Bumble Bee Slim
Bumble Bee Slim | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Admirl Amos Easton |
| Born | May 7, 1905 Brunswick, Georgia, U.S. |
| Died | June 8, 1968 (aged 63) Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Genres | Piedmont blues |
| Instruments |
|
| Labels | |
Admirl Amos Easton (May 7, 1905 – June 8, 1968),[1][2] better known by the stage name Bumble Bee Slim, was an American Piedmont blues singer and guitarist.[2]
Biography
Easton was born in
Ringling Brothers circus. He then returned to Georgia and was briefly married before heading north on a freight train to Indianapolis, where he settled in 1928. There he met and was influenced by the pianist Leroy Carr and the guitarist Scrapper Blackwell.[2]
By 1931 he had moved to
hit for Vocalion Records, inspiring several other railroad blues and eventually becoming a popular folk song.[3] In the next five years, he recorded over 150 songs for Decca Records, Bluebird Records and Vocalion,[5] often accompanied by other musicians, including Big Bill Broonzy, Peetie Wheatstraw, Tampa Red, Memphis Minnie, and Washboard Sam
.
In 1937, he returned to Georgia. He relocated to Los Angeles, California in the early 1940s, apparently hoping to break into motion pictures as a songwriter and comedian. During the 1950s he recorded several albums, but they had little impact.[2] His last album was released in 1962 by Pacific Jazz Records.[6]
He continued to perform in clubs around Los Angeles until he died in 1968.[7]
See also
References
- ISBN 978-0313344237.
- ^ a b c d Koda, Cub (1905-05-07). "Bumble Bee Slim: Biography". AllMusic.com. Retrieved 2016-11-08.
- ^ ISBN 0-85112-673-1.
- ^ Chris Smith, "Words Words Words: Amos Easton", Blues & Rhythm, #342, p.28, 2019
- ISBN 1-85868-255-X.
- ^ Eckenrode, Andrew. "East Coast Piedmont Blues: Bumble Bee Slim". University of North Carolina at Asheville. Archived from the original on 8 February 2006. Retrieved 29 December 2013.
- ^ "Bumble Bee Slim". Thebluestrail.com. Retrieved 2016-11-08.
Other source
- Zolten, Jerry (September/October 1997). "The Rough and Rugged Road of Bumble Bee Slim". Living Blues, no. 135.
