Louisiana Jukebox Cafe

It was 71 years ago today (June 11, 1955) that Fats Domino’s “Ain’t That A Shame” became his first song to reach the No. 1 spot on the Billboard R&B Chart.
Recorded three months earlier on March 15th in Masters Recorders Studios in Hollywood, California, it was released on the ‘Imperial’ label a month later on April 14.
The song was co-written by New Orleans-native Antoine “Fats” Domino and Edgard native Dave Bartholomew, who worked as a writer and producer for many Crescent City musicians.
The record, which also peaked at No. 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 Pop Chart, ended up with more than a million copies sold.
The song also appeared on Domino’s debut album, “Rockin’ and Rollin’ With Fats Domino.”� Both the song and Domino received even more attention after it was covered and released just shortly after Domino’s release by pop artist Pat Boone. His version went to No. 1 on the Billboard Pop Chart and remained there for two weeks.
Domino used to love to tell the story of when he invited Boone on stage, showed a big gold ring on his finger, and said, "Pat Boone bought me this ring!”
Since Domino and Bartholomew, were the songwriters, they received royalties on it from record sales of Boone’s cover.
The song was even covered by the rock group ‘Cheap Trick’ in 1979. Their version peaked at No. 35 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Fats passed away on October 24, 2017, at the age of 89

Happy “Heavenly” Birthday to the “Sweetheart of the Blues,” vocalist Bonnie Lee.’
Born Jessie Lee Frealls on June 11, 1931 in Bunkie, the family moved to Beaumont, Texas, where she was raised.
Taught by her mother, she learned to play the piano as a child.
Although she quickly became an accomplished pianist, her mother didn’t allow her to tour with the gospel singer Lillian Glenn, but later on, she did tour with the ‘Famous Georgia Minstrels’ show.
It was with them that she met fellow Southwest Texas country-blues musician Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown, as well as “Big Mama” Thornton.
At the age of 27 in 1958, she moved to Chicago and adopted the stage name of “Bonnie Lee.” She worked as both a singer and a dancer.
In 1960, she signed a recording contract with ‘Ebony Records.’ Record producer J. Mayo Williams billed her as Bonnie “Bombshell’ Lee. Her first single was “My Rock ’N Roll Man.”
Ebony also released “Fast Life” and “My Man’s Coming Home.”
When those 45 rpm singles were not a success, she returned to singing in jazz and blues nightclubs in Chicago. At that time, she was known as Bonnie Lee Murray, using the last name of her husband at that time.
“Sad and Evil Woman”/“Standing On The Corner” was released on ‘Sunnyland Slim’s’ Airway Records label in 1973.
Seven years later, in 1967, she hooked up with Mississippi Delta-born blues pianist ‘Sunnyland Slim” (Albert Luandrew).
Their musical relationship lasted for nearly a decade.
In the late 1970’s, she not only returned to recording, this time continuing with ‘Airways Records,” but found a new nightclub partner in Chicago bassist, singer, and songwriter Willie Kent and his band ‘The Gents.’ They were regulars at ‘B.L.U.E.S.,’ a famous blues club in the Windy City.
Bonnie Lee’s had a number of popular songs, such as “I’m Good” and “Need Your Love So Bad.”
In the early 1980’s, she was touring Europe with Mississippi born Zora Young, who was a distant cousin of ‘Howlin’ Wolf’ and another former Mississippian, Big Time Sarah. They also recorded an album in Paris entitled “Blues With The Girls.”
In 1992, she appeared on Magic Slim’s album, “44 Blues,” which also included John Primer.
In 1995, Bonnie Lee released her own album, “Sweetheart of the Blues,” and then in 1998, released another LP, “I’m Good.”
She passed away on September 7, 2006 at the age of 75.

Happy “Heavenly” Birthday to Chester Arthur Burnett, better known as the legendary bluesman, "Howlin' Wolf."
Born with Choctaw Indian ancestry, on June 10, 1910, in White Station, Mississippi (northeast side of the state in Clay County), Burnett was named after the 21st President of the United States, Chester Alan Arthur.
He eventually brought his “Delta blues” north to Chicago and recorded on the Chess label.
Burnett however, first served in the military during WWII and then in 1951, was discovered by talent scout, Ike Turner, whose own fame came when he hooked up with wife Tina Turner. Turner whispered into the ear of Sam Phillips at the Memphis Recording Service (later renamed Sun Records) and Wolf recorded his first singles, “Moanin’ at Midnight” and “How Many More Years.” They was released on Chess Records.
During the 1950’s, Wolf had five songs on the Billboard “R&B Charts.”
In 1959, Howlin’ Wolf returned to the South as a part of a show at New Orleans’ own ‘Dave Brown’s Blue Eagle Club.’
In 1970 Howlin’ Wolf graced the cover of the first-ever edition of ‘Living Blues Magazine.’
The current New Orleans club, “Howlin’ Wolf’ on St. Peters Street in the Warehouse District, was named after the famous bluesman, however the original location when it opened in 1988 was in “Fat City” in Metairie.
Howlin’ Wolf’s last album was released in 1973 and his last public appearance came 1975, before he passed away just outside of Chicago in Hines, Illinois on January 10, 1976 at the age of 65.

