Calvin Newborn
Encyclopedia
Calvin Newborn is an American
jazz
guitarist.
.
The group was the house band
in West Memphis, Arkansas
, from 1947 until 1951 at the Plantation Inn Club. The group recorded as B. B. King
's band on his first recordings in 1949, and also the Sun Records
sessions in 1950.
On the 1950 recording of "B. B.'s Boogie", recorded at the Sun Studios, it was Newborn playing the lead guitar. Newborn also gave guitars lessons to Howlin' Wolf
and is credited as being an influence on Elvis Presley
, who frequented the Plantation Inn Club to watch Newborn.
The group left West Memphis in 1951 to tour with Jackie Brenston
as the "Delta Cats" in support of the record "Rocket 88
". It was considered by many to be the first rock and roll record ever recorded, and was the first Billboard
number one record for Chess Records
.
Following this he played with Earl Hines
starting in 1959. In the early 1960s, he toured with Lionel Hampton
, Jimmy Forrest
, Wild Bill Davis
, Al Grey
, and Freddie Roach
. Since the 1970s Newborn has remained mostly in Memphis, Tennessee
, where he played regularly in local clubs well into the 1990s. His 1980 album Centerpiece hit #35 on the U.S. Billboard
jazz albums chart, but much of his earlier material was not reissued on CD until 2005.
With Freddie Roach
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
guitarist.
Career
He is the brother of pianist Phineas Newborn Jr. (1931–89), with whom he recorded between 1953 and 1958. They also formed an R&B band, with their father Phineas Newborn Sr. on drums and Tuff Green on bass. The group also included Willie Mitchell and Ben BranchBen Branch
Ben F. Branch was an American entrepreneur, jazz tenor saxophonist, and bandleader.Although possibly better known as being one of the last people Martin Luther King Jr spoke to moments before his assassination in 1968, Branch had been a leading bandleader for many years.-Musical career:With his...
.
The group was the house band
House band
For the British band that existed from 1984-2001, see The House BandA house band is a group of musicians, often centrally organized by a band leader, who regularly play an establishment. It is widely used to refer both to the bands who work on entertainment programs on television or radio, and to...
in West Memphis, Arkansas
West Memphis, Arkansas
West Memphis is the largest city in Crittenden County, Arkansas, United States. The population was 27,666 at the 2000 census, with an estimated population of 28,181 in 2005, and 31,329 in 2011 ranking it as the state's 11th largest city, behind Hot Springs...
, from 1947 until 1951 at the Plantation Inn Club. The group recorded as B. B. King
B. B. King
Riley B. King , known by the stage name B.B. King, is an American blues guitarist and singer-songwriter.Rolling Stone magazine ranked him at No.3 on its list of the 100 greatest guitarists of all time. According to Edward M...
's band on his first recordings in 1949, and also the Sun Records
Sun Records
Sun Records is a record label founded in Memphis, Tennessee, starting operations on March 27, 1952.Founded by Sam Phillips, Sun Records was known for giving notable musicians such as Elvis Presley , Carl Perkins, Roy Orbison, and Johnny Cash...
sessions in 1950.
On the 1950 recording of "B. B.'s Boogie", recorded at the Sun Studios, it was Newborn playing the lead guitar. Newborn also gave guitars lessons to Howlin' Wolf
Howlin' Wolf
Chester Arthur Burnett , known as Howlin' Wolf, was an influential American blues singer, guitarist and harmonica player....
and is credited as being an influence on Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley
Elvis Aaron Presley was one of the most popular American singers of the 20th century. A cultural icon, he is widely known by the single name Elvis. He is often referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll" or simply "the King"....
, who frequented the Plantation Inn Club to watch Newborn.
The group left West Memphis in 1951 to tour with Jackie Brenston
Jackie Brenston
Jackie Brenston was an African American R&B singer and saxophonist, who recorded, with Ike Turner's band, the first version of the proto-rock and roll song "Rocket 88".-Biography:...
as the "Delta Cats" in support of the record "Rocket 88
Rocket 88
"Rocket 88" is a rhythm and blues song that was first recorded at Sam Phillips' recording studio in Memphis, Tennessee, on 3 March or 5 March 1951...
