Swamp blues
Encyclopedia
Swamp blues, sometimes the Excello sound, is a sub-genre of blues
music and a variation of Louisiana blues
that developed around Baton Rouge in the 1950s and which reached a peak of popularity in the 1960s. It generally has a slow tempo and incorporates influences from other genres of music, particularly the regional styles of zydeco
and Cajun music
. Its most successful proponents included Slim Harpo
and Lightnin' Slim
, who enjoyed a number of rhythm and blues
and national hits and whose work was frequently covered by bands of the British Invasion
.
, that incorporates influences from New Orleans blues
, zydeco
, soul music
and Cajun music
. It is characterised by simple but effective guitar work and is heavily influenced by the boogie
patterns used on Jimmy Reed
records and the work of Lightnin' Hopkins
and Muddy Waters
. The sound of swamp blues was characterised by "eerie echo, shuffle beats, tremolo guitars, searing harmonica and sparse percussion".
in Nashville, Tennessee. The most successful and influential artist with who he worked was guitarist and harmonica player Slim Harpo
. His tracks included "I'm a King Bee
" (1957), "I Got Love If You Want It" (1957) and "Rainin' In My Heart" (1961), which were all hits on the R&B Chart. His biggest hit was a version of "Baby Scratch My Back
" which reached the Billboard Top 20 in 1966. Other major artists included Lightnin' Slim
, Lazy Lester
, Silas Hogan
, Lonesome Sundown
and piano player Katie Webster
. A number of their tracks, particularly those of Slim Harpo, were covered by British Invasion
bands, including the Rolling Stones, The Kinks
and the Yardbirds. The popularity of the genre faded in the 1970s, with many swamp bluesmen turning to zydeco
which remained popular with black audiences.
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...
music and a variation of Louisiana blues
Louisiana blues
Louisiana blues is a genre of blues music that developed in the period after World War II in the state of Louisiana. It is generally divided into two major sub-genres, with the jazz-influenced New Orleans blues based around the city and the slower tempo swamp blues incorporating influences from...
that developed around Baton Rouge in the 1950s and which reached a peak of popularity in the 1960s. It generally has a slow tempo and incorporates influences from other genres of music, particularly the regional styles of zydeco
Zydeco
Zydeco is a form of uniquely American roots or folk music. It evolved in southwest Louisiana in the early 19th century from forms of "la la" Creole music...
and Cajun music
Cajun music
Cajun music, an emblematic music of Louisiana, is rooted in the ballads of the French-speaking Acadians of Canada. Cajun music is often mentioned in tandem with the Creole-based, Cajun-influenced zydeco form, both of Acadiana origin...
. Its most successful proponents included Slim Harpo
Slim Harpo
Slim Harpo was an American blues musician. He was known as a master of the blues harmonica; the name "Slim Harpo" was derived from "harp," the popular nickname for the harmonica in blues circles.-Early life:...
and Lightnin' Slim
Lightnin' Slim
Lightnin' Slim was an African-American Louisiana blues musician, who recorded for Excello Records and played in a style similar to its other Louisiana artists.-Career:...
, who enjoyed a number of rhythm and blues
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...
and national hits and whose work was frequently covered by bands of the British Invasion
British Invasion
The British Invasion is a term used to describe the large number of rock and roll, beat, rock, and pop performers from the United Kingdom who became popular in the United States during the time period from 1964 through 1966.- Background :...
.
Characteristics
Swamp blues is a laid-back, slow tempo, and generally more rhythmic variation of Louisiana bluesLouisiana blues
Louisiana blues is a genre of blues music that developed in the period after World War II in the state of Louisiana. It is generally divided into two major sub-genres, with the jazz-influenced New Orleans blues based around the city and the slower tempo swamp blues incorporating influences from...
, that incorporates influences from New Orleans blues
New Orleans blues
New Orleans rhythm and blues refers to a type of R&B music from the U.S. city of New Orleans, Louisiana, characterized by extensive use of piano and horn sections, complex syncopated "second line" rhythms, and lyrics that reflect New Orleans life....
, zydeco
Zydeco
Zydeco is a form of uniquely American roots or folk music. It evolved in southwest Louisiana in the early 19th century from forms of "la la" Creole music...
, soul music
Soul music
Soul music is a music genre originating in the United States combining elements of gospel music and rhythm and blues. According to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, soul is "music that arose out of the black experience in America through the transmutation of gospel and rhythm & blues into a form of...
and Cajun music
Cajun music
Cajun music, an emblematic music of Louisiana, is rooted in the ballads of the French-speaking Acadians of Canada. Cajun music is often mentioned in tandem with the Creole-based, Cajun-influenced zydeco form, both of Acadiana origin...
