Lefty Bates
Encyclopedia
Lefty Bates was an American
Chicago blues
guitarist. He led the Lefty Bates Combo, and variously worked with the El Dorados
, the Flamingos
, Jimmy Reed
, John Lee Hooker
, Buddy Guy
, Etta James
, the Aristo-Kats, the Hi-De-Ho Boys, the Moroccos, the Impressions, and a latter day version of the Ink Spots
. A regular on the Chicago blues scene, Bates major work was as a session musician
on a multitude of recordings made in the 1950s and 1960s.
Bates was married to well-known area club dancer Mary Cole Bates, who died in 2001.
, United States
, and acquired his nickname
from his left-handed
guitar playing. Bates was raised in St. Louis, Missouri
, attending Vashon High School
and while there help form the Hi-De-Ho Boys. In 1936, they relocated to Chicago
, and recorded for Decca Records
and played in several Chicago clubs. Bates served in World War II
, and later joined the Aristo-Kats, who recorded on RCA Victor
.
Bates formed his own ensemble
with Quinn Wilson
, and they played locally through most of the 1950s. The ensemble's few recordings were issued by United
, Boxer, Mad and Apex Records under Bates name. The majority of Bates' paid work came from regular club work and as a session musician
, most notably as the rhythm guitarist with both Jimmy Reed
and Buddy Guy
. He undertook other work with Larry Birdsong and Honey Brown. His versatility led to employment as part of the studio
band for Vee-Jay Records
, alongside Red Holloway
and Vernel Fournier
amongst others. The bulk of the musicians there had also worked earlier for Chance Records
, backing both Jimmy Reed
and The Spaniels
. Vee-Jay's financial strength helped them survive, and their studio band was expected to back a diversity of musicians on an ad-hoc basis, including R&B
, blues
, jazz
and doo-wop
artists. In 1955, the El Dorados
found national success with "At My Front Door", on which Bates played guitar, and which peaked at number one on the U.S,
Billboard
R&B
chart
.
From 1955, Bates worked in a similar manner with another Chicago-based record label, Club 51, although there he had the luxury of leading "The Lefty Bates Orchestra". At Club 51 he backed The Five Buddies and Sunnyland Slim
. In 1957, Bates along with Earl Hooker
, backed the singer Arbee Stidham
, on his recording of "Look Me Straight in the Eye".
In 1959, Bates played with Reed on his recording of "Baby What You Want Me to Do
". By March 1960, Bates was part of the backing trio for John Lee Hooker
on his album
, Travellin. In 1961, Bates appeared on Jimmy Reed at Carnegie Hall
, plus in the same year played on Reed's recording of "Big Boss Man
".
By the time the majority of his studio work had ceased, Bates led a latter-day version of the Ink Spots
in the 1970s and beyond.
Bates died of a arteriosclerosis
in Chicago in April 2007, aged 87.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Chicago blues
Chicago blues
The Chicago blues is a form of blues music that developed in Chicago, Illinois, by taking the basic acoustic guitar and harmonica-based Delta blues, making the harmonica louder with a microphone and an instrument amplifier, and adding electrically amplified guitar, amplified bass guitar, drums,...
guitarist. He led the Lefty Bates Combo, and variously worked with the El Dorados
The El Dorados
The El Dorados were an American doo-wop group, who achieved their greatest success with the song "At My Front Door", a no. 1 hit on the R&B chart in 1955.-Career:...
, the Flamingos
The Flamingos
The Flamingos were a doo wop group from the United States, most popular in the mid to late 1950s and best known for their 1959 cover version of "I Only Have Eyes for You".-Early quintet:...
, Jimmy Reed
Jimmy Reed
Mathis James "Jimmy" Reed was an American blues musician and songwriter, notable for bringing his distinctive style of blues to mainstream audiences. Reed was a major player in the field of electric blues, as opposed to the more acoustic-based sound of many of his contemporaries...
, John Lee Hooker
John Lee Hooker
John Lee Hooker was an American blues singer-songwriter and guitarist.Hooker began his life as the son of a sharecropper, William Hooker, and rose to prominence performing his own unique style of what was originally closest to Delta blues. He developed a 'talking blues' style that was his trademark...
, Buddy Guy
Buddy Guy
George "Buddy" Guy is an American blues and jazz guitarist and singer. He is a critically acclaimed artist who has established himself as a pioneer of the Chicago blues sound, and has served as an influence to some of the most notable musicians of his generation...
, Etta James
Etta James
Etta James is an American blues, soul, rhythm and blues , rock and roll, gospel and jazz singer. In the 1950s and 1960s, she had her biggest success as a blues and R&B singer...
, the Aristo-Kats, the Hi-De-Ho Boys, the Moroccos, the Impressions, and a latter day version of the Ink Spots
The Ink Spots
The Ink Spots were a popular vocal group in the 1930s and 1940s that helped define the musical genre that led to rhythm and blues and rock and roll, and the subgenre doo-wop...