Happy “Heavenly” Birthday to the. Very talented, multi-instrument brass band Jazz musician, “C***k Martin.”
Born Martin Abraham on June 10, 1886 in New Orleans, he could play both standup bass and guitar, but settled on the tuba, where he performed and recorded for some five decades.
Martin worked with Papa Jack Laine's Reliance Brass Band, beginning around 1910, followed by the likes of New Orleans Rhythm Kings, Halfway House Orchestra, The New Orleans Harmony Kings, New Orleans Swing Kings, Sharkey Bonano, Santo Pecora, Jack Delaney and His New Orleans Jazz Babies, Johnny Bayersdorfler and His Jazzola Novelty Orchestra, Leon Prima and His New Orleans Jazz Band, Monk Hazel and His New Orleans Jazz Kings and the legendary Pete Fountain and Al Hirt to name a few.
In 1923, Martin traveled to Chicago and performed alongside the New Orleans Rhythm Kings, with whom he recorded his first records in 1928.
Martin also recorded guitar duets with Leon Rappolo, but the recordings, unfortunately, were never released.
He returned to New Orleans with the Rhythm Kings in 1925, and returned to the studio with them.
Martin also played with the Halfway House Orchestra (with which he recorded on both tuba and string bass), the New Orleans Harmony Kings, and the New Orleans Swing Kings.
In the 1930s, Martin worked as a staff musician at WSMB 1350 AM in New Orleans.
Martin continued to play tuba for his entire career, though he also played and recorded on the double bass. from at least the 1920s onward.
C***k Martin finally released one album under his own name in 1963 on the ‘Southland Records’ label.
Martin passed away on January 7, 1981, in his hometown of New Orleans. He’s buried in the Greenwood Cemetery.
His son, Martin “Little C***k” Abraham, continued in his footsteps as a jazz bassist.

Happy “Heavenly” Birthday to Baton Rouge-born blues harmonica player and singer Cleveland White…..better known to the world as “Schoolboy Cleve.”
White was born on June 10, 1925 and after getting his first harmonica at age 12, lessons followed, but not just anyone, but from the legendary Sonny Boy Williamson.
It wasn’t that much later that Schoolboy Cleve was performing professionally.
A WWII Army veteran, Private White returned home and worked a day job to support his family, while moonlighting at night playing the blues.
Cleve recorded his first record at J.D. “Jay” Miller’s recording studio in Crowley in 1954. The finished product appeared on Miller’s ‘Feature’ label.
Otis Hicks….better known as “Lightning Slim” back him up on guitar, while Schoolboy Cleve returned the favor by playing on some of Slim’s releases.
Cleve’s biggest song was “She’s Gone,” which was also covered by Lightning Slim.
Cleve also encouraged his friend James Moore to pursue his musical dreams….Moore became better known as the legendary “Slim Harpo.”
Cleve also worked with Muddy Waters, Buddy Guy and Sonny Boy Williamson and recorded one record in 1963 on the Opelousa-based Reynaud label (before it relocated to Texas City, Texas.”
He also had another 45 rpm release on Johnny Vincent’s Jackson, Mississippi-based ‘Ace Records’ with “My Baby’s Done Gone” & “Beautiful, Beautiful Love.”
Later in the 1960’s, Cleve moved to California and released three records on three different labels between 1972 and 1976.
A compilation of his works was released in 2006.
Schoolboy Cleve passed away at the Seton Medical Center in Daly City, California, on February 5, 2008. He was 82.

Happy “Heavenly” Birthday to Jazz trumpeter Ernest “Punch” Miller.
Born June 10, 1894 in the unincorporated community of Raceland in Lafourche Parish, he rose to prominence in New Orleans between 1919 and 1927.
Miller then moved to Chicago, where he performed with numerous bands, including one that was headed up by Jelly Roll Morton. He appeared on some 44 recordings in just three years.
While in the ‘Windy City,’ he was a part of ‘Jimmy Bertrand’s Washboard Wizards’ (1926-29), “Tiny” Partham and His Musicians (1929), ‘EC. Cobb and His Corn-Eaters (1929), ‘Frankie Franko & His Louisianians’ (early 1930’s), when he went by “Kid Punch” and sang vocals with ’Big Bill And His Chicago Five’ (early 1940’s),
Miller returned to New Orleans in 1956, where he began to work and tour with George Lewis and the Preservation Hall Jazz Band.
Punch also formed “Punch Miller’s Bunch,” which also included drummer Abby Foster, banjo and guitarist Emanuel Sayles, trombonist Louis Nelson, along with double bassist Papa John Joseph.
His other groups were 'Punch Miller and His Orchestra,’ ‘Punch Miller Jazzband,’ ‘Punch Miller’s New Orleans Band,’ ‘Punch Miller Stompers,’ ‘Punch and His Boys,’ and way back in the 1930’s, ’Punches Delegates of Pleasure.’
Miller passed away on December 2, 1971, in New Orleans at the age of 77.
He was the subject of the 1971 documentary, “’Til The Butcher Cuts Him Down.”