Artist:Bobby "Blue" Bland
Song:Ain't That Lovin' You
Album:The Anthology
Bobby "Blue" Bland is one of the all time blues greats known for his smooth singing style. His career spanned from the 50s to the 90s. The 1962 single Ain't That Lovin' You was one of several top ten R&B hits though it wasn't his biggest hit. I chose it because I have a live video clip. He was born Robert Calvin Brooks Jan. 27, 1930 in Barretville, TN. The name Bland is from his stepfather. Bland dropped out of school in third grade to work in the cotton fields. When he moved with his mother to Memphis in 1947, Bland sang in gospel groups and hung out on Beale Street with guys like B.B. King and Junior Parker. They were collectively known as The Beale Streeters. Ike Turner spotted Bland and recorded him in 1951. Bland recorded for Modern, Sun and Duke. Then he was in the US Army for two years. When he returned to Memphis in 1954, Bland signed with Duke Records' new owner Don Robey who ripped him off for years. He went on tour with Junior Parker and was also his valet. Bland's early recordings were big band recordings produced and arranged by Bill Harvey and Joe Scott. Bland's vocal style was heavily influenced by Nat King Cole. His first #1 R&B hit was Farther Up the Road in 1957 and a string of hits followed including I'll Take Care of You (1959), I Pity the Fool (1961) and Turn On Your Love Light (1961). Ain't That Lovin' You is from the 1962 album Here's the Man! which was Bland's first album on Duke. It reached #9 on the R&B Singles chart. The song is credited to Deadric Malone which is a Don Robey alias. This album also includes Bland's cover of the T-Bone Walker song Stormy Monday Blues which is considered to be Bland's signature song. After Duke was sold to ABC Records in 1971, Bland recorded several highly acclaimed albums produced by guys like Michael Omartian and Steve Barri. He also recorded two great live albums with B.B. King. When ABC was sold to MCA Records in 1978, Bland remained with them until 1984. This 2CD comp covers mostly the Duke years. Bland signed with Malaco Records in 1985 and continued to record and tour until his death on June 23, 2013 at age 83. Bland was inducted into The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1992. Here's Bobby "Blue" Bland performing Ain't That Lovin' You in the 70s.
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