Robert Ealey
Encyclopedia
Robert Ealey was an African American
electric blues
singer, who performed Texas blues
. Among other releases, he recorded a couple of album
s for Black Top Records
in the 1990s, having earlier formed a duo with U.P. Wilson
. Ealey also worked with Tone Sommer, Mike Buck
, and Mike Morgan.
Ealey's best known work included "One Love One Kiss" and "Turn Out The Lights". He variously worked with the Boogie Chillun Boys, the Juke Jumpers and the Five Careless Lovers.
, United States
, and in his teens sang in a quartet in his local church.
Following service in the Army
in World War II
, Ealey moved to Dallas in 1951, having been singing professionally from the age of 20. In Fort Worth
, he formed a duo
, the Boogie Chillun Boys, with the guitarist U.P. Wilson. The Boogie Chillun Boys provided inspiration to fellow Texan singer and guitarist Ray Sharpe
. The Bluebird Club in Fort Worth was Ealey's musical base for more than thirty years. His involvement was such that he co-owned the club from 1977 to 1989. His 1973 live album, Live at the New Bluebird Nightclub, was billed as by Robert Ealey and the Five Careless Lovers, and included contributions from Mike Buck. It was produced by T-Bone Burnett
.
By the 1990s Ealey, and his guitarist Tone Sommer, started touring more widely, and their authentic Texas blues found a wider audience in the US
and Europe
. Television advertisement
work also expanded the recognition of Ealey's music. His 1996 album
, Turn Out the Lights, issued by Black Top Records
, saw Ealey work with blues accompanists including Mike Morgan and Sommer on guitar. The 1997 follow-up, I Like Music When I Party was similarly successful.
Ealey died in Fort Worth on March 8, 2001, of undisclosed causes following an automobile accident the previous December. He was aged 75. He was interred with military honors
at the Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery
.
In 2003, Aristokraft issued the compilation album
, Robert Ealey: Blues That Time Forgot.
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
electric blues
Electric blues
Electric blues is a type of blues music distinguished by the amplification of the guitar, bass guitar, drums, and often the harmonica. Pioneered in the 1930s, it emerged as a genre in Chicago in the 1940s. It was taken up in many areas of America leading to the development of regional subgenres...
singer, who performed Texas blues
Texas blues
Texas blues is a subgenre of blues. It has had various style variations but typically has been played with more swing than other blues styles....
. Among other releases, he recorded a couple of 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 for Black Top Records
Black Top Records
Black Top Records was a New Orleans, Louisiana based independent record label founded in 1981 by brothers Nauman S. Scott, III and Hammond Scott. The label specialized in blues and R&B music. The first release was "Talk To You By Hand" by Anson Funderburgh & The Rockets...
in the 1990s, having earlier formed a duo with U.P. Wilson
U.P. Wilson
U.P. Wilson was an African American electric blues guitarist and singer who performed Texas blues...
. Ealey also worked with Tone Sommer, Mike Buck
Mike Buck
Mike Buck is an Austin, Texas based drummer who became influential by playing in a variety of bands in the roots music scene.-Career:...
, and Mike Morgan.
Ealey's best known work included "One Love One Kiss" and "Turn Out The Lights". He variously worked with the Boogie Chillun Boys, the Juke Jumpers and the Five Careless Lovers.
Life and career
Robert Daniel Ealey was born in Texarkana, TexasTexarkana, Texas
Texarkana is a city in Bowie County, Texas, United States. It effectively functions as one half of a city which crosses a state line — the other half, the city of Texarkana, Arkansas, lies on the other side of State Line Avenue...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, and in his teens sang in a quartet in his local church.
Following service in the 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...
, Ealey moved to Dallas in 1951, having been singing professionally from the age of 20. In Fort Worth
Fort Worth, Texas
Fort Worth is the 16th-largest city in the United States of America and the fifth-largest city in the state of Texas. Located in North Central Texas, just southeast of the Texas Panhandle, the city is a cultural gateway into the American West and covers nearly in Tarrant, Parker, Denton, and...
