Charlie Spand (May 8, 1893 – after 1958)[1] was an American blues and boogie-woogiepianist and singer, noted for his barrelhouse style. He was deemed one of the most influential piano players of the 1920s.[2] Little is known of his life outside of music, and his total recordings amount to 33 tracks.[3]
There has been speculation about Spand's place of birth. AllMusic stated that some claim he was born in Elljay, Georgia,[4] and a song he wrote, "Alabama Blues", refers to his birth in that part of the country. Various blues historians have cited Spand's songs "Levee Camp Man" and "Mississippi Blues" as evidence of connections there.[3] However, according to the researchers Bob Eagle and Eric LeBlanc, he was born in Columbus, Mississippi, in 1893.[1]
Spand was one of the boogie-woogie pianists, including William Ezell[5] and others, who performed on Brady Street and Hastings Street in Detroit, Michigan, in the 1920s. In 1929, Spand relocated to Chicago, Illinois, where he met and began performing with Blind Blake.
Spand recorded 25 songs for Paramount Records between June 1929 and September 1931. The tracks were recorded in Richmond, Indiana, Chicago, and Grafton, Wisconsin. The 1929 Richmond sessions recorded seven songs with guitar accompaniment to Spand's piano playing and singing. Most of these were directly attributed to Blake. During Spand's most notable recording, he and Blake had a small conversation during the making of "Hastings Street".[4][6] Another such duet occurred on "Moanin' the Blues".[3]
After a gap in his recording career, in June 1940 Spand recorded what were to be his final eight tracks, for Okeh Records.[4] They were made in Chicago, when Spand was backed by Little Son Joe and Big Bill Broonzy. After these recordings were made, no further reference to Spand has been found.[3] The researchers Bob Eagle and Eric LeBlanc state that the blues musician Little Brother Montgomery said, in 1958, that Spand was still living in Chicago.[1]
In 1992, Document Records issued The Complete Paramounts (1929–1931). Yazoo Records' Dreaming the Blues: The Best of Charlie Spand (2002) had enhanced sound quality, but without the chronological track order favored by Testament.[4]
charlie, spand, 1893, after, 1958, american, blues, boogie, woogie, pianist, singer, noted, barrelhouse, style, deemed, most, influential, piano, players, 1920s, little, known, life, outside, music, total, recordings, amount, tracks, born, 1893, 1893columbus, . Charlie Spand May 8 1893 after 1958 1 was an American blues and boogie woogie pianist and singer noted for his barrelhouse style He was deemed one of the most influential piano players of the 1920s 2 Little is known of his life outside of music and his total recordings amount to 33 tracks 3 Charlie SpandBorn 1893 05 08 May 8 1893Columbus Mississippi United StatesDiedAfter 1958GenresBlues boogie woogieOccupation s Pianist singer songwriterInstrument s Piano vocalsYears active1920s 1940sLabelsParamount and Okeh Contents 1 Biography 2 Discography 2 1 Selected compilation albums 3 See also 4 References 5 External linksBiography editThere has been speculation about Spand s place of birth AllMusic stated that some claim he was born in Elljay Georgia 4 and a song he wrote Alabama Blues refers to his birth in that part of the country Various blues historians have cited Spand s songs Levee Camp Man and Mississippi Blues as evidence of connections there 3 However according to the researchers Bob Eagle and Eric LeBlanc he was born in Columbus Mississippi in 1893 1 Spand was one of the boogie woogie pianists including William Ezell 5 and others who performed on Brady Street and Hastings Street in Detroit Michigan in the 1920s In 1929 Spand relocated to Chicago Illinois where he met and began performing with Blind Blake Spand recorded 25 songs for Paramount Records between June 1929 and September 1931 The tracks were recorded in Richmond Indiana Chicago and Grafton Wisconsin The 1929 Richmond sessions recorded seven songs with guitar accompaniment to Spand s piano playing and singing Most of these were directly attributed to Blake During Spand s most notable recording he and Blake had a small conversation during the making of Hastings Street 4 6 Another such duet occurred on Moanin the Blues 3 After a gap in his recording career in June 1940 Spand recorded what were to be his final eight tracks for Okeh Records 4 They were made in Chicago when Spand was backed by Little Son Joe and Big Bill Broonzy After these recordings were made no further reference to Spand has been found 3 The researchers Bob Eagle and Eric LeBlanc state that the blues musician Little Brother Montgomery said in 1958 that Spand was still living in Chicago 1 In 1992 Document Records issued The Complete Paramounts 1929 1931 Yazoo Records Dreaming the Blues The Best of Charlie Spand 2002 had enhanced sound quality but without the chronological track order favored by Testament 4 Spand s track Back to the Woods has been recorded by Kokomo Arnold Joan Crane and Rory Block Josh White recorded Spand s Good Gal 7 Discography editSelected compilation albums edit Album title Record label Year of release The Complete Paramounts 1929 1931 Document Records 1992 Dreaming the Blues The Best of Charlie Spand Yazoo Records 2002 8 See also editList of blues musicians List of boogie woogie musiciansReferences edit a b c Eagle Bob LeBlanc Eric S 2013 Blues A Regional Experience Santa Barbara California Praeger p 110 ISBN 978 0313344237 Dreaming the Blues The Best of Charlie Spand Yazoorecords com Archived from the original on 2010 11 29 Retrieved October 25 2010 a b c d Ankeny Jason Charlie Spand Biography AllMusic Retrieved October 25 2010 a b c d Charlie Spand Dreaming the Blues The Best of Charlie Spand AllMusic Retrieved October 25 2010 Oliver Paul 1997 The Story of the Blues new ed Boston Northeastern University Press p 89 ISBN 1 55553 354 X Russell Tony 1997 The Blues From Robert Johnson to Robert Cray Dubai Carlton Books p 198 ISBN 1 85868 255 X Charlie Spand Songs AllMusic Retrieved October 25 2010 Charlie Spand Discography AllMusic 2002 01 08 Retrieved 2014 01 26 External links editIllustrated Charlie Spand discography Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Charlie Spand amp oldid 1161858901, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
