Song:On The Hill
Album:St. Louis Breakdown: The Best Of Oliver Sain
Sax player Oliver Sain recorded as a leader in the 70s. But he was a very important figure in the development of St. Louis R&B mostly as a producer. And he had a good eye for talent. Solomon Burke called Sain the Quincy Jones of St. Louis. Sain was born Mar. 1, 1932 in Dundee, MS. His grandfather was the guitarist in delta blues pioneers The Beale Street Sheiks. Sain moved to Greenville, MS in 1949 to play drums in Sonny Boy Williamson's band. Sain's stepfather Willie Love was the guitarist. Sain also played with Howlin' Wolf, Claude Jones and Clarence Hines. After a US Army stint in Korea, Sain reunited with Love backing up Little Milton. This is when Sain, influenced by Charlie Parker, started playing the sax. Sain moved to Chicago in 1955 to reunite with Howlin' Wolf. He became a member of the Chess Records house band. In 1959, Sain went to St. Louis for a gig with Little Milton. Sain stayed in St. Louis permanently and became Milton's musical director. Sain hired Fontella Bass to play piano and he discovered her singing talent. When he left Milton's band in 1964, he started the Oliver Sain Soul Revue with lead singers Fontella Bass and Bobby McClure. And of course Fontella went on to a great solo career. Sain opened his own recording studio in St. Louis in 1965. And he produced all kinds of artists there. On The Hill is from Sain's 1972 solo debut album Main Man. This and some of his other songs like Bus Stop are frequently sampled by hip hop guys. He only recorded three albums and in the 80s he returned to producing new acts at his recording studio. Oliver Sain died from bone cancer on Oct. 28, 2003 at age 71. This comp of Sain's 70s recordings was released by Excello in 1996. It was reissued by Sain's estate as a digital download in 2009. Check it out if you like soulful sax. Here's a video for On The Hill by Oliver Sain.
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