". It was considered by many to be the first rock and roll record ever recorded, and was the first Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
number one record for Chess Records
Chess Records
Chess Records was an American record label based in Chicago, Illinois. It specialized in blues, R&B, soul, gospel music, early rock and roll, and occasional jazz releases....
.
Following this he played with Earl Hines
Earl Hines
Earl Kenneth Hines, universally known as Earl "Fatha" Hines, was an American jazz pianist. Hines was one of the most influential figures in the development of modern jazz piano and, according to one source, is "one of a small number of pianists whose playing shaped the history of jazz".-Early...
starting in 1959. In the early 1960s, he toured with Lionel Hampton
Lionel Hampton
Lionel Leo Hampton was an American jazz vibraphonist, pianist, percussionist, bandleader and actor. Like Red Norvo, he was one of the first jazz vibraphone players. Hampton ranks among the great names in jazz history, having worked with a who's who of jazz musicians, from Benny Goodman and Buddy...
, Jimmy Forrest
Jimmy Forrest
Jimmy Forrest was an African American jazz musician, who played tenor saxophone throughout his career....
, Wild Bill Davis
Wild Bill Davis
Wild Bill Davis was the stage name of American jazz pianist, organist, and arranger William Strethen Davis.Davis was born in Glasgow, Missouri...
, Al Grey
Al Grey
Al Grey was a jazz trombonist who is most remembered for his association with the Count Basie orchestra....
, and Freddie Roach
Freddie Roach (organist)
See Freddie Roach for the boxer.Freddie Roach is a soul jazz Hammond B3 organist born in the Bronx, New York. He was one of a handful of legendary jazz organists that made history in the 1960s, the golden era of the Hammond organ...
. Since the 1970s Newborn has remained mostly in Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis is a city in the southwestern corner of the U.S. state of Tennessee, and the county seat of Shelby County. The city is located on the 4th Chickasaw Bluff, south of the confluence of the Wolf and Mississippi rivers....
, where he played regularly in local clubs well into the 1990s. His 1980 album Centerpiece hit #35 on the U.S. Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
jazz albums chart, but much of his earlier material was not reissued on CD until 2005.
As leader
- 1993 - From the Hip (Rooster Blues)
- 1998 - UpCity (Omnifarious Music)
- 2005 - UpCity (Yellow Dog RecordsYellow Dog RecordsYellow Dog Records is an American independent record label based in Memphis, Tennessee that features authentic American music - blues, jazz, soul and Americana...
- reissue) - 2005 - New Born (Yellow Dog RecordsYellow Dog RecordsYellow Dog Records is an American independent record label based in Memphis, Tennessee that features authentic American music - blues, jazz, soul and Americana...
)
As sideman
With Hank CrawfordHank Crawford
Bennie Ross "Hank" Crawford, Jr. was an American R&B, hard bop, jazz-funk, soul jazz alto saxophonist, arranger and songwriter...
- 1978 - Centerpiece (Empire)
- 1982 - Midnight RambleMidnight Ramble (album)Midnight Ramble is a soul-jazz album by saxophonist Hank Crawford. Released in 1982, it was his first recording for Milestone Records.- Track listing :# "Midnight Ramble"# "Forever Mine"# "Theme for Basie"# "Sister C"# "Street of Dreams"...
(Milestone)
With Freddie Roach
Freddie Roach (organist)
See Freddie Roach for the boxer.Freddie Roach is a soul jazz Hammond B3 organist born in the Bronx, New York. He was one of a handful of legendary jazz organists that made history in the 1960s, the golden era of the Hammond organ...
- 1964: All That's GoodAll That's GoodAll That's Good is the fifth album by American organist Freddie Roach recorded in 1964 and released on the Blue Note label.-Reception:The Allmusic review by Stephen Thomas Erlewine awarded the album 2 stars and stated "On his final album for Blue Note, Freddie Roach decided to step outside -- way...
(Blue Note)
External links
- Myspace site: http://www.myspace.com/newbornblues
- Biography on All About Jazz: http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/musician.php?id=9841