Leroy Foster (musician)
Leroy Foster | |
---|---|
Also known as | Baby Face Leroy, Baby Face |
Born | Algoma, Mississippi, U.S. | February 1, 1923
Died | May 26, 1958 Chicago, Illinois, U.S. | (aged 35)
Genres | Blues |
Occupation(s) | Musician |
Instrument(s) | Vocals, guitar, drums |
Years active | 1946–1958 |
"Baby Face" Leroy Foster (February 1, 1923 – May 26, 1958) was an American blues singer, drummer and guitarist, active in Chicago from the mid-1940s until the late 1950s.[1] He was a significant figure in the development of the postwar electric Chicago blues sound, particularly as a member of the Muddy Waters band during its formative years.[2]
Early life
Foster was born in Algoma, Mississippi.[1] He moved to Chicago in the mid-1940s, and by 1946 was working with the pianist Sunnyland Slim and the harmonica player John Lee "Sonny Boy" Williamson.[3] He was introduced to the singer and guitarist Muddy Waters by an acquaintance Waters met at a recording session in 1946. Foster was soon playing guitar and drums in Waters's band, along with the guitar and harmonica player Jimmy Rogers.[4] Calling themselves the Headhunters, the trio was known for going from club to club and “cutting” (i.e., engaging in musical duels with) other bands.[2] The band was later joined by Little Walter on harmonica.[5]
First recordings
Foster's first recordings were made, as a sideman, with the pianist Lee Brown in 1945 for J. Mayo Williams's Chicago label. In 1946, he took part in another session with Brown; the same year he also recorded for Columbia backing James "Beale Street" Clark and Muddy Waters, although only the sides by Clark were issued at the time. He accompanied Sunnyland Slim on a 1947 or 1948 session for the Opera label.[3] Further recordings followed, under his own name for Aristocrat Records and J.O.B. Records[1] and also backing Sunnyland Slim, Muddy Waters, Little Walter and the pianist Johnny Jones, before his most notable session, for the Parkway label in 1950.
The Parkway session
The Parkway session featured the personnel of Waters's band at that time: Foster, Waters, Little Walter and (on two tracks only, since he was late for the session) Jimmy Rogers.
Later career and death
After signing with Parkway, Foster left Waters's band,[8] possibly in the hope of a solo career resulting from the Parkway releases, but the label soon folded. Foster recorded two further sessions for J.O.B. in 1951 and 1952; only the first of these resulted in the release of a single.[9]
Foster died of a heart attack in
Influences and performing style
Foster sang in a style influenced by Sonny Boy Williamson and
Discography
- "Locked Out Boogie" / "Shady Grove Blues" (1948), Aristocrat 1234
- "My Head Can't Rest Anymore" / "Take a Little Walk with Me" (1949), J.O.B. 100
- "Boll Weevil" / "Red Headed Woman" (1950), Parkway 104
- "Rollin' and Tumblin' part 1" / "Rollin' and Tumblin' part 2" (1950), Parkway 501
- "Pet Rabbit" / "Louella" (1951) J.O.B. 1002[9]
Citations
- ^ ISBN 0-85112-673-1.
- ^ a b Dahl, Bill. "Leroy Foster: Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved June 14, 2014.
- ^ a b c d "The Legendary Parkway Label". Hubcap.clemson.edu. Retrieved July 30, 2009.
- ^ Gordon, pp. 82–83.
- ISBN 978-0-14-006223-6.
- ^ Gordon, p. 99.
- ^ Rowe, p. 75.
- ^ a b c Rowe, p. 76.
- ^ a b Leadbitter, M.; Slaven, N. (1987). Blues Records 1943–1970: A Selective Discography. London: Record Information Services, pp. 417–418.
- ^ Doc Rock. "The 50s and Earlier". TheDeadRockStarsClub.com. Retrieved June 14, 2014.
- ^ Harris, S. (1981). Blues Who's Who. New York: Da Capo Press. p. 181.
- ^ King, Chris (September 20, 2012). "Volunteers to Mark Bluesman's Grave". St. Louis American.
- ^ Rowe, p. 74.
References
- Gordon, R. (2002). Can't Be Satisfied: The Life and Times of Muddy Waters. London: Jonathan Cape.
- Rowe, M. (1981). Chicago Blues: The City and the Music. New York: Da Capo Press.