Bobby ''Blue'' Bland - Little Boy Blue The Duke Sides 1952 1959

Bobby Bland (born January 27, 1930, Rosemark, Tennessee, USA - died June 23, 2013, Germantown, Tennessee, USA) was an American blues and R&B singer. He was sometimes referred to as the "Lion of the Blues" and as the "Sinatra of the Blues". In 1947, he moved to Memphis with his mother and started singing with local gospel groups there, including amongst others The Miniatures. Eager to expand his interests, he began frequenting the city's famous Beale Street where he became associated with an ad hoc circle of aspiring musicians including , , and , who collectively took the name of the "Beale Streeters". Between 1950 and 1952, he recorded unsuccessful singles for and, at 's suggestion, for  who licensed their recordings to the label  before signing for Records. When Bland returned to Memphis in 1954 he found several of his former associates, including Johnny Ace, enjoying considerable success. He joined Ace's revue, and returned to Duke Records, which by that time had started to be run by Houston entrepreneur . Bland released his first single for Duke in 1955. In 1956 he began touring on the "chitlin' circuit" with Junior Parker in a revue called Blues Consolidated, initially doubling as Parker's valet and driver, roles he also reportedly fulfilled for B.B. King and Rosco Gordon. He began recording for Duke with bandleader and arranger , asserting his characteristic vocal style and, with Harvey and Scott, beginning to craft the melodic big band blues singles for which he became famous, often accompanied by guitarist . His first chart success came in 1957 with the R&B chart no. 1 hit "Farther Up the Road

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• soulfulkindamusic.net
• authenticblues.com
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• allmusic.com
• soulwalking.co.uk
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