Artist:Alexis KornerSong:Rain Is Such A Lonesome Sound
Album:Kornerstoned: The Anthology 1954-1983
Though Alexis Korner was never a commercially successful recording artist and is unknown in North America, he is revered by British rock musicians as The Father Of British Blues. He was born on Apr. 19, 1928 in Paris and moved to London with his family at age 12. He got interested in the blues and joined Chris Barber's band in 1949 and became part of Ken Colyer's band when the two merged. Korner met guitarist and harmonica player Cyril Davies and they started playing London clubs. They started their own club and brought over blues musicians from the US. Korner & Davies formed Blues Incorporated in 1962 with Ken Scott on piano and Dick Heckstall-Smith on sax along with a rotating band of guests. This version of the Jimmy Witherspoon song Rain Is Such A Lonesome Sound is from the 1962 album R & B From The Marquee featuring lead vocals by Long John Baldry. Many British musicians have been influenced by this album and they all jammed with Korner. Davies left in 1963 when Korner added horns and the British Invasion of much younger groups killed any chance Korner had of commercial success. He continued to record and guested with groups like the Rolling Stones until his death on Jan. 1, 1984 at age 55. This 2CD comp covers his entire career. Here's Alexis Korner with the Rolling Stones at the Marquee Club in London 1983. It's typical of the appearances he made late in his life.
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