H-Bomb Ferguson
H-Bomb Ferguson | |
---|---|
Birth name | Robert Percell Ferguson |
Also known as | Bob Ferguson |
Born | Torest, Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S. | May 9, 1929
Genres | Rhythm and blues, jump blues |
Occupation(s) | Singer, bandleader |
Years active | 1948–2006 |
Labels | Derby, Savoy, Federal, others |
Robert Percell Ferguson (May 9, 1929 – November 26, 2006),[1][2] who performed as H-Bomb Ferguson, was an American jump blues singer. He was an early pioneer of the rock and roll style of the mid-1950s, featuring driving rhythm, intensely shouted vocals, honking tenor saxophone solos, and outlandish personal appearance. Ferguson sang and played piano in a flamboyant style, wearing colorful wigs.[3]
Early life
Born in Torest,
Career
At the age of 19, Ferguson was on the road with
A blues shouter, he first recorded as Bob Ferguson in New York in 1950, for Derby Records,[5] whose drummer Jack "The Bear" Parker (according to most sources) gave him the nickname "H-Bomb" and became his manager.[6] His debut was followed by releases on Atlas and Prestige,[7] before he signed a recording contract with Savoy Records in 1951.[5] Several saxophone-driven singles followed, in the style of Wynonie Harris,[5] and "Good Lovin'" was regionally successful though failing to reached the national charts.[6]
Ferguson toured clubs with
He retired from performing in the early 1970s, but made several comebacks, notably performing at blues festivals in Britain and Europe during the 1980s and 1990s in a characteristically flamboyant style, wearing a variety of multicolored wigs.[6] Backed by The Bluesmen, he released "Bad Times Blues" in 1989 as a local LP release in Cincinnati under Papa Lou Recordings number 801 from Vetco Enterprises.[8] Backed by the Medicine Men, he recorded his first album, Wiggin' Out, for Chicago's Earwig Music in 1993.[1]
Death and legacy
Ferguson died in 2006 at the Hospice of Cincinnati, of complications from
His early work was featured in a compilation album, H-Bomb Ferguson: Big City Blues, 1951-54. A documentary was made of his life, entitled The Life And Times Of H-bomb Ferguson.
References
- ^ a b c d Bill Dahl (2006-11-26). "H-Bomb Ferguson | Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved 2015-10-26.
- ^ ISBN 978-0313344237.
- ISBN 1-57233-431-2.
- ^ Interview with The Post in 1988
- ^ ISBN 1-85227-745-9.
- ^ a b c d "H-Bomb Ferguson", Black Cat Rockabilly. Retrieved 8 November 2016
- ^ a b H-Bomb Ferguson Discography, Wangdangdula.com. Retrieved 8 November 2016
- ^ "H-Bomb Ferguson & The Bluesmen (2) - Bad Times Blues". Discogs.com. 1989. Retrieved 3 September 2019.
External links
- Lindy Hop Style of Dancing used with Jump Blues
- Swing and Jump Blues Guitar Jump Blues Guitar Archived 2008-06-01 at the Wayback Machine
- Short History of Jump Blues The Big Heat
- Jump Blues Piano Overview of Piano Jump Blues styles
- Obituary