Wolf Call

Mrs. Illinois Jacquet hits the dance floor with the big bad wolf, via JET magazine, 1958.

Earl Washington  -  Wolf Call  (2:07)

King Solomon

Solomon Burke, 1964.  Via the JET magazine archives.

The Neighborhood Vs. Wynonie Harris

Here are a couple of news items via the Jet magazine archives (02/24/1955 and 11/03/1955, respectively) detailing wildman Wynonie Harris's clashes with touchy neighbors in Brooklyn and Long Island.

I'd give just about anything to see a photo of the flashing sign on his Long Island lawn reading "The World's Greatest Blues Singer Lives Here."  As the great Dizzy Dean once said, "it ain't bragging if you can do it."

Below: Wynonie Harris, via ACE records.

Slim Gaillard suits up for blast-off, 1953

Photo by Isaac Sutton, via the Jet magazine archives.

Nipsey & The Strippers

Via the Jet magazine archives, 1954.  Nipsey Russell cavorts with strippers Rose LaRosa and Delilah Wyld at the Baby Grand nightclub in Harlem.

Lionel Hampton - Hep Santa Claus

Via the Jet magazine archives (December, 1957).

Chinky Grimes & Jimmy Rushing come to Brooklyn, 1955

Jimmy Rushing  -  Lotsa Poppa  (2:35)

Photo via the Jet magazine archives.

Ruth Brown Beat Down

Ruth Brown  -  Lucky Lips

If you're fortunate enough to have a pair of lucky lips, you're probably safe from Ruth Brown's ferocious fists of fury.

Via the Jet magazine archives, 1954.

Sax on the beach

I fully expect my blogging privileges to be revoked after that groaner.  But in the meantime, check out Louis Jordan as he throws himself a beach party of the shores of Lake Michigan, 1966. Via the JET magazine archives.  Also pictured, the "leggy lovelies" Agatha Collins, Gwendolyn Roberts and Phyllis Campbell.

The Wigs

Wigs Warble:  Wearing colonial style wigs and George Washington-type garments, Cleveland vocal group called The Wigs score big in their night club appearances.  Fancy dress and buckled shoes of yesteryear are no bar to their modern rhythm and blues numbers."  Jet - 1964

All I can say is, I sure hope they did the Buckle Shoe Stomp.

Plastic Eyeball Debut

 

Via the JET magazine archives, here's the photo run by the mag to let everyone know about Sammy Davis Jr's new eyeball in June, 1955.  For the search engines:

"Sammy Davis Jr. Doffs Eyepatch: Removing his now-famous eye patch for the opening performance at Las Vegas' New Frontier Hotel, entertainer Sammy Davis Jr. unveils his new plastic left eye for the scrutiny of his uncle, Will Mastin.  Sammy lost his eye in California auto crash."  

The Guitar Sheik

Get a load of this fantastic 1955 photo borrowed from the pages of Jet magazine.  Bobby Walker, in full sheik regalia, strolls the streets of Philadelphia serenading the lucky citizens with his guitar.  Photo by Gaston DeVigne.

Louis Jordan For President!

It's only 2013 and I'm already tired of hearing about the next Presidential election.  Now if Louis Jordan were in the race, things might be different.  Via the fantastic JET archives.

Louis Armstrong

Happy birthday to Louis Armstrong, born 112 years ago today (08/04/1901) in the world's most musical city, New Orleans.  In 1961, he worked with another musical genius, Duke Ellington, on the soundtrack for the film Paris Blues, which featured Sidney Poitier, Paul Newman, Diahann Carroll and Joanne Woodward.  In addition to his soundtrack contributions, Armstrong appeared in the movie, playing a character, a trumpet player naturally, called Wild Man Moore.  Here's the song by that name from the soundtrack.

Duke Ellington featuring Louis Armstrong  -  Wild Man Moore


Photo: the Jet magazine archives.

How 'Bout Some Ribs, Pretty Lady?

Bluesman Jimmy Rushing wasn't hogging the ribs.  As you can see from this 1955 JET photo, he was perfectly willy to share with exotic dancer Chinky Grimes.  Chinky, incidentally, was married to R&B guitarist and bandleader Tiny Grimes.

Two Pizzaburgers Please!

Joe Houston & a Half Ton Of Glamor, Jet Magazine, 1955.

Joe Houston  -  Two Pizzaburgers Please

The Lovely Jewel Brynner

Singer Jewel Brynner (yes, her name was a nod to chrome-domed actor Yul Brynner) is shown here in early 1959, performing at Pittsburgh's Hi-Top Lounge with Wee Walkin' Willie.  Via the Jet archives.  Photo by Clarence Pennywell Jr.

Sharkskin Louis Jordan

"Giving the impression of an unwanted backstage "John," bubble-eyed bandleader Louis Jordan is about to be expelled by resolute dancing twins, Joyce and Jean Spencer, as trio hams it up between performances at the Tivoli Theater in Chicago."  Jet magazine, 1959.

CAVEMAN STOMP!

 Via the JET magazine archives, hosted over at Google, we can look back and enjoy this insane photo of sax man Eddie Chamblee giving the people their money's worth in 1955.  Perhaps this is how he caught the eye of Dinah Washington, whom he married two years later.

Happy New Year!

Jet magazine, 1954.