Little Arthur Duncan (February 5, 1934 – August 20, 2008) was an AmericanChicago blues and electric blues harmonica player, singer, and songwriter. He was a member of the Backscratchers and over his career was associated with Earl Hooker, Twist Turner, Illinois Slim and Rick Kreher.[3]
Duncan was born in Indianola, Mississippi.[2] His first instrument was the drums.[4] In 1950, aged 16, he moved to Chicago, Illinois, and became acquainted with Little Walter, who helped him to learn the rudiments of harmonica playing, and Jimmy Reed. He found work playing the harmonica accompanying Earl Hooker, John Brim and Floyd Jones.[2][4] Billed and henceforth commonly known as Little Arthur Duncan, he played primarily in and around Chicago and built up a local reputation over the years. He performed with his own band in the Backscratcher's Social Club, which he owned.[2] He worked in construction during the 1960s and 1970s, so was limited to playing and singing in the evenings.[4]
In 1989, Duncan recorded the album Bad Reputation, which was released on the Blues King label.[2][4] He later appeared on a compilation album, Blues Across America: The Chicago Scene, with Emery Williams Jr. and Robert Plunkett. In 1999, Duncan recorded for Delmark Records, which released the album Singin' with the Sun that year.[2] On the album he was accompanied by the guitar players Billy Flynn and Eddie Taylor Jr.[5]Live in Chicago followed in 2000.[1]
His final recording was Live at Rosa's Blues Lounge, a live album recorded in Chicago in August 2007. One music journalist noted that "spirited, gritty performances of Reed's "Pretty Thing," Wolf's "No Place to Go," and two Dixon favorites ("Young Fashioned Ways" and "Little Red Rooster") leave no doubt that Duncan lives and breathes electric Chicago blues."[6] However, a subsequent lengthy illness and hospitalization prevented Duncan from building on this success.[1]
Duncan died in Northlake, Illinois, in August 2008, of complications following brain surgery, at the age of 74.[3]
^ abcGordon, Keith A. (August 25, 2008). "Blues Artist Little Arthur Duncan, R.I.P." Blues.about.com. Retrieved December 16, 2011.
^ abcdefAnkeny, Jason. "Little Arthur Duncan". Allmusic.com. Retrieved August 16, 2015.
^ abDoc Rock. "2008 July to December". The Dead Rock Stars Club. Retrieved 2015-10-06.
^ abcdHanson, Karen (2007). Today's Chicago Blues. Chicago: Lake Claremont Press. p. 146. ISBN978-1-893121-19-5.
^"Little Arthur Duncan, Singin' with the Sun: Credits". Allmusic.com. Retrieved December 16, 2011.
^"Little Arthur Duncan, Live at Rosa's Blues Lounge: Review". AllMusic.com. Retrieved December 16, 2011.
^"Little Arthur Duncan | Album Discography". AllMusic. 2008-08-20. Retrieved 2015-10-06.
^"Blues Across America: The Chicago Scene > Overview". AllMusic. Retrieved December 16, 2011.
^"Harmonica Blues Orgy > Overview". AllMusic. Retrieved December 16, 2011.
External linksedit
January 01, 1970
little, arthur, duncan, february, 1934, august, 2008, american, chicago, blues, electric, blues, harmonica, player, singer, songwriter, member, backscratchers, over, career, associated, with, earl, hooker, twist, turner, illinois, slim, rick, kreher, birth, na. Little Arthur Duncan February 5 1934 August 20 2008 was an American Chicago blues and electric blues harmonica player singer and songwriter He was a member of the Backscratchers and over his career was associated with Earl Hooker Twist Turner Illinois Slim and Rick Kreher 3 Little Arthur DuncanBirth nameArthur Duncan 1 Born 1934 02 05 February 5 1934Indianola Mississippi United StatesDiedAugust 20 2008 2008 08 20 aged 74 Northlake Illinois United StatesGenresChicago blues electric blues 2 Occupation s Harmonicist singer songwriterInstrument s Harmonica vocalsYears active1950 2008LabelsBlues King Delmark Random Chance Contents 1 Life 2 Discography 2 1 Albums 2 2 Compilation albums 3 See also 4 References 5 External linksLife editDuncan was born in Indianola Mississippi 2 His first instrument was the drums 4 In 1950 aged 16 he moved to Chicago Illinois and became acquainted with Little Walter who helped him to learn the rudiments of harmonica playing and Jimmy Reed He found work playing the harmonica accompanying Earl Hooker John Brim and Floyd Jones 2 4 Billed and henceforth commonly known as Little Arthur Duncan he played primarily in and around Chicago and built up a local reputation over the years He performed with his own band in the Backscratcher s Social Club which he owned 2 He worked in construction during the 1960s and 1970s so was limited to playing and singing in the evenings 4 In 1989 Duncan recorded the album Bad Reputation which was released on the Blues King label 2 4 He later appeared on a compilation album Blues Across America The Chicago Scene with Emery Williams Jr and Robert Plunkett In 1999 Duncan recorded for Delmark Records which released the album Singin with the Sun that year 2 On the album he was accompanied by the guitar players Billy Flynn and Eddie Taylor Jr 5 Live in Chicago followed in 2000 1 His final recording was Live at Rosa s Blues Lounge a live album recorded in Chicago in August 2007 One music journalist noted that spirited gritty performances of Reed s Pretty Thing Wolf s No Place to Go and two Dixon favorites Young Fashioned Ways and Little Red Rooster leave no doubt that Duncan lives and breathes electric Chicago blues 6 However a subsequent lengthy illness and hospitalization prevented Duncan from building on this success 1 Duncan died in Northlake Illinois in August 2008 of complications following brain surgery at the age of 74 3 Discography editAlbums edit Year Title Record label 1989 Bad Reputation Blues King Records 1999 Singin with the Sun Delmark Records 2000 Live in Chicago Random Chance Records 2007 Live at Rosa s Blues Lounge Delmark Records 7 Compilation albums edit Year Title Record label Notes 1998 Blues Across America The Chicago Scene Cannonball Records with Duncan Detroit Junior Mark Hummel and Robert Plunkett 2002 Harmonica Blues Orgy Delmark Records with Duncan Willie Big Eyes Smith Martin Lang and Easy Baby 8 9 See also editList of Chicago blues musicians List of electric blues musicians List of harmonica blues musiciansReferences edit a b c Gordon Keith A August 25 2008 Blues Artist Little Arthur Duncan R I P Blues about com Retrieved December 16 2011 a b c d e f Ankeny Jason Little Arthur Duncan Allmusic com Retrieved August 16 2015 a b Doc Rock 2008 July to December The Dead Rock Stars Club Retrieved 2015 10 06 a b c d Hanson Karen 2007 Today s Chicago Blues Chicago Lake Claremont Press p 146 ISBN 978 1 893121 19 5 Little Arthur Duncan Singin with the Sun Credits Allmusic com Retrieved December 16 2011 Little Arthur Duncan Live at Rosa s Blues Lounge Review AllMusic com Retrieved December 16 2011 Little Arthur Duncan Album Discography AllMusic 2008 08 20 Retrieved 2015 10 06 Blues Across America The Chicago Scene gt Overview AllMusic Retrieved December 16 2011 Harmonica Blues Orgy gt Overview AllMusic Retrieved December 16 2011 External links editMini biography at Centerstage net Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Little Arthur Duncan amp oldid 1204822954, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
