| Rosco Gordon Born: 1928 Died: 2002 |
Born in Memphis in 1928 Rosco Gordon was in the right place at the right time. He learned to play his mother's piano without resorting to copying anyone's style. The result was an infectious, slightly off-tempo style that would earn him hits for both Sun and Chess Records.
Gordon began to play as a teenager, forming his own band. By the time he was 22 the band had won a Beale Street talent contest (no easy task) and had been invited by Rufus Thomas to appear live on the air at WDIA. The year was 1950 and the WDIA gig had opened up Gordon's chances to play journeyman jobs around Memphis as one of the informal group known as "The Beale Streeters". This group included both B. B. King, Bobby "Blue" Bland and the late great Johnny Ace.
The following year Rosco began to record sides at Sun Studio. The complex system of distribution employed by Sam Phillips had Gordon's records in trouble from the start. The record "Booted" was actually released by two companies in two competing versions, both recorded by Rosco Gordon. Despite the controversy the record went to Number One on the R&B charts.
Phillips' practice of leasing material to studios / distributors like Chess Records in Chicago constantly led to arguments about who owned the material and the artist's contract. Lots of legal battles led to Rosco going to the RPM label, although he still did some recording at Sun, and Howlin' Wolf leaving Sun for Chess Records in Chicago. In the ensuing melee Gordon left RPM and recorded for various labels, ultimately landing the hit, No More Doggin' Around which went to #3 on the R&B Charts.
In 1955 Sam Phillips signed Gordon to a three year contract. That same year Gordon recorded "The Chicken" which was destined to be his most influential record. The song inspired a dance and was a bit of a social phenomenon. Unfortunately Gordon gave the tapes to his friends a Duke Records. This is often explained as Gordon being cheated by the record companies, but he gave too many signs of intelligence over the years for anyone to believe, without question, that he did not know what he was doing. When Sun released the single they were immediately sued by Duke records. After this, Sam Phillips would record Gordon again, but never trust him. In 1959 Rosco Gordon signed with Vee-Jay records. It was there that he would record his last hit, "Just a Little Bit" which was later covered by the British Group, the Undertakers. In 1962 Rosco Gordon married for the second time. An initial, youthful marriage had lasted but three weeks. The second marriage was taken much more seriously. Gordon and his bride, Barbara Kerr moved to New York where they raised their three sons. Gordon became a partner in a dry cleaning business and did little recording during this period. |  |
Rosco Gordon began to play again in 1979 when Hank Davis tracked him down and brought him down to star at a Memphis Blues Festival, followed by some live work in Europe.
Sadly, in 1984, his wife Barbar died from bone cancer. With his wife gone and children gone Rosco returned to his music. He certainly faired poorly with his style so very "out of stlye", but in 2000 he hooked up with Duke Robillard for the recording of a new album entitled "Memphis, Tennnessee". Robillard was able to assimilate the "Rosco Vibe" and use it to great advantage. The album garnered Rosco a "Comeback of the Year" nomination at the Handy Awards in Memphis.
Although his health was failing Gordon managed to play a major part in "The Road to Memphis", which would be part of Martin Scorsese's PBS series "The Blues". Several weeks after the recording of that documentary Rosco Gordon passed away from natural causes. The film, "The Road to Memphis" is a great tribute to the man. It is not possible to see the film without seeing the man for what he apparently was, a really nice guy.