. A regular on the Chicago blues scene, Bates major work was as a session musician
Session musician
Session musicians are instrumental and vocal performers, musicians, who are available to work with others at live performances or recording sessions. Usually such musicians are not permanent members of a musical ensemble and often do not achieve fame in their own right as soloists or bandleaders...
on a multitude of recordings made in the 1950s and 1960s.
Bates was married to well-known area club dancer Mary Cole Bates, who died in 2001.
Biography
He was born William Bates in Leighton, AlabamaLeighton, Alabama
Leighton is a town in Colbert County, Alabama, United States. It is part of the Florence - Muscle Shoals Metropolitan Statistical Area known as "The Shoals". At the 2000 census the population was 849...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, and acquired his nickname
Nickname
A nickname is "a usually familiar or humorous but sometimes pointed or cruel name given to a person or place, as a supposedly appropriate replacement for or addition to the proper name.", or a name similar in origin and pronunciation from the original name....
from his left-handed
Left-handed
Left-handedness is the preference for the left hand over the right for everyday activities such as writing. In ancient times it was seen as a sign of the devil, and was abhorred in many cultures...
guitar playing. Bates was raised in St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
, attending Vashon High School
Vashon High School
-Vashon High School:Vashon High School is a public high school located in St. Louis, Missouri. Founded in 1927, the school is named in honor of two educators of African-American descent: John B. Vashon, and his son, George B. Vashon....
and while there help form the Hi-De-Ho Boys. In 1936, they relocated to Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, and recorded for Decca Records
Decca Records
Decca Records began as a British record label established in 1929 by Edward Lewis. Its U.S. label was established in late 1934; however, owing to World War II, the link with the British company was broken for several decades....
and played in several Chicago clubs. Bates served 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...
, and later joined the Aristo-Kats, who recorded on RCA Victor
RCA Records
RCA Records is one of the flagship labels of Sony Music Entertainment. The RCA initials stand for Radio Corporation of America , which was the parent corporation from 1929 to 1985 and a partner from 1985 to 1986.RCA's Canadian unit is Sony's oldest label...
.
Bates formed his own ensemble
Musical ensemble
A musical ensemble is a group of people who perform instrumental or vocal music. In classical music, trios or quartets either blend the sounds of musical instrument families or group together instruments from the same instrument family, such as string ensembles or wind ensembles...
with Quinn Wilson
Quinn Wilson
Quinn Brown Wilson was an American jazz bassist and tubist.Wilson played violin as a child, and studied composition and arrangement in his youth. He had his first professional experience in the mid-1920s, playing with Tiny Parham, Walter Barnes, Jelly Roll Morton , Erskine Tate , and Richard M...
, and they played locally through most of the 1950s. The ensemble's few recordings were issued by United
United Records
For "United Records", see United Records United Records was in business from July 1951 to December 1957. It was operated by Chicago businessman Leonard Allen, initially in collaboration with Lew Simpkins...
, Boxer, Mad and Apex Records under Bates name. The majority of Bates' paid work came from regular club work and as a session musician
Session musician
Session musicians are instrumental and vocal performers, musicians, who are available to work with others at live performances or recording sessions. Usually such musicians are not permanent members of a musical ensemble and often do not achieve fame in their own right as soloists or bandleaders...
, most notably as the rhythm guitarist with both Jimmy Reed
Jimmy Reed
Mathis James "Jimmy" Reed was an American blues musician and songwriter, notable for bringing his distinctive style of blues to mainstream audiences. Reed was a major player in the field of electric blues, as opposed to the more acoustic-based sound of many of his contemporaries...
and Buddy Guy
Buddy Guy
George "Buddy" Guy is an American blues and jazz guitarist and singer. He is a critically acclaimed artist who has established himself as a pioneer of the Chicago blues sound, and has served as an influence to some of the most notable musicians of his generation...
. He undertook other work with Larry Birdsong and Honey Brown. His versatility led to employment as part of the studio
Recording studio
A recording studio is a facility for sound recording and mixing. Ideally both the recording and monitoring spaces are specially designed by an acoustician to achieve optimum acoustic properties...
band for Vee-Jay Records
Vee-Jay Records
Vee-Jay Records is a record label founded in the 1950s, specializing in blues, jazz, rhythm and blues and rock and roll. It was owned and operated by African Americans.-History:...
, alongside Red Holloway
Red Holloway
James W. "Red" Holloway is an American jazz tenor saxophonist.-Biography:Holloway started playing banjo and harmonica, switching to tenor sax when he was twelve years old...
and Vernel Fournier
Vernel fournier
Vernel Anthony Fournier and, from 1975, known as Amir Rushdan, was a jazz drummer probably best known for his work with Ahmad Jamal from 1956 to 1962....
amongst others. The bulk of the musicians there had also worked earlier for Chance Records
Chance Records
Chance Records was a Chicago-based label founded in 1950 by Art Sheridan. It specialized in blues, jazz, doo-wop, and gospel.Among the acts who recorded for Chance were The Flamingos, The Moonglows, Homesick James, J. B. Hutto, Brother John Sellers, and Schoolboy Porter...
