Amos Milburn | |
|---|---|
 Milburnc. 1955 | |
| Background information | |
| Born | (1927-04-01)April 1, 1927 Houston, Texas, U.S. |
| Died | January 3, 1980(1980-01-03) (aged 52) Houston, Texas, U.S. |
| Genres | Rhythm and blues,boogie-woogie,jump blues[1] Urban Blues |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, pianist |
| Instruments |
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| Years active | 1946–1972 |
| Labels | Aladdin |
Joseph Amos Milburn (April 1, 1927 – January 3, 1980) was an AmericanR&B singer and pianist,[1] popular in the 1940s and 1950s. One commentator noted, "Milburn excelled at good-natured, upbeat romps about booze and partying, imbued with a vibrant sense of humour and double entendre, as well as vivid, down-home imagery in his lyrics."[1]
Milburn was born inHouston, one of 13 children. By the age of five, he was playing tunes on the piano. He enlisted in theUnited States Navy when he was aged 15. He returned to Houston and organized a 16-piece band playing inclubs in the city. He was managed by William and Geneva Church.
Milburn was a polished pianist and performer and, in 1946, attracted the attention of a woman who arranged arecording session withAladdin Records in Los Angeles. Milburn's relationship with Aladdin lasted eight years, during which he recorded more than 75sides. This included his cover version of "Down the Road a Piece" (1946), ablues song with a Texas boogie, that is similar in many respects to rock music.[2] However, none of his recordings were popular until 1949, when seven of hissingles got the attention of theR&B audience. "Hold Me Baby" and "Chicken Shack Boogie" reached numbers eight and nine onBillboard's survey of 1949's R&Bbest-sellers.[3]
He became one of the main performers associated with theCentral Avenue music scene in Los Angeles. He was also a popular touring artist. He won awards fromDown Beat magazine (Best Blues and Jazz Star) andBillboard magazine (Top R&B Artist).[4] Among his best-known songs was "One Scotch, One Bourbon, One Beer". In 1950 his recording ofMaxwell Davis' "Bad, Bad Whiskey", reached the top of the R&Brecord chart. It was the first of a series of drinking songs he recorded (none written by Milburn, but several composed byRudy Toombs). However, there is no evidence that he had an alcohol problem.[5]
Milburn recorded several more drinking songs through 1952 ("Thinking and Drinking", "Trouble in Mind") and was by then touring the country playing clubs. While touring theMidwest that summer, he announced that he would disband hiscombo and continue as a solo act. In autumn he joinedCharles Brown for aconcert tour of theSouth. For the next few years each of his tours was a series of one-nighters. After three years of solo performing, Milburn returned to Houston in 1956 to re-form his band. His releases for Aladdin Records in 1957 did not sell well, and the record company, having its own problems, terminated his contract. He tried to regain commercial success with a few more releases forAce Records, but his time had passed.Radio airplay was directed at the teenage market.[6]
Milburn contributed two songs to the R&B Yuletide canon: "Let's Make Christmas Merry, Baby", in 1949, for Aladdin Records, and "Christmas (Comes but Once a Year)", in 1960, forKing Records. The latter was theB-side of Brown's holiday classic "Please Come Home for Christmas".[4][7]
Milburn's finalrecording was for an album byJohnny Otis in 1977, after Milburn had been impaired by a stroke. Otis played the left-hand piano parts for his enfeebled old friend.[5] Milburn had a second stroke, which caused circulatory problems resulting in theamputation of a leg. He died soon after, of a third stroke, at the age of 52.[7] He was interred as Amos Milburn Jr. atHouston National Cemetery on January 7, 1980.[8]
Another artist performing and recording as Amos Milburn Jr. in Texas in the 1960s was a different and unrelated person (James Thomas Russ Jr.).[9][10]
Milburn was an important performer of blues music in the years immediately afterWorld War II.[11]He was one of the first performers to switch from sophisticated jazz arrangements to the louderjump blues style. He began to emphasize rhythm and technical qualities of voice and instrumentation second.[12]He was a commercial success for 11 years and influenced many performers. His energetic songs about getting "high" were admired by fellow musicians, such asLittle Willie Littlefield,Floyd Dixon and Milburn's prime disciple,Fats Domino.[5] Domino consistently credited Milburn as an influence on his music.[6]
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