Song of the day/ Bobby Blue Bland- I've Been Wrong so Long

Bobby Bland 1930-2013 The greatest blues singer period

On Sunday I got the news that The Lion of The Blues had died at the age of 83. I had just discovered his music in 2011 when he came up as a suggested artist on my Last Fm account.  I then seached the internet to find his most popular album. That album was 1961's Two Steps from the Blues. When I played the first track Two Steps from the Blues I instantly fell in love with his voice. Although he never received as much popularity his voice was equal to that of Sam Cooke, Otis Redding, Ray Charles and Jackie Wilson.On their list of 100 greatest singers Rolling Stone placed Bland at 44 behind Bono, Bob Dylan, Neil Young, George Jones, and David Bowie which shows how little they know about music. He was inducted into The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame not in the first class not the second, third, fourth, fifth or even the sixth but into the seventh class while more popular acts like The Kinks, Bob Dylan and Simon and Garfunkel who came after got in. Bland was also known for his long lasting friendship and partnership with B.B. King in which the two released several albums together. Above is one of two appearances on Soul Train. On the right is Bobby with B.B King and another good friend Buddy Guy. King once said of Bland "There's no better singer in any genre." 

I Pity the Fool who has never listened to the Lion of The Blues.

This week while trying to expose myself to more blues musicians I decided to checkout Bobby Blue Bland aka The Lion of the Blues. I had herd his name before but had not herd any of his music.  Bobby Bland was born on January 27, 1930 and at 82

he is one of the last great blues and soul musicians alive today being that most of his contemporaries Ray Charles, Etta James and Sam Cooke have since passed on. His soulful voice and bluesy style did earn him some success on the R&B charts but he did not achieve much mainstream success like those listed above. Over the years Bland has maintained a friendship with B.B. King and they have recorded two live albums together,  Together for the First Time... Live in 1974 and Bobby Bland and B. B. King Together Again...Live in 1976.