Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
Editorials & Other Articles
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
On this day, April 10, 1928, Rosco Gordon was born.
Rosco Gordon
Background information
Birth name: Rosco N. Gordon III
Born: April 10, 1928; Memphis, Tennessee, U.S.
Died: July 11, 2002 (aged 74); Queens, New York City
Genres: Memphis blues, R&B, soul
Occupation(s): Musician, singer, songwriter
Instrument(s): Piano
Years active: 1950–2002
Rosco N. Gordon III (April 10, 1928 – July 11, 2002), sometimes billed as Roscoe Gordon, was an American blues singer, pianist, and songwriter. He is best known for his hit songs "Booted," (1952), "No More Doggin'" (1952), and "Just a Little Bit" (1960). Gordon was a pioneer of the Memphis blues style. He played piano in a style known as the "Rosco rhythm," with the emphasis on the off-beat. This rhythm was an influence on later musical styles such as Jamaican ska and reggae.
Biography
{snip}
In the late 1950s, Gordon toured internationally, reaching South America and the Caribbean, where his off-beat rhythmic technique influenced the sound of early ska and reggae.
In 1962, Gordon quit the music industry and moved to Queens, New York with his new wife, where he purchased a partnership in a laundry business after winning a poker game with a pair of deuces. In 1969, Gordon formed his own label, Bab-Roc, operated from his home, but he did not perform again until 1981. In 1983, he released the album Rosco Rocks Again, recorded live at the 100 Club in London. Following his wife's death in 1984, he returned to touring.
In 2000, Gordon teamed up with blues guitarist Duke Robillard to release the album Memphis Tennessee. In 2002, Gordon was invited by the filmmaker Richard Pearce to be included in a documentary film about several blues musicians returning to Memphis for a tribute to Sam Phillips in conjunction with the May 2002 W.C. Handy Awards. The documentary, The Road to Memphis, aired on PBS television. Six weeks after filming finished, Gordon died at the age of 74 from a heart attack at his apartment in Rego Park, Queens on July 11, 2002. He was survived by three daughters, Victoria, Deborah, and Ruby; three sons, Marrc, Rosco III, and Keith; a sister, Ella Gordon Jefferson; and 10 grandchildren. He was interred in the Rosedale Cemetery in Linden, New Jersey.
{snip}
Background information
Birth name: Rosco N. Gordon III
Born: April 10, 1928; Memphis, Tennessee, U.S.
Died: July 11, 2002 (aged 74); Queens, New York City
Genres: Memphis blues, R&B, soul
Occupation(s): Musician, singer, songwriter
Instrument(s): Piano
Years active: 1950–2002
Rosco N. Gordon III (April 10, 1928 – July 11, 2002), sometimes billed as Roscoe Gordon, was an American blues singer, pianist, and songwriter. He is best known for his hit songs "Booted," (1952), "No More Doggin'" (1952), and "Just a Little Bit" (1960). Gordon was a pioneer of the Memphis blues style. He played piano in a style known as the "Rosco rhythm," with the emphasis on the off-beat. This rhythm was an influence on later musical styles such as Jamaican ska and reggae.
Biography
{snip}
In the late 1950s, Gordon toured internationally, reaching South America and the Caribbean, where his off-beat rhythmic technique influenced the sound of early ska and reggae.
In 1962, Gordon quit the music industry and moved to Queens, New York with his new wife, where he purchased a partnership in a laundry business after winning a poker game with a pair of deuces. In 1969, Gordon formed his own label, Bab-Roc, operated from his home, but he did not perform again until 1981. In 1983, he released the album Rosco Rocks Again, recorded live at the 100 Club in London. Following his wife's death in 1984, he returned to touring.
In 2000, Gordon teamed up with blues guitarist Duke Robillard to release the album Memphis Tennessee. In 2002, Gordon was invited by the filmmaker Richard Pearce to be included in a documentary film about several blues musicians returning to Memphis for a tribute to Sam Phillips in conjunction with the May 2002 W.C. Handy Awards. The documentary, The Road to Memphis, aired on PBS television. Six weeks after filming finished, Gordon died at the age of 74 from a heart attack at his apartment in Rego Park, Queens on July 11, 2002. He was survived by three daughters, Victoria, Deborah, and Ruby; three sons, Marrc, Rosco III, and Keith; a sister, Ella Gordon Jefferson; and 10 grandchildren. He was interred in the Rosedale Cemetery in Linden, New Jersey.
{snip}
Bobby Bland
{snip}
Life and career
Early life
Bland was born Robert Calvin Brooks in the small town of Barretville, Tennessee. His father, I. J. Brooks, abandoned the family not long after Robert's birth. Robert later acquired the name "Bland" from his stepfather, Leroy Bridgeforth, who was also called Leroy Bland. Robert dropped out of school in third grade to work in the cotton fields and never graduated from school.
With his mother, Bland moved to Memphis in 1947, where he started singing with local gospel groups, including the Miniatures. Eager to expand his interests, he began frequenting the city's famous Beale Street, where he became associated with a circle of aspiring musicians, including B.B. King, Rosco Gordon, Junior Parker and Johnny Ace, who collectively were known as the Beale Streeters.
{snip}
{snip}
Life and career
Early life
Bland was born Robert Calvin Brooks in the small town of Barretville, Tennessee. His father, I. J. Brooks, abandoned the family not long after Robert's birth. Robert later acquired the name "Bland" from his stepfather, Leroy Bridgeforth, who was also called Leroy Bland. Robert dropped out of school in third grade to work in the cotton fields and never graduated from school.
With his mother, Bland moved to Memphis in 1947, where he started singing with local gospel groups, including the Miniatures. Eager to expand his interests, he began frequenting the city's famous Beale Street, where he became associated with a circle of aspiring musicians, including B.B. King, Rosco Gordon, Junior Parker and Johnny Ace, who collectively were known as the Beale Streeters.
{snip}
Rosco Gordon-Just a Little Bit (High Quality)
Carlos Rasool
6.91K subscribers
213,628 views Oct 26, 2010
Rosco Gordon
Carlos Rasool
6.91K subscribers
213,628 views Oct 26, 2010
Rosco Gordon
Rosco Gordon - Just A Little Bit (Live)
bluesandrhythm
6.5K subscribers
7,869 views May 13, 2011
Performed at a concert in Western PA, 1995
bluesandrhythm
6.5K subscribers
7,869 views May 13, 2011
Performed at a concert in Western PA, 1995
Jimmie Vaughn - Teeny Weeny Bit
rknrne
3.81K subscribers
4,454 views Jan 29, 2019
Jimmie Vaughan - Teeny Weeny Bit
Conan 2010
rknrne
3.81K subscribers
4,454 views Jan 29, 2019
Jimmie Vaughan - Teeny Weeny Bit
Conan 2010
Wed Apr 10, 2024: On this day, April 10, 1928, Rosco Gordon was born.
Mon Apr 10, 2023: On this day, April 10, 1928, Rosco Gordon was born.
Fri Jan 27, 2023: On this day, January 27, 1913, Bobby "Blue" Bland was born.