June 2003 Feature Story

Bobby Bland

Thursday, 6/5 thru Sunday, 6/8 @ Dimitriou’s Jazz Alley, Seattle, see
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by Tony Engelhart

Bobby “Blue” Bland is one of but a handful of blues legends to emerge out of the early days of Chess Records who is still recording and touring. Unlike his contemporaries, Bland didn’t have a guitar or harmonica to fall back on. Armed with only a powerful voice and commanding stage presence he has reached icon status after nearly 50 years in the national spotlight. However, Bobby Bland was far from an overnight success and it would take him nearly a decade to establish himself as a force in blues music.

Bobby “Blue” Bland was a founding member of the Beale Streeters, the legendary Memphis group which also included B.B. King and Johnny Ace. Their initial singles for Chess and Modern were vastly overlooked. Bland’s crooning vocals were still a little rough around the edges as he entered the army in 1952. Upon his release from service in 1955, Bland’s development was apparent. Sax player Bill Harvey and his band (featuring Roy Gaines and Joe Scott) provided smoking support on the single “It’s My Life Baby.” This song caught the attention of Duke Record’s president who was quick to sign the up-and-comer.
The first singles were hard-driving, guitar-heavy Texas blues that nonetheless went unnoticed. When Pat Hare, a gifted picker, lent his consummate fret work to the single “Farther On Up The Road”, Bobby “Blue” Bland had his first national hit and seemed to have found a style that worked for him. From then on, the hits just kept on rolling in. From 1957 to 1967, songs such as “I Pity The Fool”, “Turn On Your Love Light”, and “Yield Not to Temptation” were topping the R & B charts as Bland’s vocals were gospel drenched and heartfelt. And, like the great Etta James, the ballads would give him a strong crossover audience. With his signature aching vocals on “That’s The Way Love Is”, “Share Your Love With Me”, and a reworked version of T-Bone Walker’s “Stormy Monday Blues”, Bobby “Blue” Bland became one of the most recognizable voices in blues.

Whe Way Love Is”, “Share Your Love With Me”, and a reworked version of T-Bone Walker’s “Stormy Monday Blues”, Bobby “Blue” Bland became one of the most recognizable voices in blues. While many of his early recordings are now out of print, there is a vast catalogue of compilations available to the enthusiast, including an upcoming release on Rounder called Angels In Houston. Bobby’s latest release for Malaco, Blues At Midnight, is a great live album that vacillates between blues and soul with plenty of organ and some tasty brass. While there are none of the expected “hits” on this disc, it is a noteworthy performance by a legendary performer. At 73 years old, Bobby “Blue” Bland’s voice is, as expected, a bit thinner and weathered but still commands the same respect and he will continue pleasing his fans for as long as he can. (See Kathi McDonald’s review of his latest CD in the CD reviews)

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