, he formed a duo
Duet (music)
A duet is a musical composition for two performers. In classical music, the term is most often used for a composition for two singers or pianists; with other instruments, the word duo is also often used. A piece performed by two pianists performing together on the same piano is referred to as...
, the Boogie Chillun Boys, with the guitarist U.P. Wilson. The Boogie Chillun Boys provided inspiration to fellow Texan singer and guitarist Ray Sharpe
Ray Sharpe
Ray Sharpe is an American R&B and rockabilly singer, guitarist and songwriter.He grew up influenced by country as well as blues music, and many of his recordings are classed as rockabilly – he was described by one record producer as "the greatest white-sounding black dude ever"...
. The Bluebird Club in Fort Worth was Ealey's musical base for more than thirty years. His involvement was such that he co-owned the club from 1977 to 1989. His 1973 live album, Live at the New Bluebird Nightclub, was billed as by Robert Ealey and the Five Careless Lovers, and included contributions from Mike Buck. It was produced by T-Bone Burnett
T-Bone Burnett
Joseph Henry Burnett , widely known as T-Bone Burnett, is an American musician, songwriter, and soundtrack and record producer.He was a guitarist in Bob Dylan's band on the Rolling Thunder Revue...
.
By the 1990s Ealey, and his guitarist Tone Sommer, started touring more widely, and their authentic Texas blues found a wider audience in the US
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
. Television advertisement
Television advertisement
A television advertisement or television commercial, often just commercial, advert, ad, or ad-film – is a span of television programming produced and paid for by an organization that conveys a message, typically one intended to market a product...
work also expanded the recognition of Ealey's music. His 1996 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...
, Turn Out the Lights, issued by Black Top Records
Black Top Records
Black Top Records was a New Orleans, Louisiana based independent record label founded in 1981 by brothers Nauman S. Scott, III and Hammond Scott. The label specialized in blues and R&B music. The first release was "Talk To You By Hand" by Anson Funderburgh & The Rockets...
, saw Ealey work with blues accompanists including Mike Morgan and Sommer on guitar. The 1997 follow-up, I Like Music When I Party was similarly successful.
Ealey died in Fort Worth on March 8, 2001, of undisclosed causes following an automobile accident the previous December. He was aged 75. He was interred with military honors
Military funeral
A military funeral is a specially orchestrated funeral given by a country's military for a soldier, sailor, marine or airman who died in battle, a veteran, or other prominent military figures or heads of state. A military funeral may feature guards of honor, the firing of volley shots as a salute,...
at the Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery
Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery
Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery is a United States National Cemetery located in the city of Dallas, Texas . It encompasses , and as of the end of 2005, had 13,166 interments.- History :...
.
In 2003, Aristokraft issued the compilation album
Compilation album
A compilation album is an album featuring tracks from one or more performers, often culled from a variety of sources The tracks are usually collected according to a common characteristic, such as popularity, genre, source or subject matter...
, Robert Ealey: Blues That Time Forgot.
Selected album discography
| Year | Title | Record label |
|---|---|---|
| 1973 | Live at the New Bluebird Nightclub | Blue Royal |
| 1981 | Bluebird Open | Amazing |
| 1995 | If You Need Me | Topcat |
| 1996 | Turn Out the Lights | Black Top Black Top Records Black Top Records was a New Orleans, Louisiana based independent record label founded in 1981 by brothers Nauman S. Scott, III and Hammond Scott. The label specialized in blues and R&B music. The first release was "Talk To You By Hand" by Anson Funderburgh & The Rockets... |
| 1997 | I Like Music When I Party | Black Top |
See also
- List of electric blues musicians
- List of Texas blues musicians
- Texas Roadhouse MusicTexas Roadhouse MusicTexas Roadhouse Music is a musical sub-genre that combines blues, classic rock, and outlaw country. It is characterized by heavy emphasis on lead guitar arrangements within the songs, and also encompasses folk-influenced singer-songwriter material....