospel groups there, including amongst others The Miniatures. Eager to expand his interests, he began frequenting the city's famous Beale Street where he became associated with an ad hoc circle of aspiring musicians including B.B. King, Rosco Gordon, Little Junior Parker and Johnny Ace, who collectively took the name of the "Beale Streeters". Between 1950 and 1952, he recorded unsuccessful singles for Modern Records (2) and, at Ike Turner's suggestion, for Sun Record Company — who licensed their recordings to the Chess label — before signing for Duke Records. When Bland returned to Memphis in 1954 he found several of his former associates, including Johnny Ace, enjoying considerable success. He joined Ace's revue, and returned to Duke Records, which by that time had started to be run by Houston entrepreneur Don Robey. Bland released his first single for Duke in 1955. In 1956 he began touring on the "chitlin' circuit" with Junior Parker in a revue called Blues Consolidated, initially doubling as Parker's valet and driver, roles he also reportedly fulfilled for B.B. King and Rosco Gordon. He began recording for Duke with bandleader Bill Harvey and arranger Joseph Scott (2), asserting his characteristic vocal style and, with Harvey and Scott, beginning to craft the melodic big band blues singles for which he became famous, often accompanied by guitarist Wayne Bennett (2).
His first chart success came in 1957 with the R&B chart no. 1 hit "Farther Up the Road", which also reached no.43 on the Billboard Hot 100, and followed it up with a series of hits on the R&B chart including "Little Boy Blue" (1958). He also shared an album with Parker, Blues Consolidated, in 1958. Bland's craft was most clearly heard on a series of early 1960's releases including "Cry Cry Cry", "I Pity The Fool" — an R&B chart no.1 in 1961 — and "Turn On Your Love Light", which became a much covered standard. Despite credits to the contrary — often claimed by Robey— many such classic works were written by Joseph Scott. His final R&B no.1 came with "That's The Way Love Is" in 1963. However, he continued to enjoy a consistent run of R&B chart entries throughout the mid-1960's. Never truly breaking into the mainstream market, Bland's highest charting song on the pop chart, "Ain't Nothing You Can Do" peaked at #20 in 1964. He had 23 Top Ten hits on the Billboard R&B charts. Joel Whitburn ranked Bland the 13th all-time R&B charting artist in his 1996 book "Top R&B Singles 1942-1995". Financial pressures forced the singer to cut his touring band and in 1968 the group broke up. His record company Duke Records was sold by owner Don Robey to the larger ABC Records group. This resulted in several successful and critically acclaimed contemporary blues/soul albums including "His California Album" (1973) and "Dreamer" (1974). The first single released from "His California Album", "This Time I'm Gone For Good" took Bland back into the pop Top 50 for the first time since 1964 and made the R&B top 10 in late 1973. In 1985, Bland was signed by Malaco Records, specialists in traditional Southern black music for whom he made a series of albums while continuing to tour and appear at concerts with fellow blues singer B. B. King.
Inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame in 1981, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1992, and received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 1997. Bland continued performing until shortly before his death. He died on June 23, 2013 at his home in Germantown, Tennessee, a suburb of Memphis, after what family members described as "an ongoing illness".
Sites:
rockhall.com, Wikipedia, soulfulkindamusic.net, authenticblues.com, whosampled.com, allmusic.com, soulwalking.co.uk, equipboard.com
Variations:
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Bobby Bland
"Bobby Blue" Bland, "Bobby Blue" Bland And Orchestra, B. Bland, B.-B Bland, B.Bland, Bland, Blue Bland, Bobby "Blue" Bland, Bobby "Blue" Band, Bobby "Blue" Bland, Bobby "Blue" Bland And His Band, Bobby "Blue" Bland and his Band, Bobby ''Blue'' Bland, Bobby 'Blue' Bland, Bobby 'Blue' Bland, Bobby (Blue) Bland, Bobby Blend, Bobby Blu Bland, Bobby Blue Band, Bobby Blue Bland, Bobby Bluebland, Bobby ‘Blue’ Bland, Bobby “Blue” Bland, Dynamic Bobby Bland, R. Bland, R.Bland, Robert Bland, Robert Bland or Bobby "Blue" Bland, Robert Bobby Bland
Marketplace
16,742 For SaleImage | Title | Label | Catalog Number | Year | In Your Collection, Wantlist, or Inventory | Actions | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Albums |
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DLP 74 |
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Bobby Bland | Two Steps From The Blues (Album) | Duke | DLP 74 | US | 1961 | Sell This Version | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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DLP-75, DLP 75 |
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Dynamic Bobby Bland* | Here's The Man (Album) | Duke | DLP-75, DLP 75 | Canada | 1962 | Sell This Version | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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CLP 5358 |
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Bobby "Blue" Bland*, Jimmy Soul And Johnny "Guitar" Watson* | Bobby "Blue" Bland*, Jimmy Soul And Johnny "Guitar" Watson* - Bobby "Blue" Bland, Jimmy Soul And Johnny "Guitar" Watson (Album) | Crown Records (2) | CLP 5358 | US | 1963 | Sell This Version | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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DLP 77 |
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Bobby Bland | Call On Me / That's The Way Love Is (Album) | Duke | DLP 77 | US | 1963 | Sell This Version | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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DLP 78, DLP-78 |
