Washington was born in Indiantown, South Carolina,[1] though some sources state Durham, North Carolina. His primary nickname, "Bull City Red", came from the "Bull City" nickname for Durham, where he grew up. A partial albino, he was sometimes alternatively billed as Oh Red,[2] also the name of a popular song written by Joe McCoy and first recorded in 1936 by the Harlem Hamfats. Red and Fuller recorded their own version of the song, titled "New Oh Red!", in 1937.[3] Although he was just good enough as a guitarist to imitate Fuller, with whom he frequently played, he was a talented washboard player and also sang.[4]
Red was a street musician in Durham before becoming the sole sighted member of a band managed by the talent scout J. B. Long, which included at various times Fuller, Sonny Terry and Davis.[5][6] In 1935, then a trio featuring Red, Davis, and Fuller, the band went to New York to enter the recording studio for the first time,[6] in a session for the American Record Corporation (ARC).[7] As his collaborators were blind, Red signaled them by touch when the recording process was ready to end.[7] Accompanying Fuller along with Terry, Red recorded many songs for ARC's Perfect label between 1935 and Fuller's death during surgery in 1941.[4][8]
Red also recorded songs based on gospel music with Fuller, Terry, and Sonny Jones, under the name of Brother George and His Sanctified Singers.[4] He recorded "I Saw the Light" with guitar backing by Davis.[6] On Fuller's latterday compilation album, Get Your Yas Yas Out, Red played the washboard on "Jitterbug Rag".[5] Between 1935 and 1939, he struck out on his own as well, recording solo with his own vocals, guitar and washboard.[4] His tracks included "Black Woman and Poison Blues" and "I Won't Be Dogged Around".[9]
In 1941, Red became involved with another band. In late 1940, he had introduced Brownie McGhee and his collaborator Jordan Webb to his manager, John Baxter Long, and also to Fuller and Terry. After Fuller's death, the group came together along with another washboard player, Robert Young, to record.[4]
^"Original versions of New Oh Red! by Blind Boy Fuller | SecondHandSongs". Secondhandsongs.com. Retrieved 2020-07-30.
^ abcdeEder, Bruce. "Bull City Red: Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved December 26, 2009.
^ abRussell, Tony (1997). The Blues: From Robert Johnson to Robert Cray. Dubai: Carlton Books. p. 203. ISBN1-85868-255-X.
^ abcYoung, Alan (1997). Woke Me Up This Morning: Black Gospel Singers and the Gospel Life. American Made Music Series. University Press of Mississippi. p. 11. ISBN0-87805-944-X.
^ abDavis, Gary; Stefan Grossman (1993). Stefan Grossman's Early Masters of American Blues Guitar: Rev. Gary Davis. Alfred Publishing. p. 4. ISBN0-7390-4329-3.
^Anderson, Jean Bradley (1990). Durham County: A History of Durham County, North Carolina. Duke University Press. p. 375. ISBN0-8223-1056-2.
^"Magpie Records Discography". Wirz.de. Retrieved January 25, 2014.
Discography and biography of Bull City Red and others
December 15, 2023
bull, city, born, george, washington, february, 1917, october, 1958, american, piedmont, blues, guitarist, singer, predominantly, washboard, player, most, closely, associated, with, blind, fuller, reverend, gary, davis, little, known, life, outside, recording,. Bull City Red born George Washington February 19 1917 October 1958 1 was an American Piedmont blues guitarist singer and predominantly washboard player most closely associated with Blind Boy Fuller and the Reverend Gary Davis Little is known of his life outside of his recording career Bull City RedBirth nameGeorge WashingtonAlso known asOh RedBorn 1917 02 19 February 19 1917Indiantown South Carolina orDurham North Carolina United StatesDiedOctober 1958 age 41 GenresPiedmont blues East Coast blues country blues gospelOccupation s Singer guitarist washboard playerInstrument s Vocals guitar washboardYears activeEarly 1930s early 1940sLabelsVocalion Contents 1 Biography 2 See also 3 References 4 External linksBiography editWashington was born in Indiantown South Carolina 1 though some sources state Durham North Carolina His primary nickname Bull City Red came from the Bull City nickname for Durham where he grew up A partial albino he was sometimes alternatively billed as Oh Red 2 also the name of a popular song written by Joe McCoy and first recorded in 1936 by the Harlem Hamfats Red and Fuller recorded their own version of the song titled New Oh Red in 1937 3 Although he was just good enough as a guitarist to imitate Fuller with whom he frequently played he was a talented washboard player and also sang 4 Red was a street musician in Durham before becoming the sole sighted member of a band managed by the talent scout J B Long which included at various times Fuller Sonny Terry and Davis 5 6 In 1935 then a trio featuring Red Davis and Fuller the band went to New York to enter the recording studio for the first time 6 in a session for the American Record Corporation ARC 7 As his collaborators were blind Red signaled them by touch when the recording process was ready to end 7 Accompanying Fuller along with Terry Red recorded many songs for ARC s Perfect label between 1935 and Fuller s death during surgery in 1941 4 8 Red also recorded songs based on gospel music with Fuller Terry and Sonny Jones under the name of Brother George and His Sanctified Singers 4 He recorded I Saw the Light with guitar backing by Davis 6 On Fuller s latterday compilation album Get Your Yas Yas Out Red played the washboard on Jitterbug Rag 5 Between 1935 and 1939 he struck out on his own as well recording solo with his own vocals guitar and washboard 4 His tracks included Black Woman and Poison Blues and I Won t Be Dogged Around 9 In 1941 Red became involved with another band In late 1940 he had introduced Brownie McGhee and his collaborator Jordan Webb to his manager John Baxter Long and also to Fuller and Terry After Fuller s death the group came together along with another washboard player Robert Young to record 4 Red died in 1958 at an unknown location 1 See also editList of East Coast blues musiciansReferences edit a b c Eagle Bob LeBlanc Eric S 2013 Blues A Regional Experience Santa Barbara California Praeger p 336 ISBN 978 0313344237 Bull City Red Discogs Retrieved 2020 07 30 Original versions of New Oh Red by Blind Boy Fuller SecondHandSongs Secondhandsongs com Retrieved 2020 07 30 a b c d e Eder Bruce Bull City Red Biography AllMusic Retrieved December 26 2009 a b Russell Tony 1997 The Blues From Robert Johnson to Robert Cray Dubai Carlton Books p 203 ISBN 1 85868 255 X a b c Young Alan 1997 Woke Me Up This Morning Black Gospel Singers and the Gospel Life American Made Music Series University Press of Mississippi p 11 ISBN 0 87805 944 X a b Davis Gary Stefan Grossman 1993 Stefan Grossman s Early Masters of American Blues Guitar Rev Gary Davis Alfred Publishing p 4 ISBN 0 7390 4329 3 Anderson Jean Bradley 1990 Durham County A History of Durham County North Carolina Duke University Press p 375 ISBN 0 8223 1056 2 Magpie Records Discography Wirz de Retrieved January 25 2014 External links editBiography at Allmusic Discography and biography of Bull City Red and others Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Bull City Red amp oldid 1094507435, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