, backing both Jimmy Reed
Jimmy Reed
Mathis James "Jimmy" Reed was an American blues musician and songwriter, notable for bringing his distinctive style of blues to mainstream audiences. Reed was a major player in the field of electric blues, as opposed to the more acoustic-based sound of many of his contemporaries...
and The Spaniels
The Spaniels
The Spaniels were an American R&B doo-wop group, best known for the hit "Goodnite, Sweetheart, Goodnite".They have been called the first successful Midwestern R&B group...
. Vee-Jay's financial strength helped them survive, and their studio band was expected to back a diversity of musicians on an ad-hoc basis, including R&B
Rhythm and blues
Rhythm and blues, often abbreviated to R&B, is a genre of popular African American music that originated in the 1940s. The term was originally used by record companies to describe recordings marketed predominantly to urban African Americans, at a time when "urbane, rocking, jazz based music with a...
, 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...
, 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...
and doo-wop
Doo-wop
The name Doo-wop is given to a style of vocal-based rhythm and blues music that developed in African American communities in the 1940s and achieved mainstream popularity in the 1950s and early 1960s. It emerged from New York, Philadelphia, Chicago, Baltimore, Newark, Pittsburgh, Cincinnati and...
artists. In 1955, the El Dorados
The El Dorados
The El Dorados were an American doo-wop group, who achieved their greatest success with the song "At My Front Door", a no. 1 hit on the R&B chart in 1955.-Career:...
found national success with "At My Front Door", on which Bates played guitar, and which peaked at number one on the U.S,
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
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...
R&B
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, is a chart released weekly by Billboard in the United States.The chart, initiated in 1942, is used to track the success of popular music songs in urban, or primarily African American, venues. Dominated over the years at various times by jazz, rhythm and blues, doo-wop, soul,...
chart
Record chart
A record chart is a ranking of recorded music according to popularity during a given period of time. Examples of music charts are the Hit parade, Hot 100 or Top 40....
.
From 1955, Bates worked in a similar manner with another Chicago-based record label, Club 51, although there he had the luxury of leading "The Lefty Bates Orchestra". At Club 51 he backed The Five Buddies and Sunnyland Slim
Sunnyland Slim
Albert "Sunnyland Slim" Luandrew was an American blues pianist, who was born in the Mississippi Delta, and later moved to Chicago, Illinois, to contribute to that city's post-war scene as a center for blues music...
. In 1957, Bates along with Earl Hooker
Earl Hooker
Earl Hooker was an American Chicago blues guitarist, perhaps best known for his slide guitar playing. Considered a "musician's musician", Hooker performed with blues artists such as Sonny Boy Williamson II, Junior Wells, and John Lee Hooker as well as fronting his own bands...
, backed the singer Arbee Stidham
Arbee Stidham
Arbee Stidham was an American blues singer and multi-instrumentalist, most successful in the late 1940s and 1950s....
, on his recording of "Look Me Straight in the Eye".
In 1959, Bates played with Reed on his recording of "Baby What You Want Me to Do
Baby What You Want Me to Do
"Baby What You Want Me to Do" is a blues song that was written and recorded by Jimmy Reed in 1959...
". By March 1960, Bates was part of the backing trio for John Lee Hooker
John Lee Hooker
John Lee Hooker was an American blues singer-songwriter and guitarist.Hooker began his life as the son of a sharecropper, William Hooker, and rose to prominence performing his own unique style of what was originally closest to Delta blues. He developed a 'talking blues' style that was his trademark...
on his 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...
, Travellin. In 1961, Bates appeared on Jimmy Reed at Carnegie Hall
Jimmy Reed at Carnegie Hall
Jimmy Reed at Carnegie Hall is a double LP album by Jimmy Reed, released in 1961. Though the title suggests that the record was recorded live, it consists of a studio recreation of a Carnegie Hall performance on one disc and a second disc that is identical to an LP released separately as The Best...
, plus in the same year played on Reed's recording of "Big Boss Man
Big Boss Man (song)
"Big Boss Man" is a blues song written by Luther Dixon and Al Smith in 1960 and first recorded by Jimmy Reed. The song was a hit for Reed and has been interpreted and recorded by a variety of artists, including Elvis Presley and B.B...
".
By the time the majority of his studio work had ceased, Bates led a latter-day version of the Ink Spots
The Ink Spots
The Ink Spots were a popular vocal group in the 1930s and 1940s that helped define the musical genre that led to rhythm and blues and rock and roll, and the subgenre doo-wop...
in the 1970s and beyond.
Bates died of a arteriosclerosis
Arteriosclerosis
Arteriosclerosis refers to a stiffening of arteries.Arteriosclerosis is a general term describing any hardening of medium or large arteries It should not be confused with "arteriolosclerosis" or "atherosclerosis".Also known by the name "myoconditis" which is...
in Chicago in April 2007, aged 87.