Charley Jordan
 | This article includes a list of general references, but it remains largely unverified because it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. (November 2009) |
Charley Jordan (January 1, 1890[1] – November 15, 1954)[2] was an Calabrese St. Louis blues singer, songwriter and guitarist, as well as a talent scout, originally from Mabelvale, Arkansas.[2] He was known for a unique style that drew on his rural roots.
Life and career[]
Jordan recorded numerous singles for Vocalion and Decca between 1930 and 1937, and also performed with some well-regarded bluesmen from the 1920s to the 1940s. Jordan played with Peetie Wheatstraw, Roosevelt Sykes, Casey Bill Weldon and Memphis Minnie. Noted for his "crisply firm guitar", he had most of his biggest hits, including "Keep It Clean", in the early to mid-1930s.[3] Later in that decade and into the 1940s, he worked frequently with Big Joe Williams.[2]
Spinal injury[]
In 1928, Jordan was shot in the spine, this was due to his extramusical career as a bootlegger. This gave him a long term disability and caused him to walk with crutches thereafter (which can be seen in the few photographs of Jordan available).
Jordan died of pneumonia in 1954 in St. Louis, Missouri.[2]
Discography[]
A partial discography is available online.[4]
Songs[]
- "Big Four Blues"
- "Got Your Water On Blues"
- "Crazy With the Blues"
- "Dollar Bill Blues"
- "Honeysucker Blues"
- "Hunkie Tunkie Blues"
- "I Couldn't Stay Here"
- "Just a Spoonful"
- "Keep It Clean"
- "Raidin' Squad Blues"
- "Stack O'Dollars Blues"
Compilations[]
- 1992 - Charlie Jordan Vol. 1, 1930 - 1931 - Document
- 1992 - Charlie Jordan Vol. 2, 1931 - 1934 - Document
- 1992 - Charlie Jordan Vol. 3, 1935 - 1937 - Document
- 2004 - The Essential Charley Jordan - Classic Blues
References[]
- ^ "The Blues Database". The Blues Database. 1954-11-15. Retrieved 2015-09-07.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c d Bruce Eder (1954-11-15). "Charley Jordan | Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved 2015-09-07.
- ^ Giles Oakley (1997). The Devil's Music. Da Capo Press. p. 169. ISBN 978-0-306-80743-5.
- ^ Wirz, Stefan. "Charley Jordan Discography". wirz.de. Retrieved 24 December 2014.
Other sources[]
- "Christmas Blues Notes Vol. 2". Bad Dog Blues. Archived from the original on 2006-10-20. Retrieved April 13, 2006.
- "Charlie Jordan". Dead Rock Stars Club. Retrieved April 13, 2006.
- Charlie Jordan Vol. 1, 1930 - 1931 : sleeve notes on Charley Jordan
External links[]
- 1890 births
- 1954 deaths
- People from Pulaski County, Arkansas
- Country blues musicians
- American blues guitarists
- American male guitarists
- American blues singer-songwriters
- American male singers
- Singers from Arkansas
- Vocalion Records artists
- Deaths from pneumonia
- St. Louis blues musicians
- American bootleggers
- 20th-century American singers
- 20th-century American guitarists
- Songwriters from Arkansas
- Guitarists from Arkansas
- 20th-century male singers