One of my all-time favorite singers had passed away, Bobby Bland was 83 years old.
Bland was singing and recording from 1950s but I had discovered him much later - I don't think we had any of his recordings around when I was growing up - it was after CD format had replaced vinyl and recording companies eventually started to mine their old catalogues for re-issues of legendary stuff from decades ago that I discovered early r&b that had shaped and influenced rock, for example names like B.B.King, Ike Turner, "Chess" recording company, Etta James and Esther Phillips, people who were corner stones of what would became rock much later. These pioneers were idols of young rock aristocracy who re-shaped it in their own way, everybody from The Beatles, The Rolling Stones and Eric Clapton to Van Morrison and Rod Stewart had idolized these musicians but mainstream audience was unfortunately never aware of them. For example, when Janis Joplin covered 1950s blues singer Big Mama Thornton, the Woodstock audience hardly knew the original and Joplin was hailed as "authentic" when in fact she was simply doing her impression of older singer. Bland belongs to that generation of early r&b pioneers who are mostly forgotten today but who were hugely important and influential once.
Almost alone among all the greatest bluesmen, Bobby Bland actually did not play any instrument - most of blues giants were guitarists - his gift was the voice. To be considered giant in a field that already had B.B.King, Howlin' Wolf, Muddy Waters and Ike Turner, you have to really be special and believe me, the voice of Bobby Bland was pure gold. He didn't even had specially good looks but he was considered ladies favorite because of his uncanny singing, to put it simply, he had a haunting, aching sound that came straight from the heart and he was darn soulful long before the term "soul singer" was even invented. Perhaps he was a early link between blues and "soul" - he certainly belonged to that generation of 1950s musicians who managed to continue working into 1960s, 1970s and beyond, often backed with first rate musicians.
My first introduction to Bobby Bland couldn't have been better - in the first rush of my passion for 1950s r&b I discovered "Chess" company and their wonderful list of artists, than stumbled upon Bland's "Two steps from the Blues" 1960 album. Like many of those early LP albums it was probably compilation of his current singles and very strong collection.
He croons the blues with poignant, yearning voice but give him dancing, ass -shaking r&b and he would certainly hold his ground even there, rasping on the exact spot where rasp should be, just a great singer. It seems he was specially effective whenever he had songs written by composer Deadric Malone and this is the name that pops out very often trough Bland's early discography - later in his career, Bland would find a home in "Malaco records" company that faithfully continued to support the veteran singer and constantly release his current works. "Malaco" albums are fine for Bland fans but naturally its his early music that counts the most and where his legend was cemented. I can't find any faults with "Malaco" albums, its simply that they are well-produced, clean-sounding studio releases of much older man (therefore somewhat routinely done) in comparison with freshness and immediacy of fierce 1950s music. Yeah, he had developed a certain mannerisms later in life (kind of snort) which I don't mind, I simply love Bobby Bland.
Just like Esther Phillips was known as "Little Esther", Bobby Bland was often listed as Bobby "Blue" Bland during first two decades. People often like to point that Bland worked as a chauffeur for B.B.King, but this is not a dream rags-to-riches story about overnight discovery, quite contrary Bland had built his reputation very slowly - lacking strong instrument or good looks he had to work in a field where to afro-americans media visibility was limited and his success never was the same like young rock stars who sold albums by millions. During his life, Bobby Bland was much loved by other musicians, singers and "cognoscenti" like Van Morrison and Mick Hucknall (who had recorded the whole tribute album) but never experienced complete crossover success like some other names in business. I have LOTS of his music and he would surely be missed from me.
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