Smoky_Babe

Smoky Babe

Smoky Babe

American singer

Robert Brown (July 31, 1927 – May 1973),[1][2] who performed as Smoky Babe, was an American acoustic blues guitarist and singer, whose recording career was restricted to a couple of recording sessions in the early 1960s. He has been variously described as a Louisiana blues, Piedmont blues and blues revival musician.[3] His most noteworthy recordings are "Going Downtown Boogie" and "Ain't Got No Rabbit Dog".[2]

Quick Facts Birth name, Born ...

Career

Brown was born in Itta Bena, Mississippi.[2] He was recorded by Harry Oster of Louisiana State University in 1960 and 1961,[4][5] and the results were released by the Folk Lyric, Bluesville and Storyville labels.[6]

Other than his recordings, little is known of his life. The circumstances of his death are unclear. Some sources report that he died in June 1975,[3] but the researchers Bob Eagle and Eric LeBlanc have stated that he probably died in May 1973 in Scotlandville, Baton Rouge, Louisiana.[1]

His song, "Boogy", is included on the compilation album Blues Roots: Give Me the Blues (1979),[7] and "Hottest Brand Goin'" and "Locomotive Blues" are included in the collection The Bluesville Years, Vol. 9: Down the Country Way (1998).[8]

Discography

  • Smoky Babe and His Friends: Hot Blues (1961), Folk-Lyric,[9] 77 Records, Arhoolie
  • Hottest Brand Goin' (1961), Bluesville (Reissued on CD as The Blues of Smokey Babe)[10]
  • Smoky Babe, Herman E. Johnson, Louisiana Country Blues (1997), Arhoolie [6]
  • Smoky Babe: Way Back in the Country Blues (2014), Arhoolie[11]

References

  1. [1]
    Eagle, Bob; LeBlanc, Eric S. (2013). Blues: A Regional Experience. Santa Barbara, California: Praeger. p. 198. ISBN 978-0313344237.
  2. [2]
    Doc Rock. "The 1970s". TheDeadRockStarsClub.com. Retrieved January 29, 2014.
  3. [3]
    Koda, Cub. "Smoky Babe: Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved January 29, 2014.
  4. [4]
    Broven, John (1992). South to Louisiana (3rd ed.). Pelican Publishing. p. 117. ISBN 1-55553-355-8.
  5. [5]
    "Big Road Blues – Part 2". Sundayblues.org. Retrieved January 29, 2014.
  6. [6]
    Wirz, Stefan. "Illustrated Smoky Babe Discography". Wirz.de. Retrieved January 29, 2014.
  7. [7]
    Wirz, Stefan. "Illustrated Jim Brewer Discography". Wirz.de. Retrieved January 29, 2014.
  8. [8]
    Wirz, Stefan. "Illustrated Scrapper Blackwell Discography". Wirz.de. Retrieved January 29, 2014.
  9. [9]
    "Smoky Babe And His Friends Discography - Vinyl Albums - USA - Vinyl Albums". 45worlds.com. Retrieved May 5, 2021.
  10. [10]
    Russell, Tony; Smith, Chris (2006). The Penguin Guide to Blues Recordings. Penguin. p. 598. ISBN 978-0-140-51384-4.
  11. [11]
    "Way Back in the Country Blues - Smoky Babe | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved May 5, 2021.
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