Chicago Bob Nelson
{{short description|American blues harmonica player and singer (1944–2013)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2014}}
{{More citations needed|date=July 2014}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Chicago Bob Nelson
| image =
| alt =
| caption =
| image_size =
| landscape =
| birth_name = Robert Lee Nelson
| alias =
| birth_date = {{birth date|1944|7|4}}
| birth_place = Bogalusa, Louisiana, United States
| origin =
| death_date = {{death date and age|2013|1|17|1944|7|4}}
| death_place =
| genre = Chicago blues
| occupation = Harmonicist, singer, songwriter
| instrument = Harmonica
| years_active = Late 1950s–2013
| label = HMG, King Snake and others
| associated_acts =
| website =
}}
"Chicago" Bob Nelson (July 4, 1944 – January 17, 2013){{cite web |url={{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p31742/biography|pure_url=yes}}|title=Chicago Bob|author=Jason Birchmeier |publisher=AllMusic |accessdate=2012-03-21}} was an American blues musician.{{cite book |last=Harris |first=Sheldon |year=1979 |title=Blues Who's Who. A Biographical Dictionary of Blues Singers |pages=[https://archive.org/details/blueswhoswhobiog00harr/page/396 396–397] |publisher=De Capo/Arlington House |location=New Rochelle, New York |isbn=0-306-80155-8 |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/blueswhoswhobiog00harr/page/396 }}
"Chicago" Bob Nelson was a harmonica player and singer who is known for amalgamating Louisiana and Chicago blues styles. He was singular in being mentored by traditional rural southern blues harmonica practitioners and melding their approach with urban Chicago playing, thus creating his own distinctive sound.
Life and career
Robert Lee Nelson was born in Bogalusa, Louisiana, United States. His was a musical family. Bob's father, Versie Nelson, played upright bass and harmonica. From an early age Bob accompanied Versie to house parties, backyard barbecues and Saturday night fish fries around Bogalusa where cajun music, zydeco and blues were performed. Nelson recalled, "It was just people eating, jamming and having a good time!"{{Citation needed|date=May 2010}} Nelson began playing the harmonica at the age of eight. As a youngster he was encouraged and instructed by Versie's musical cohorts, Louisiana blues musicians (and Excello recording artists) Slim Harpo and Lazy Lester. Nelson credited Harpo, Lester, Sonny Boy Williamson II and Jimmy Reed (all of whom he knew) as his primary influences, as well as Sonny Boy Williamson I whose recordings he studied.{{Citation needed|date=August 2010}} Through listening to these artists, Nelson learned to use his instrument as a "second voice" to interpret and elucidate the emotion and themes of a song. Trips to Chicago to visit family were a major part of Nelson's childhood.{{Citation needed|date=August 2010}}
By the early 1960s he had taken up residence in Chicago. There he met and performed with Howlin' Wolf, Buddy Guy, Junior Wells, Earl Hooker and Muddy Waters. The latter, having run into Nelson at nearly every blues venue in Chicago, bestowed upon him the moniker that continues to identify him today. Nelson later performed with Muddy Waters at the Newport Folk Festival. Throughout his career Nelson toured with Luther "Georgia Boy" Johnson, Tinsley Ellis and John Lee Hooker.
Nelson died on January 17, 2013.[http://www.noise11.com/news/harmonica-player-chicago-bob-nelson-passes-away-at-68-2013012 ]{{dead link|date=July 2014}}{{cite web|url=http://www.ajc.com/news/news/local-obituaries/robert-chicago-bob-nelson-69-blues-singer-harp-pla/nT6GL/ |title=Robert "Chicago Bob" Nelson, 69: Blues singer, harp player |website=Ajc.com |date=January 24, 2013 |accessdate=2014-07-12}}
Discography
- The Heart Fixers – (with Tinsley Ellis and the Heart Fixers) Southland Records
- Live at the Moonshadow – (with Tinsley Ellis and the Heart Fixers) Landslide Records
- Just Your Fool (1988) – HMG
- Comin' Back Strong – Erwin Music
- Hit and Run Lover (1992) – King Snake Records
- Back to Bogalusa (1996) – King Snake Records
- Keep What I Got (1993) – Planisphare
- Flyin' Too High (2006 compilation) – 95 North Records{{cite web |url={{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p31742/discography|pure_url=yes}}|title=Chicago Bob > Discography > Main Albums|author=|publisher=AllMusic |accessdate=2012-03-21}}{{cite web |url={{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p31742/discography/compilations|pure_url=yes}}|title=Chicago Bob > Discography > Compilations|author=|publisher=AllMusic |accessdate=2012-03-21}}
See also
- Tinsley Ellis – In 1981 he formed The Heartfixers, with Chicago Bob Nelson.
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Nelson, Bob}}
Category:People from Bogalusa, Louisiana
Category:American blues harmonica players
Category:American blues singers
Category:American male singers
Category:Blues musicians from Louisiana
Category:Songwriters from Louisiana