Every year at this time the world is reminded that the epicenter of the blues is in Memphis, Tennessee, with both the International Blues Challenge looming ahead and the announcement of the year’s inductees to the Blues Hall of Fame. The latter happened today, in anticipation of the induction ceremony taking place at the Cannon Center for the Performing Arts on Wednesday, May 8th.
As usual, the list is a compelling cross-section of both the brilliant past and the vital contemporary heartbeat of the blues in all its permutations. This year’s inductees include Memphis’ own soul powerhouse, O.V. Wright, who died young in 1980; pioneering blues shouter and jazz singer Jimmy Rushing, also known by one of his greatest Count Basie-backed hits, “Mr. Five By Five”; Odetta, hailed as “The Mother Goddess of Folk Blues” by The New York Times; early twentieth century guitar virtuoso, Scrapper Blackwell; small-but-mighty vocalist Sugar Pie Desanto; Chicago guitarist Lurrie Bell; and one of Chicago’s leading bluesmen, fez-wearing Lil’ Ed Williams, nephew of J.B. Hutto, who’s toured relentlessly for decades with his Blues Imperials.
On the more writerly side, author, folklorist, professor, and lecturer William R. “Bill” Ferris will be honored in the Business, Production, Media, Academic category, and the book Blues Legacies and Black Feminism: Gertrude “Ma” Rainey, Bessie Smith, and Billie Holiday by Angela Davis (Pantheon, 1998), is slated for recognition as a Classic of Blues Literature.
This year’s induction will mark an important recognition of Wright, who has not yet been recognized by the Memphis Music Hall of Fame, despite being a prolific hitmaker with Willie Mitchell on Hi Records. And many will cheer the inclusion of Odetta Holmes, a unique figure in the folk world, having been classically trained. Ultimately her repertoire spanned blues, spirituals, jazz, and songs from various folk and popular traditions, not to mention many original topical songs reflecting her commitment as a civil rights activist.
And Jimmy Rushing would be a must in any music hall of fame. Though best known for his years with the Count Basie Orchestra, the Oklahoma City native began his blues journey in California in 1923, where he played piano with Jelly Roll Morton before returning to Oklahoma. He also worked with Buck Clayton, Benny Goodman, Dizzy Gillespie, Earl “Fatha” Hines, and others through his career and was still going strong by the 1970 Monterey Jazz Festival. Yet he’ll chiefly be known for his hit records with the Basie band, starting in 1935, such as “Good Morning Blues,” “Going to Chicago,” and “Sent for You Yesterday and Here You Come Today,” which showcased his commanding vocal presence and made him a leading figure in the big band era, bringing blues to a broader audience.
The inductees include classic records as well, including the album Here’s the Man!!! by Bobby “Blue” Bland (Duke, 1962), and the singles “Driving Wheel” by Junior Parker (Duke, 1961), “I Ain’t Got You” by Billy Boy Arnold (Vee-Jay, 1955), “Key to the Highway” by Jazz Gillum (Bluebird, 1940), “Okie Dokie Stomp” by Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown (Peacock, 1954), and the stone classic “Why Don’t You Do Right?” by Lil Green (Bluebird, 1941).