. It is characterised by simple but effective guitar work and is heavily influenced by the boogie
Boogie
Boogie is a repetitive, swung note or shuffle rhythm, "groove" or pattern used in blues which was originally played on the piano in boogie-woogie music. The characteristic rhythm and feel of the boogie was then adapted to guitar, double bass, and other instruments. The earliest recorded...
patterns used on 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...
records and the work of 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 Muddy Waters
Muddy Waters
McKinley Morganfield , known as Muddy Waters, was an American blues musician, generally considered the "father of modern Chicago blues"...
. The sound of swamp blues was characterised by "eerie echo, shuffle beats, tremolo guitars, searing harmonica and sparse percussion".
History
The origins of swamp blues were based around the Louisiana state capital of Baton Rouge and particularly associated with the record producer J. D. "Jay" Miller. In the 1950s Miller realised that many blues artists around the city had not been recorded and rectified this, distributing the results through Excello RecordsExcello Records
Excello Records was an American blues record label, started by Ernie Young in Nashville, Tennessee in 1953 as a subsidiary of Nashboro, a gospel label...
in Nashville, Tennessee. The most successful and influential artist with who he worked was guitarist and harmonica player Slim Harpo
Slim Harpo
Slim Harpo was an American blues musician. He was known as a master of the blues harmonica; the name "Slim Harpo" was derived from "harp," the popular nickname for the harmonica in blues circles.-Early life:...
. His tracks included "I'm a King Bee
I'm a King Bee
"I'm a King Bee" is a swamp blues song that has been performed and recorded by numerous blues and other artists. In 2008, Slim Harpo's "I'm a King Bee" received a Grammy Hall of Fame Award, which "honor[s] recordings of lasting qualitative or historical significance".-Original song:Written and...
" (1957), "I Got Love If You Want It" (1957) and "Rainin' In My Heart" (1961), which were all hits on the R&B Chart. His biggest hit was a version of "Baby Scratch My Back
Baby Scratch My Back
"Baby Scratch My Back" is a 1966 R&B instrumental by blues singer Slim Harpo. The single was Slim Harpo's only number one on the soul singles chart, where it stayed for two weeks. "Baby Scratch My Back" also crossed over to the Top 40 and was Harpo's most successful of four R&B singles.-Chart...
" which reached the Billboard Top 20 in 1966. Other major artists included Lightnin' Slim
Lightnin' Slim
Lightnin' Slim was an African-American Louisiana blues musician, who recorded for Excello Records and played in a style similar to its other Louisiana artists.-Career:...
, Lazy Lester
Lazy Lester
Lazy Lester is an American blues harmonica player, whose career spans the 1950s to the 2000s....
, Silas Hogan
Silas Hogan
Silas Hogan was an American blues musician. Hogan most notably recorded "Airport Blues" and "Lonesome La La", was the front man of the Rhythm Ramblers, and became an inductee in the Louisiana Blues Hall of Fame....
, Lonesome Sundown
Lonesome Sundown
Cornelius Green , known professionally as Lonesome Sundown, was an American blues musician, best known for his recordings for Excello Records in the 1950s and early 1960s.-Biography:...
and piano player Katie Webster
Katie Webster
Katie Webster , born Kathryn Jewel Thorne, was an American boogie-woogie pianist.-Career:Webster was initially best known as a session musician behind Louisiana musicians on the Excello and Goldband record labels, such as Lightnin' Slim and Lonesome Sundown...
. A number of their tracks, particularly those of Slim Harpo, were covered by British Invasion
British Invasion
The British Invasion is a term used to describe the large number of rock and roll, beat, rock, and pop performers from the United Kingdom who became popular in the United States during the time period from 1964 through 1966.- Background :...
bands, including the Rolling Stones, The Kinks
The Kinks
The Kinks were an English rock band formed in Muswell Hill, North London, by brothers Ray and Dave Davies in 1964. Categorised in the United States as a British Invasion band, The Kinks are recognised as one of the most important and influential rock acts of the era. Their music was influenced by a...
and the Yardbirds. The popularity of the genre faded in the 1970s, with many swamp bluesmen turning to zydeco
Zydeco
Zydeco is a form of uniquely American roots or folk music. It evolved in southwest Louisiana in the early 19th century from forms of "la la" Creole music...
which remained popular with black audiences.