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Bobby Bland | Ain't Nothing You Can Do (Album) | Duke, Duke | DLP 78, DLP-78 | US | 1964 | Sell This Version | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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DLP 79, DLP-79 |
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Bobby Bland | The Soul Of The Man (Album) | Duke, Duke | DLP 79, DLP-79 | US | 1966 | Sell This Version | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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DLP 88 |
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Bobby Bland | Touch Of The Blues (Album) | Duke | DLP 88 | US | 1968 | Sell This Version | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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SORLP-4335 |
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Bobby Bland | Spotlighting The Man (Album) | Duke, Duke, Duke, Duke | SORLP-4335 | Venezuela | 1969 | Sell This Version | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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SPBA 3071 |
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Bobby Blue Bland* | His California Album (Album) | ABC/Dunhill Records | SPBA 3071 | Australia | 1973 | Sell This Version | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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8023-50190 Z |
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B.B. King & Bobby Bland | B.B. King & Bobby Bland - Together For The First Time... Live (Album) | ABC/Dunhill Records | 8023-50190 Z | US | 1974 | Sell This Version | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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DSX 50169 |
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Bobby Bland | Dreamer (Album) | ABC/Dunhill Records | DSX 50169 | US | 1974 | Sell This Version | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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ABCD-895 |
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Bobby Bland | Get On Down With Bobby Bland (Album) | ABC Records | ABCD-895 | US | 1975 | Sell This Version | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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ABC-7025, LP-7025 |
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Bobby Bland & B.B. King | Bobby Bland & B.B. King - Together Again...Live (Album) | ABC Impulse! | ABC-7025, LP-7025 | Venezuela | 1976 | Sell This Version | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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AB-1018, 626404076 |
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Bobby Bland | Reflections In Blue (Album) | ABC Records | AB-1018, 626404076 | Brazil | 1977 | Sell This Version | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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9022-1075 |
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Bobby Bland | Come Fly With Me (Album) | ABC Records | 9022-1075 | Canada | 1978 | Sell This Version | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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MCA-3157 |
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Bobby Bland | I Feel Good, I Feel Fine (Album) | MCA Records | MCA-3157 | US | 1979 | Sell This Version | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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MCA-5145 |
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Bobby "Blue" Bland* | Sweet Vibrations (Album) | MCA Records | MCA-5145 | US | 1980 | Sell This Version | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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MCA 5233 |
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Bobby Bland | Try Me, I'm Real (Album) | MCA Records | MCA 5233 | US | 1981 | Sell This Version | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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MCA-5297 |
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Bobby Bland | Here We Go Again (Album) | MCA Records | MCA-5297 | US | 1982 | Sell This Version | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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MCA-884 |
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Bobby Bland | Tell Mr. Bland (Album) | MCA Records | MCA-884 | US | 1983 | Sell This Version | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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MCA 5503 |
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Bobby Bland | You've Got Me Loving You (Album) | MCA Records | MCA 5503 | US | 1984 | Sell This Version | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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MAL LP004 |
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Bobby Bland | Members Only (Album) | Malaco Records | MAL LP004 | UK | 1985 | Sell This Version | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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MALC 7439, MAL 7439 |
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Bobby Bland | After All (Album) | Malaco Records | MALC 7439, MAL 7439 | US | 1986 | Sell This Version | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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MCAD-20796 |
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Bobby Bland, B.B. King | Bobby Bland, B.B. King - I Like To Live The Love (Album, Comp) | MCA Special Products | MCAD-20796 | US | 1987 | Sell This Version | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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MALC 7444 |
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Bobby Bland | Blues You Can Use (Album) | Malaco Records | MALC 7444 | US | 1987 | Sell This Version |
Reviews
Lists Add to List
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- Collected Artists in Order of Preference by OmeHans
d-of
July 5, 2013