Buster Pickens
Encyclopedia
Buster Pickens was an American
blues
pianist
. Pickens is best known for his work accompanying Alger "Texas" Alexander and Lightnin' Hopkins
, although he did record a solo album in 1960.
, Texas
.
In the 1930s Pickens, along with Robert Shaw
and others, was part of the "Santa Fe Circuit", named after touring musicians utilising the Santa Fe
freight trains. From that time, Pickens described people doing the slow drag
to "slow low-down dirty blues" in barrelhouse
joints.
Following service in the United States Army
in World War II
, Pickens returned to Houston, Texas. He appeared on his first disc
recording on January 13, 1948, providing backing for Perry Cain on his single
"All The Way From Texas" / "Cry Cry", released by Gold Star Records
. Further recording work followed over the next eighteen months, as he played on different sessions as part of the accompaniment to Cain, Bill Hayes, and Goree Carter
.
Pickens later recorded for Freedom Records in 1950, playing accompaniment to Alger "Texas" Alexander on the latter's final recording session. Pickens later performed live on a regular basis with Lightnin' Hopkins
, and played on several of Hopkins's album
s in the early 1960s, including Walkin' This Road By Myself (1962), Smokes Like Lightning (1963), Lightnin' and Co. (1963). Pickens had by this time also recorded his own debut solo album, Buster Pickens (1960), and appeared in the 1962 film
, The Blues.
Pickens was shot dead, following an argument in a bar
in Houston, in November 1964.
The album, recorded in Houston by Chris Strachwitz
, Mack McCormick and Paul Oliver
, comprised - "Santa Fe Train" / "Rock Island Blues" / "Ain't Nobody's Business" / "Colorado Springs Blues" / "She Caught the L & N" / "Remember Me" / "Women in Chicago" / "The Ma Grinder, No. 2" / "You Better Stop Your Woman (From Ticklin' Me Under the Chin)" / "Jim Nappy" / "Mountain Jack" / "D.B.A. Blues" / "Hattie Green" / "Backdoor Blues" / "Santa Fe Blues".
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
blues
Blues
Blues is the name given to both a musical form and a music genre that originated in African-American communities of primarily the "Deep South" of the United States at the end of the 19th century from spirituals, work songs, field hollers, shouts and chants, and rhymed simple narrative ballads...
pianist
Pianist
A pianist is a musician who plays the piano. A professional pianist can perform solo pieces, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers, solo instrumentalists, or other performers.-Choice of genres:...
. Pickens is best known for his work accompanying Alger "Texas" Alexander and Lightnin' Hopkins
Lightnin' Hopkins
Sam John Hopkins better known as Lightnin’ Hopkins, was an American country blues singer, songwriter, guitarist and occasional pianist, from Houston, Texas...
, although he did record a solo album in 1960.
Biography
He was born Edwin Goodwin Pickens in HempsteadHempstead, Texas
Hempstead is a city in Waller County, Texas, United States. The community, located at the junctions of U.S. Highway 290, Texas State Highway 6, and Texas State Highway 159, is around fifty miles northwest of Downtown Houston. The population was 4,691 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of...
, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
.
In the 1930s Pickens, along with Robert Shaw
Robert Shaw (blues musician)
Robert Shaw was an American blues and boogie-woogie pianist, best known for his 1963 album, The Ma Grinder.-Biography:Shaw was born in Stafford, Texas, the son of farm owners Jesse and Hettie Shaw...
and others, was part of the "Santa Fe Circuit", named after touring musicians utilising the Santa Fe
Santa Fe, Texas
Santa Fe is a city in Galveston County, Texas, United States. The town is named for the Santa Fe Railroad which runs through the town alongside State Highway 6.-History:...
freight trains. From that time, Pickens described people doing the slow drag
Slow drag (dance)
The Slow drag is an American social dance originally performed to ragtime music, and has been resurrected as part of blues dancing.-History:Ragtime composers, including Scott Joplin, wrote a number of slow-tempo tunes appropriate for the dance...
to "slow low-down dirty blues" in barrelhouse
Bar (establishment)
A bar is a business establishment that serves alcoholic drinks — beer, wine, liquor, and cocktails — for consumption on the premises.Bars provide stools or chairs that are placed at tables or counters for their patrons. Some bars have entertainment on a stage, such as a live band, comedians, go-go...
joints.
Following service in the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Pickens returned to Houston, Texas. He appeared on his first disc
Gramophone record
A gramophone record, commonly known as a phonograph record , vinyl record , or colloquially, a record, is an analog sound storage medium consisting of a flat disc with an inscribed, modulated spiral groove...
recording on January 13, 1948, providing backing for Perry Cain on his single
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
"All The Way From Texas" / "Cry Cry", released by Gold Star Records
Gold Star Records
Gold Star Recording Company and Gold Star Sound ServicesGold Star Recording Company originated as a recording studio in Houston, Texas, founded in October 1941 by Bill Quinn under the name Quinn Recording Company...
. Further recording work followed over the next eighteen months, as he played on different sessions as part of the accompaniment to Cain, Bill Hayes, and Goree Carter
Goree Carter
Goree Carter was an American R&B singer and guitarist, best known for his 1949 single, "Rock Awhile".-Life:Goree Carter was born in Houston, Texas...
.
Pickens later recorded for Freedom Records in 1950, playing accompaniment to Alger "Texas" Alexander on the latter's final recording session. Pickens later performed live on a regular basis with Lightnin' Hopkins
Lightnin' Hopkins
Sam John Hopkins better known as Lightnin’ Hopkins, was an American country blues singer, songwriter, guitarist and occasional pianist, from Houston, Texas...
, and played on several of Hopkins's album
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
s in the early 1960s, including Walkin' This Road By Myself (1962), Smokes Like Lightning (1963), Lightnin' and Co. (1963). Pickens had by this time also recorded his own debut solo album, Buster Pickens (1960), and appeared in the 1962 film
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
, The Blues.
Pickens was shot dead, following an argument in a bar
Bar (establishment)
A bar is a business establishment that serves alcoholic drinks — beer, wine, liquor, and cocktails — for consumption on the premises.Bars provide stools or chairs that are placed at tables or counters for their patrons. Some bars have entertainment on a stage, such as a live band, comedians, go-go...
in Houston, in November 1964.
Discography
- Buster Pickens (1960) - Heritage RecordsHeritage Records (Australia)Heritage Records was a Melbourne, Australia record label, founded in the early 1960s by Tony Standish, specialising in blues and early jazz recordings....
The album, recorded in Houston by Chris Strachwitz
Chris Strachwitz
Chris Strachwitz is a German-born American record label executive and record producer. He is the founder and president of Arhoolie Records, which he established in 1960 and which became one of the leading labels recording and issuing blues, Cajun, norteño and other forms of roots music from the...
, Mack McCormick and Paul Oliver
Paul Oliver
-Biography:Oliver was a researcher at the Oxford Institute for Sustainable Development , and from 1978-88 was Associate Head of the School of Architecture. He is an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Institute of British Architects and was awarded an Honorary Doctorate by the University of Gloucestershire...
, comprised - "Santa Fe Train" / "Rock Island Blues" / "Ain't Nobody's Business" / "Colorado Springs Blues" / "She Caught the L & N" / "Remember Me" / "Women in Chicago" / "The Ma Grinder, No. 2" / "You Better Stop Your Woman (From Ticklin' Me Under the Chin)" / "Jim Nappy" / "Mountain Jack" / "D.B.A. Blues" / "Hattie Green" / "Backdoor Blues" / "Santa Fe Blues".