Did Clarence Lofton play Piano in Grafton in Pre War Blues Forum

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Did Clarence Lofton play Piano in Grafton

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orca343

Did Clarence Lofton play Piano in Grafton

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Deepest Blue

Posts: 362

Aug 2 12 7:50 PM

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"This was first heard in embryo as On the wall, a title he recorded in 1930 with a good blues singer, Louise Johnson."
http://weeniecampbell.com/yabbse/index.php?topic=3625.0

I have seen this before but have never seen the source or anything sited for it. /banghead.gif

Is this just a theory? Where does this idea come from? Inquiring minds want to know.

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cih

#1

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Deepest Blue

Posts: 1283

Aug 2 12 9:01 PM

Don't know the origins but Mike Rowe wrote in 1996 that the earlier belief was largely based on the similarity of material - between On The Wall and Streamline Train - both using 'Cow Cow Blues'.. but that a closer examination of Lofton's own material showed that Son House was correct about Johnson playing her own piano (not sure how that works other than to show Lofton didn't play it, but once Lofton is out of the equation there's no reason to suggest Johnson wasn't the pianist)

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waxwing

#2

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Deepest Blue

Posts: 177

Aug 2 12 11:02 PM

According to BG&R:

QUOTE

Cripple Clarence Lofton claimed [my emphasis] to be the pianist on these titles [all Louise Johnson's sides], and that they were his first recordings, while Son House maintains Louise Johnson accompanied herself on piano. The evidence of the recordings themselves tends to support the view that she is the pianist.

When you think of the voices of Patton, etc. exhorting her on during solos, it's kinda hard to imagine they were just pretending while Lofton played.

In that obituary you cited on WC it mentions an earlier obit by Erwin Helfer, who very likely would have had many conversations with Lofton and may have been the original written source of the idea.

I got to know Erwin up at PT one year and there is no greater lover of the tradition and the desire to pass it on.

Wax

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hortig78rpm

#3

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Posts: 113

Aug 12 12 2:44 PM

back in those days blues lovers like helfer did`nt know much about blues-history, and many of them coming up the "jazz-way",erwin f.e. asked doug suggs in an ínteriew, if he knew earl hines....
the louissie johnson 78 had been a collectors item since the early 4o`s and
with the solo art recording of loftons streamline train, collectors found out some simmilaries, and when lofton was asked about it, he simply said : thats me. lofton also claimed during a law suit, that he had composed the "yancey special".
and don`t forget, when this claim was made, son house was`nt discovered....

regards
mike

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orca343

#4

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Deepest Blue

Posts: 362

Aug 13 12 2:32 AM

Thanks for that update! Do you remember the source for that tidbit? I would love to read it. Thanks again!

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hortig78rpm

#5

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Posts: 113

Aug 13 12 9:07 AM

I really dont know. must have come from articles in jazz mags from the 4o`s or 5o`s. in the famous "blues unlimited" bob hall and richard noblett did some articles on piano blues, one on louisse johnson without "clarence", but I remember my first boogie LP on milestone, they had the lofton acc. in the notes.

mike

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harp dog

#6

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Deepest Blue

Posts: 300

Aug 13 12 4:30 PM

Clarence Lofton was a great piano player, I got into him via John Mayall who is a big fan of his in the 1960's Mayall played a Clarence Lofton a style tribute at is 70th birthday gig in Liverpool England a few yeasrs ago with Eric Clapton on guitar.

www.myspace.com/bluesharmonica

Also check out the website www.earlyblues.com of which I am the North East England correspondent.

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hortig78rpm

#7

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Posts: 113

Aug 14 12 5:35 AM

quite right, one of the boogie all time greats. and bear in mind, willie mabon had stolen " I dont know" from lofton without paying any credits. so, not only the whites
took the blacks music......

mike

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Did Clarence Lofton play Piano in Grafton

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